Anything for Harry – Chapter 16
(Present)
Tonks and Franks apparated back to the Ministry to report, she cradled the jar of squirming worms in her arms and ignored anyone looking at it. "When is Madam Bones going to be here?" she asked the duty officer.
"Huh?"
"You did notice the Death Eater attack on Diagon alley?" she said sharply "We lost two whole squads!"
"Minister Fudge says there ain't no such thing as Death Eaters." The man said stubbornly.
"Oh you moron." Tonk said and reached past him to slam her hand on the alarm crystal. Her own emergency portkey vibrated as she knew every Aurors was, along with Madam Bones', which was why she did it of course.
"Cor, why choo do that?" the man said, looking at her like she was crazy.
"Because it's what we're supposed to do!" Tonks yelled at him. They waited about ten minutes and the lift chimed down the hall. Madam Bones came running into the room with her niece on her heels. Two of her guards proceeded her and the other two trailed.
"Auror, Report!" Tonks heard her say clearly.
Nymphadora Tonks was often clumsy, except when she was in a combat situation. She executed a perfect salute to her boss, and strode the three paces to put her right in front of her.
"Madam Bones, there was an assault on Diagon Alley by roughly thirty Death Eaters and about a hundred Dementors. It started when Bellatrix LeStrange was reported going into Gringotts, while we were waiting for her to exit Dementors and most of the Death Eaters attacked the other end of the Alley. The first two squads that went to investigate were killed. We were being overrun by Dementors, O'Brian and Jeffers were kissed, and then a great silver stag crashed into them and they scattered like the devil himself was after them. After that we were able to push the remaining Death Eaters back. We'd lost track of Bellatrix in the melee. While investigating I discovered our rescue party in the ruins of the twins joke shop. It consisted of Mr. Bill Weasley, Mr. Potter, Mrs. Potter, and Miss Luna Lovegood."
Nymphadora paused, just then noticing the Minister behind his boss and Susan Bones clutching her Aunt's left hand tightly. Ten more Aurors had responded to the alarm as well.
"And the worms?" Amelia asked.
"Oh, yeah." She said and handed the jar to Amelia. "Mrs. Potter transfigured the captured Death Eaters into worms and Miss Lovegood conjured the jar to prevent them from being stepped on. Oh, and she, Mrs. Potter that is, killed Bellatrix."
"These are men?" Minister Scrimgeour asked in shock, looking at the wriggling creatures.
Tonks shrugged. "I never actually saw the transfiguration, but Mrs. Potter is top notch when it comes to these things."
"Hermione!" Susan exclaimed and when nearly everyone looked at her she elaborated. "You haven't said who Mrs. Potter is, Hermione is the only one that makes any sense. Thank Merlin they finally got together."
"How do we turn them back?" the Minister asked, tapping the glass as though to verify it really existed.
Amelia and Tonks both shrugged. "We'll need a Transfiguration Master or Mistress for that I reckon." Tonks said. "I'd ask McGonagall of course."
"Franks." Amelia said and held the jar out to Tonks trainee. Once he took it she turned back to Tonks, "Go to Hogwarts with your trainee, get them turned back into wizards and restrain them properly."
"Yes, Ma'am." Tonks said. "I did get a message from her, Headmistress McGonagall that is, that she wanted me there tonight. She didn't explain why, just that it was important."
"OK, well do what you need to for her tonight then. I'll send a squad to collect the prisoners once I've got this all sorted out."
"We started recruiting far too late." The Minister said, shaking his head.
The remaining off-duty Aurors, Hit Witches and Wizards had arrived to answer the alarm and we're now waiting for orders.
"Miss McKinnon," Amelia said, calling the attention of the Hit Witch in question.
"Madam?"
"I've got a mission for you. I'm aware you and your sister haven't been on the best of terms, but I need to get a message to her husband's faction. Will you deliver it?"
"Of course Madam. I have not been banned. We do speak, just not very often." Marlene said and took the sealed envelope her boss pulled from an inner pocket.
"Once you have delivered that letter I am placing you on guard duty. Locate Mrs. Hermione Potter nee Granger and guard her. Should Mr. Potter loose her I feel there is no further hope for us." Amelia said, taking a deep breath to continue. "They were last seen at Hogwarts, so I would try there. Jonas and Landen, take your squads to Hogwarts and retrieve the Death Eaters that will be in Auror Tonks custody."
Marlene McKinnon, an elegant blonde lifted an eyebrow in question, but then gave a shallow curtsy. "I shall seek them out." She spun, her robe flaring like a bell and strode from the room.
"Why her?" Minister Scrimgeour asked after she was gone.
"She's the best Hit Witch we have."
"But she's brutal." He said. "I've seen the reports."
Amelia nodded. "That's what we need. Someone who will not hesitate to kill when her charge is threatened."
"I hope you're right."
"I hope she doesn't need to do anything more than accompany them."
}-{
While Tonks retraced her steps to get to the apparition point Franks spoke up. "Why did you tell the boss about the Potters? He asked to be kept out of the reports."
"He is out of the reports, but they needed to know who pulled our butts out of the fire."
"Both of the last two Ministers have been awfully hard on Mr. Potter." Franks said as they reached the Apparition point.
"Yeah, maybe this will help." Tonks said and turned to face Franks on one of the many inscribed circles. "To the gates of the school." When he nodded she pushed herself to her destination.
}-{
(Past)
Harry, holding James in his arms, sat beside his better half, while Luna was on Hermione's other side and Neville sat with Kate on the opposite couch. The last few weeks had been the happiest in his life. He had his family! Hermione had even asked if they should have another child, since it took a third of the normal time. Eventually they agreed not to, Hermione had been unable to do much except read as the pregnancy had taken so much of her energy.
"I've made reservations in London for four of you. Luna has asked to spend the time living with Dan and Emma, and they've accepted her request." Chuck said, sitting at the bar near them.
"What will we be learning?" Hermione eagerly asked.
Chuck shook his head. "You have all been working a bit too hard for the last several months. I'm ordering a month long vacation."
"Wait, it's June of '96!" Hermione suddenly said.
"All month long Jae." Kate said with a laugh at the look her cousin sent her way.
"That was one of our clues that we did come back in time." The brilliant one explained. "Harry and I stayed at the same hotel a few days before we came back, the receptionist remembered us."
"Oh." Chuck said. "Well, I guess I don't need to tell you where to go then. And you know you went so stop arguing about this."
"I wasn't arguing." Kate said, gripping her boyfriend's hand tightly, though her father had been looking at the Potters.
"Look, this is hard enough daughter." Chuck said, though he was smiling as he did. "The tab will be on my bank account. Lord's Potter and Longbottom can reimburse me later."
"But school lets out at the end of June, Luna can't spend any of July there, I would have seen her." Hermione said.
"Well she's actually already there. Courtesy of your time-turner." Chuck said and Luna showed them the chain around her neck.
"Ok, Luna, remember to pay attention to our parents, they'll keep you from hurting yourself in the shower or some such." Hermione said, and gave her blonde companion a quick kiss on the cheek.
Luna grinned, tears leaking from her eyes and glomped onto Hermione, hugging her for several minutes as she recovered from Dan and Emma being called her parents by Hermione.
"Now you're in the same hotel but on different floors. You can choose to do things together, like visit the Tower of London or take in a play. Or not. Just tell the front desk if you want tickets to something and they'll arrange them for you. Oh, you have almost a full month before you return here and we'll get into some serious combat practice for three months, then it's time for another break, after that we start planning in earnest.
}-{
"This is your room Luna." Emma said, showing the thin blonde the small room beside theirs. "It has an excellent view of the sunset, and you're right next to us if you need anything."
"Thank you Mrs.—"
"Luna…" Emma interrupted her gently. "Do you want me to call you Miss Lovegood or Luna? If you insist on using Mrs. and Mr. Granger we're going to be more formal with you."
"no," Luna said in a small voice, tears leaking from her protuberant eyes. "I forgot."
Emma pulled her into a gentle hug. "It's ok dear. I'm not angry with you. Families support one another and that's what I'm trying to show you. You're our second daughter, just as Harry is now the son we always wanted."
"Thank you." Luna said, still hugging her tightly. "Emma-Mum." She breathed through trembling lips.
Emma ran her fingers through the blonde's long tresses and cooed softly while rocking her slightly from side to side and then she kissed the top of her head. When Luna relaxed she pulled back. "Tomorrow I want to take you shopping. Nothing extravagant, but you should pick two sets of sheets for the bed and at least one blanket. We'll get you some new clothes to wear around with us and try to get you more comfortable in our part of the world. Does that sound ok, or is it too frightening?"
Luna brushed her eyes with one hand, while the other still held Emma's. "Yes, that sounds lovely. Thank you again. I'm going to be saying that for a while I think." She said with a short laugh.
"Dinner!" Dan yelled from the base of the stairs causing Luna to jump and then giggle.
"Just a minute Daniel, Luna and I are going to wash up first."
"K," was the only response she got.
"I don't know how you do this in the magical world, well I assume there is a spell to clean your hands, but then again you're under age so how…" Emma drifted off and then shook her head. "No, I need to show you how we do it, you can tell me later dear."
"Oh, sure." Luna said and followed her second-mum into the loo where she got a lesson on controlling the taps and using soap on her hands. With a side lesson on using the nail-brush to clean under her long nails as well.
Just before they headed down Emma held her elbow to stop her for a moment. "What about your period, will you need supplies?"
Luna looked confused for a moment and then nodded. "Yes, but that won't be for a few weeks."
"I'll add it to the list while we're out tomorrow." Emma started down the stairs and then turned back to Luna, "By the way, don't discuss that around Dan, or in public with anyone else around. It's considered rude, you me and Hermione together is fine as we're family."
"Oh, ok." Luna said with a smile. "Thanks." She giggled, "There I go again."
"Are you two going to whisper on the stairs all night or come and eat?" Dan said, stepping into view at the bottom of the stairs.
"Coming dear." Emma said and pulled Luna gently down the stairs.
}-{
(Way, way back in the past)
Sirius jerked awake when he felt someone kiss him. Unfortunately there was an unyielding wooden rail behind his head and he saw stars.
"Siri." A woman breathed into his neck in concern, her hand coming around to cup the back of his head. "Careful My Lord."
It was then he noticed she was nude against him and his eyes opened and everything came back to him in a rush. "Are you ok Cissy?" He asked, his free hand tracing from her left shoulder down. Instead of the stump he'd seen briefly, his hand continued to her long-fingered hand, which turned to hold his tightly.
"Yes, My Lord, I am well. And content to stay here with you."
"Not just there if you please." A woman's voice came from near their feet as a blanket was placed over them.
"Great Mother." Narcissa said, twisting to look behind her.
"I am glad to see you both awake. Sirius, do you wish Narcissa to join you in your berth?"
"I do." He said, surprising himself with the emotion he felt from just two words.
"Then take her there." She said, and looked into Narcissa's eyes. "Your clothing will be in with his. Nick arrives in about an hour and dinner will be served shortly after that. I expect you both to be properly dressed while my husband is here."
"Yes, Great Mother. What is a berth?"
"That's what bedrooms are called on a ship." Sirius said into her ear.
"Oh." Narcissa said, her eyes lighting in understanding and happiness.
"Off with you both." Penny said and climbed half-way up a ladder when a baby's wail sounded from inside the ship. The immortal woman slid down the ladder. "Coming Aimee." She called and vanished inside.
"There's a baby here?" Narcissa asked, while they struggled to untangle themselves and stand on the rocking vessel.
"Yes, she is three months old. Technically I was watching her while Penny went to get you, fortunately she slept the whole time."
"Merlin, where are we?" She said, suddenly realizing they were not anywhere she recognized. There was the coast of an island several hundred meters away. It showed no sign of human habitation.
"One day that will be called Lord Howe's Island, somewhere off the coast of Australia, we're also back in pre-history at this point. I don't really understand how it works, but Nick and Penny travel a lot in time."
"Well it is beautiful, I can see why they choose to be here." She said absently wrapping herself in the blanket while Sirius pulled his swimsuit back on and gathered her clothes.
"This way." He said, leading her into the ship through the door Penny had used a moment before. Inside was a large sitting room with several small tables. Down a short set of stairs they passed through a dining hall, and half-way down a hallway on the far side he stopped at a door. "This is our berth or bedroom. Nick and Penny, with Aimee are at the end of the hall in the master suite. If you do not wish to stay with me, there is an empty berth just there." He said pointing behind them at a closed door.
"No." She said, gesturing for him to open the door to his room.
He unlatched it, inside was a small cozy room. The bed, which was slightly larger than a twin, was built into the outside curve of the ship. Below it were drawers, while shelves were built into every vertical surface and a net hung close to the ceiling. A slim door to the side opened to the loo, with shower. A small desk with an attached bench was opposite the loo. Everything was cramped and small, but usable without too much difficulty.
"I see why you were outside." She said, her face showing mild disgust at the room.
"Yes, I have often slept on the back deck when it is calm like now." He said, looking through the drawers before pointing out the ones to the left under the bunk. "It appears your clothes are here. I'd recommend something light. Do you swim?" He suddenly asked, looking at her.
"Some." She said with a blush.
"Me as well, until I arrived here, then Penny quickly taught me. I'll teach you tomorrow." He said, sitting on the bench by the small desk. "Oh, would you like me to leave while you dress?"
"No My Lord. I meant what I said, while inside your head. I wish nothing more than to be with you for the remainder of my days and help you make our family great again." She tossed the blanket on the bed and stood nude before him.
Narcissa Black was in excellent shape as her former husband had demanded of her. There didn't seem to be an ounce of fat anywhere on her, except in her prominent breasts.
"And it appears our tryst was not only in your head." She added, reaching down to scoop his sperm from her inner thigh. "I shall see if I can use this tiny chamber of torture." Narcissa added with a smile and stepped into the loo.
"Are you ok?" He asked in concern.
"Yes. Very much so My Lord."
"Call me Sirius, or Siri as you did long ago."
"Certainly Siri. I will be proud to carry your children and honored to help raise them."
"Get cleaned up, I'll be here." He said gently closing the door and sitting at the desk again. Well he hadn't been expecting this development in his personal life. But he had no reason to complain about it either. When they were children, Cissy had been his favorite cousin, she was intelligent, adventurous, and funny. Then her betrothal to the beast Malfoy had happened. Once it was signed she'd lost all of her personality.
"Why so angry Siri?" Narcissa asked, suddenly kneeling before him and gently caressing his cheek.
"Sorry," he said quickly, his eyes drawn immediately to her gorgeous nude body before him. "I was remembering how we were before…"
"Yes, and I hope we can recapture that." She said before stretching up and kissing him again. "I have not felt like this in fifteen years. Come let us dress as our hostess asks and see if we can assist her in preparing dinner."
}-{
Penny was apparently still occupied by Aimee so Narcissa took it on herself to begin preparations for dinner. After a brief discussion with Sirius who, grudgingly, volunteered to setup the grill he'd seen used on the stern of the boat. She went to work cleaning and cutting potatoes and carrots.
"Oh, thank you." Penny said when she emerged, carrying her baby girl in one arm. "This is Aimee, she is almost three months old."
The little one was shaking one arm in the air while the other pulled on her mother's long blonde hair.
"My isn't she cute? Would you like assistance with her Great Mother?"
"Narcissa, please call me Penny. The title the Goblins gave me centuries ago is not one of my favorites." Penny said, gently opening her daughter's hand and releasing her hair.
"Oh," Narcissa said, looking down. "I'm sorry Penny, I did not mean to offend."
"What offends me is one of my descendants acting meek and subservient. That contract did more damage to you than I thought." Penny said gently.
"Siri makes me remember how I was before. I am hopeful that will help."
Penny nodded sharply, "If it does not I will help you remove them. We will be here, in the past, for another three months to allow you to recover. At that time we will join the Potters and make final preparations to remove the abomination from the world."
"The Potters?"
"Harry Potter and Hermione Granger have soul bonded, they are also back in time. When we join them it will be six months prior to what you did yesterday. The timing is not only to allow you and Sirius to recover, Mrs. Potter has also born a child. He will be the same age as Aimee when we join them."
"So what am I grilling?" Sirius said from just inside the door.
"Swordfish." Penny said. "Third shelf in the cooler, they are already marinating, do four of them." The cooler was built into one of the inner walls and looked just like a muggle refrigerator that Sirius had once seen at Lily's house.
Narcissa went back to peeling potatoes with quick, efficient, wand motions while he grabbed a tray with the required items. Only after he left did their conversation resume.
"And what is my role in this?" Narcissa said, starting on the carrots now that the potatoes were skinned and quartered.
"That is entirely between yourself and Sirius. My plan was merely to heal you and give you time to recover in peace."
"Thank you Penny." Narcissa said as several tears dripped from her cheeks.
"Where are my girls!" a deep voice called from farther inside the ship.
"In the galley Love." Penny called and lowered Aimee to hold her better as she was squirming to move closer to the voice.
"There they are." The voice came from the broad chest of Nick who quickly hugged Penny and Aimee, snuggling his nose into the infant's neck causing her to giggle.
"Nick," Penny said sharply but didn't move to pull away.
"It's been hours since I last saw you." The immortal man said but stepped back to look at Narcissa. "And we have a healthy… no not quite… Would you like me to remove that curse?"
"Can you Great Father?" Narcissa said and then blushed, looking down. "Sorry, I did not mean to imply you could not do something."
"Hmmph." Nick said and tilted Narcissa's head up by cupping her chin. "I am not God. There are certainly things I cannot do. But purging this curse is well within my abilities."
"Yes Great Father." She said and knelt.
Nick and Penny shared a sharp look before Penny reached her free hand down to her descendant. "Stand, and my husband also prefers Nick to the Goblin title."
Narcissa stood and then was lead onto the rear deck. "Sirius come here and sit with Narcissa for a minute." Penny called.
He looked over his shoulder from the grill and then closed the top to walk over to them.
"I will remove the dark curse that plagues her." Nick said. "She will be dizzy for a minute or so. Just support her while she recovers."
"Yes," Lord Black said and sat beside Narcissa, right where they had made love only an hour ago.
She shivered a moment but welcomed his arm around her, providing stability on the slowly rocking ship.
Nick bent down, putting his left hand over Narcissa's right ear and then gently blew into her left. A black cloud came out of her right ear and he pulled it free with a gentle tug. "Got it." He said and then Ptolemy flamed in and took the thing in his beak before swallowing it and flying around the two couples singing a joyous song.
"Merlin." Narcissa breathed and then her back straightened as she was suddenly fully aware for the first time in fifteen years. "If your father wasn't already dead I'd kill him with my bare hands for agreeing to put a Daughter of our house under such a contract!"
"That's the fire I remember." Sirius said and didn't back away when her furious eyes turned to meet his.
"I'll just be tending the meat." Nick said with a chuckle. He snatched the tongs from Sirius' hand as he walked past the sitting man.
"And I believe there are still side dishes to complete." Penny said and headed back into the galley with her daughter now resting her head on her shoulder.
"I shall not run." Sirius said slowly, not moving his eyes from the brilliant blue ones in front of him.
"Good, at least one man on this boat knows what's good for him." Narcissa said and then crashed her mouth to his, demanding he reciprocate in kind, which he did.
"I think you bit my tongue." Sirius said when they parted.
"Yes, I did. Bite mine next time." Narcissa said firmly. "You will take up your ring upon our return to the present and bring Andromeda and her daughter back into our family. You may take a wife, but I will be your consort to ensure you have strong children."
"You shall not be my consort, you will be my wife! And if you permit, I shall take a consort of your choosing." He retorted causing her to pause and grin before pulling him into the ship and back to their berth.
"I think they shall be late for dinner." Penny said after the door squelched shut and no further sounds were heard from that direction. She had placed Aimee into a small hammock strung over a seating area so her hands were free to finish cooking.
Nick laughed and levitated the cooked swordfish steaks into the galley, depositing them on four separate plates. Two were covered by shimmering shields to preserve them. "At least we have our descendant back."
}-{
(Past)
Neville Longbottom woke when a car honked its horn in the distance. It was still to new a noise for him to ignore, unlike his girlfriend who slept blissfully on beside him.
London was huge, and they'd spent the first two days walking all over, just taking in the sights and exploring. Eating wherever they happened to be when they got hungry. The whole experience was novel to him, Kate had admitted she was well outside of her depth, but enjoyed exploring.
They had caught several plays and movies, which had been completely foreign to the Longbottom Heir's experience, though he found them intriguing enough to want more.
"Morning Nev." Kate said and slid from their bed to head into the loo, her pale ass wiggling invitingly.
"Morning." He replied.
He still wasn't sure just where he stood with Hermione's cousin and was determined to push the conversation to what would happen when they caught back up with the 'present.' He would be Lord Longbottom in a matter of days once they got there. There were rules about his relationships that applied at that point, and then there was the contract he had to explain.
Though he was certain that she was his girlfriend, he wasn't positive she wanted to maintain that for more than the summer. These questions wouldn't answer themselves.
With a groan he pulled himself from the bed and headed into the loo. She was already in the shower, but one of her rules was that they each had to brush their teeth and tongue in the morning before kissing.
With a deep breath he started this strange muggle custom. When he was able to cast spells a simple charm took care of both in a moment. The paste she preferred was a spicy cinnamon that he found hard to manage for more than a minute before he simply had to spit it out and rinse thoroughly.
"Are you going to join me?" She called from the middle of the steam-filled cubicle.
"Just finished brushing." He said and pulled the door open, stepped inside quickly and closed it behind him to preserve the heat.
"There you are." She said warmly and gave him a tender morning kiss. When they parted she spun around. "Can you scrub my back?"
"So long as I can do the front next."
She giggled. He went to work anyway knowing she liked to play coy but did anything he asked her without protest.
Kate Granger was far more active than her cousin Hermione. Kate rode horses and helped tend a farm, while Hermione was far more likely to spend hours reading. That kept Kate's figure slim and athletic, while her cousin was far curvier, even prior to having a child.
Since starting school, he'd grown considerably and had finally been happy with his own image. That was before six months of intense physical and magical training. He hardly recognized himself in the mirror these days.
The Longbottom Heir diligently cleaned her back, then helped her wash her hair before she spun, and turned him around to scrub him thoroughly. Finally they were face-to-face and she washed him first, leaving his cock pulsing in anticipation as she cleaned the soap off. Once she felt it was clean she ducked her head, taking most of it in her mouth and throat, swirling her tongue around.
With a pop she pulled her mouth free. "All clean." She declared and held her hands over her head, allowing him free access to her body.
He recovered enough to locate the soap and lather her chest and stomach, making sure to do her armpits as she'd long ago instructed. She didn't need to shave as her cousin, who remained anonymous for this conversation, had shared a spell to remove all hair below the chin on a witch for several months before it needed to be cast again.
Once her torso was rinsed free, and checked by his tongue, he proceeded to the sacred area between her legs. She leaned back against the wall, hands holding the shower pipe as he lathered her cunt and then fingered her until she was just about to reach her peak. Then he used the detachable showerhead to wash her until she squeaked when his fingers caressed her.
He re-holstered the showerhead and knelt before her, she spread her legs and knees as far apart as she could and his tongue snaked out to flick her little button several times, then he licked from the base to the button before declaring her clean and standing.
"So close…" she moaned as he turned off the water.
They dried themselves quickly before rushing to the bed where she lay on her back and grabbed her ankles, pushing them to the bed her center was perfectly displayed and open like a rose.
It took them several minutes to get him comfortably inside her as most of her lubrication had been rinsed away.
Without silencing charms she had to prevent herself from making too much noise, not that the hotel was silent by any means. Just last night the couple above them had made an awful racket, which made her try harder not to be embarrassed if they ever learned who that was.
She came quickly, while he had to work himself up again, they met at her second and his first, holding onto one another tightly while they came down from the shivering end.
"Thank you." She said, kissing his neck and sucking on his collarbone gently.
"Thank me? No, thank you." He said with a chuckle.
Once they were clean and dressed they made it down to the free breakfast in the lounge and discussed where they would explore today. They had only seen Harry and Hermione a couple of times, though they were not present today.
"Kensington Palace?" She suggested.
He shrugged, "What's different about it from any other palace?"
"I know you're a bit jaded, but please?"
He looked her in the eyes until she fidgeted. "Only if we walk the park as well. There are some things I'd like to discuss that you've been avoiding."
"Do you want to go back to the room?" she said leaning forward so he could see down her shirt.
"No, we need to talk."
"Ok." She said, suddenly meek and focused on her meal, which made him feel like a heel for pressing her when she was uncomfortable about it.
He thought she might actually feel better after the discussion, but if they never had it, their relationship was doomed.
The park was a focal point for those who lived near, families were picnicking and many couples strolled around just as they were.
"I'm sorry if this makes you uncomfortable, but we need to push through it. I'm not letting you walk away because either of us are too afraid. Do you understand that?" he said softly.
"Yes, but I'm scared."
He released her hand and moved his arm around her shoulders, pulling her tighter to him while hers went around his waist.
"I'm scared too. Very soon after we get back I'll have my seventeenth birthday, making me Lord Longbottom. As such I cannot have a girlfriend."
She flinched but he tightened his hold on her slim shoulders.
"Katherine, it just has to be more formal than that. I would have to give you a promise or betrothal ring, then you would be my intended. We can still act the same, but a Lord is not allowed something as trivial sounding as a girlfriend."
"oh," she said in a small voice as she processed that. "How?"
"Your father and I have to sign some papers. Essentially making me responsible for you, unless we break the contract, then you revert to his household."
"That doesn't sound too bad." She said, looking up at him.
"No, but there's something else you must be aware of." He said, fear evident in his voice.
"What?"
Instead of answering her he steered her to a more secluded area, where they could sit on a grassy hill to look over a pond. "One of our most ancient laws is Line Continuation, and yes you heard the capitalization. Basically if a woman is the very last of her family she can marry into another family as a second spouse or concubine. She will maintain her own name and her children belong to that family, not her husbands."
"Who is she?" Kate snapped, leaning away from him.
"Susan Bones." He said simply. "If she is not married by the time she is twenty, then the contract becomes active."
"Have you ever…"
He shook his head. "I told you that this is my first relationship and I didn't lie. Before Penny brought me here, I was terrified of most girls. I did manage to ask Hermione to a dance back in our fourth year, but she already had a date, so I asked Ginny Weasley instead. She accepted and we went to the dance, but apparently I nearly broke several of her toes and she wouldn't speak to me for a while after that."
"So if she gets married then nothing happens, right?"
"Yes."
"But? I sensed something there."
He sighed and lay back on the hill. "Yeah."
"What?"
He let out a breath before answering. "Rumor is, and yes that doesn't mean it's a fact, none-the-less, she's rumored to be a witches witch."
"Oh."
"Yeah, so the odds of her marrying some other guy are…"
"Pretty slim." She finished for him.
"Yep."
"Let me think about that. Can we talk to her when we get back?"
He shrugged and then she was laying half on him, using his chest for a pillow. "Don't see why not, she knows about the contract."
"So is that it? Have we talked about what we need to?" she asked.
"Yeah, unless you have something to bring up."
"Nope, thanks for forcing me to listen." She said and leaned over to kiss him.
}-{
"This is absolutely perfect." Harry said on the sixth morning of their vacation. He was sitting up in bed, one arm around his wife, while she had their four month old son at her breast. Both of them were watching him suckle contentedly.
"Yes, it is." She said, looking down at her beautiful son. "I'm a mum." She said sounding awed.
Harry knew better than to interrupt his brilliant wife, whom he promised to arrange an actual ceremony as soon as possible for. They both needed wedding bands, he decided to pull her into the first jewelers they saw today and purchase one to join her mother's engagement ring on her hand.
"I grew him inside my body, and now he gets fed from me too. This is simply incredible Harry." Again she drifted off, absently shifting her hungry son to her other breast where he latched on without any hesitation.
"I know how she felt love." She said, still looking down. Then her brilliant brown eyes moved up to match his. "I know why your mother sacrificed herself. Knowing her husband was already dead, you were far more important to her than her own life. I too would do the same without hesitation. Harry…" Her free hand came up to touch the tears dripping from his chin.
"You are my life, but if you were gone, this little man would be all I had left of you and I would preserve him over myself. Something of our joining must continue beyond our end."
Using his stubbled chin she drew him close, not being able to move without disturbing their son, and they kissed slowly, tenderly. Until she was certain he understood her once again. They parted, pressing foreheads to one another.
"Did you want to go back to the Tower of London again today, or check off one of the other items on your list instead? Sherlock Holmes residence perhaps?" He whispered.
Hermione leaned back slowly, resuming her usual position for feeding her son and answered. "I'd like to spend one more day at the Tower." Looking up at him through her long hair. They had already spent two days there, but it was filled with history and of course she was obsessed with it.
"Of course, we have plenty of time. And so long as I can spend it with the two of you I'm content." He replied and kissed her lips, through her curtain of hair which caused her to giggle.
James jerked in her arms, having fallen asleep. Instead of crying out in fright he quickly settled again when she put him on the bed between them, though his eyes remained open. Their mental connection still allowed them to understand his needs and so long as it was active he was a very easy baby to care for.
"Go get ready, I'll lie here and watch him." Harry whispered.
Hermione walked her fingers up his arm and then slid out of the bed and headed for the shower.
"Hello there little man." Harry said, holding his pinky near his son's hands.
They twitched against his finger and then the left one latched onto the tip. Mission accomplished the boy tried to stuff his other fist into his mouth.
Harry laughed softly. "If you're trying to suck your thumb you have to make it stick out. But your mum said that's not a good habit. When you have teeth it will push them forward. Your grandparents are dentists, they have to fix that a lot apparently."
James made a cooing noise and spit up some milk.
He wiped it up with one of the many small towels they now carried just for these emergencies.
"Ok, your turn." Hermione said as she came out of the bath, towel draped around her body while her wand was busy drying her hair.
"Do you think we can learn wandless magic?" he said while extracting his finger from his son's surprisingly strong grip.
"I'd love to try." His brilliant mate said. "Then we could do small things around others and no one would have a clue."
"I had the idea when James spit up a little and I had to use the towels again." He said, and headed into the bathroom.
"I know I've got a book on that back at my Uncle's farm." She said with a sigh.
Harry laughed, "Let's just try it love." He said and started the shower.
"Did you hear that young man?" Hermione said, squatting beside the bed and putting her hand on her son's head. "He actually wants me to try something without reading about it!"
"Gaah." James seemed to say, as his hand flailed in her direction.
She slid closer and he bumped her nose before latching onto it with a painfully strong grip. She quickly used her free hand to open his little one and allow her to pull back. He was content to hold her hand instead.
"Ok, I'll try it." She said. "How can I say no to the two most important men in my life?" A moment later she scooped him up and lay him in the stroller they'd bought on their first day. He couldn't roll out of it, as she was worried he might do on the bed, while she got dressed.
}-{
(Present)
Marlene McKinnon apparated directly from the Ministry Atrium to the entrance hall of Greengrass manor. It was ten till eight according to the clock on the wall. She waited a moment and a house elf appeared in front of her. "Please inform my sister that I am here with a letter from Amelia Bones." She said to the little woman.
With a pop the elf vanished. She was back less than a minute later. "Mistress says to be waiting in the solarium. She and the little misses will be there soon."
"Thank you." Marlene said and walked down the central hall of the manor. She knew her way around her sister's home, though it had been a few years since she was actually invited here. She knew that her job and firm stand behind Madam Bones was a large part of the problem. There was nothing she was willing to do about that rift, if it endangered the Light in any way.
"Aunt M!" a girl called and rushed at her from the back stairs, her deep blue robe streaming behind her.
Marlene knelt and braced for Astoria's impact and ensuing hug, returning the embrace warmly.
"I've missed you Auntie." The sixteen year old girl said, still tightly hugging her mother's younger sister.
"And I you, but my job doesn't allow me much liberty, and I've made your parent's angry with me for it." Marlene confessed.
"I don't care." Astoria said, finally pulling away to look her Aunt in the eyes. "I'd gladly come live with you. It's so boring around here."
Marlene smiled and then stood. "I'm hardly ever home myself. You'd be bored there too, and all alone."
"I'd come with you!" she said, still determined to show her conviction.
"Not until you've graduated and at least passed Auror training."
"Not my daughter!" they heard from the hall behind them.
"Hello Celeste." Marlene said without turning. "It's always nice to hear your musical voice." She spun on her heel to face her now angry sibling.
Astoria's older sister Daphne stood off to the side of her mother, her emotional mask well in place, but she was clearly not supporting her mother's position. If she had been then she would have stood at her mother's shoulder.
"Mum!" Astoria said. "You always tell Daphne and I not to argue, that sisters should talk to each other and not yell."
"Daughter!" Celeste barked and stepped forward.
Marlene slid to stand between mother and daughter. "Cele," she said, using the old pet name. "Be at peace, I shall not kidnap your child."
"Lene, why do you always make me so mad?" Celeste said, suddenly looking sad, but slipping back to her own pet name.
Marlene shrugged before answering honestly. "You support your new families ideals, I'm still fighting father's battles."
"Battles that got him killed." Celeste said, wiping tears from her cheeks as she came closer to her sister.
"I'm better than he ever was sister." Marlene said, pulling her taller sibling into a gentle hug. "But yes, there are always those out there stronger or luckier. I cannot stop in fear of them." She finally allowed herself to cry, ignoring the younger girls who seemed to mimic them so well.
It took them a few minutes to collect themselves. Marlene used a wandless charm to repair her own makeup and then did the same for her sister when she raised an eyebrow in question.
"So what is this missive from your Madam Bones brings you here to wake us?" Celeste said sharper than she seemed to intend as she grimaced. "Sorry." She said and took a slow breath. "Can you deliver it to me or do you need to place it in Malcolm's hand?"
"I should give it to him, that was my instruction." Marlene said.
"Then sit and visit with my daughters while I retrieve him." Celeste said and with a quick nod at each of her daughters she walked out of the room.
"Thank you Aunt M." Astoria said, taking her hand in both of hers.
"Yes." Daphne said, letting her mask of indifference drop as she hugged her aunt, though anyone seeing them together would think them three sisters as they looked strikingly similar, each with long blonde hair and sharp blue eyes. Daphne wore her hair braided while Astoria's cascaded half-way down her back and Marlene's was held back in a long ponytail.
"So what have you two been up to? How has school been?"
"Terrible." Daphne said. "Most of our teachers have barely any understanding of their subjects. Professor Snape, well he isn't teaching anymore, but regardless of his skill in potioning, he cannot impart that knowledge. Defense has been nothing but idiots since Lupin back in third year. The only teachers that really teach are McGonagall, Flitwick, and Sprout."
"But I heard the Defense scores were the best in years." Marlene said.
"That would be Potter and Granger. They led a study group that really seemed to work. Slytherin wasn't invited, but I got an O anyway." Daphne said without her usual bitterness.
"You know with Nott, Malfoy, Parkinson, and Bulstrode always demeaning every other house there was no way we'd be involved." Astoria said.
Daphne shrugged. "Well yes. Though at least Granger and I are on speaking terms. We usually partner in the advanced classes."
"Good." Marlene said. "Now how has it been here?"
"Boring." Astoria said dramatically and collapsed into a plush chair, hand draped over her eyes.
"Father has been constantly politicking with his allies." Daphne said, ignoring her sister's acting attempt. "I've sat in on much of it as he says I've got to learn it so I can guide the alliance when he passes."
Marlene nodded, politics were not her strong suit. She left that to others. "It's important to learn the family business, which is why I picked up enchanting."
"Master comes." A house elf said suddenly from the doorway.
Marlene straightened her back, while Daphne's mask snapped back into place and Astoria sorted herself out properly on the chair.
Lord Malcolm Greengrass strode into the room, Celeste on his left arm. They stopped about ten feet from her. Marlene gave him a curtsy and held the sealed envelope out to him.
He did not take it immediately. "You have this from her hand?" he asked.
"I do, Lord Greengrass." Marlene said, not wavering in the slightest.
"And her words?"
"To deliver this to you, it concerns your faction. I know no more."
He took the letter and walked off to the side before opening it. Celeste watched him for a moment and then stepped close to her sister and squeezing her hand briefly in support.
The women waited about five minutes while he read, then re-read the short letter and then thought about it, looking out into the shadows of the back garden. He seemed to reach some conclusion and walked back to them, passing the letter to Daphne who slipped it into an inner pocket of her robe without glancing at it.
"I grant your Patron may have a point. Perhaps the reason for our neutrality no longer exists. I shall think on this and consult with my Heir and allies. She did not ask for a reply, and I am not prepared to give one at this time." He said.
Marlene curtsied again. "Thank you for your attention Lord Greengrass, I am sure she will be interested in your reply when you are prepared to deliver one."
"Stay the rest of the night, accept the hospitality of my house as you once did." He said in a suddenly gentle voice. "Family should be together in these times."
"Thank you My Lord Greengrass. I accept for the night but I must travel to Hogwarts in the morning." Marlene said.
"My Heir will accompany you, unless you believe there is imminent danger."
"There was an attack in Diagon, as I'm sure you read in the late paper. The school is still the safest place in our world. No one has ever taken it by force."
"Very well." Malcolm said. "No Astoria, you may not go as well. I am not pleased with your lack of control. Your sister will represent us for now while you return to your tutors."
"Yes Father." Astoria said politely.
"I shall return to my chambers, and will discuss this with my Allies in the morning. Good night and Merlin watch over you." He said and walked out without waiting for a response from the stunned women.
}-{
Susan was bored, and terrified, but that did nothing to help with her boredom. She had been out to dinner with her aunt when she'd received the emergency alarm and apparated them both to the Ministry.
Since then the emergency seemed to have passed. Now she was sitting in her aunt's office looking through a Teen Witch Weekly, one that was nearly a year old at that.
The door opened, "OK, Sue, I think we can head home."
"Good, you really need to get some recent reading material!" She said happily and stood.
The lights flickered, went out, and then came back on. Aunt Amelia had her wand in hand and was running out the door.
Susan drew her own wand and ran after her. Magical lights did not flicker.
They were almost to the Command Center when a large explosion threw them against the wall. The glass from the right side of the hall had been shattered. Susan felt a shard pierce her leg and gasped in pain. When she could look around again the glass of the atrium was raining down in a great cascade.
Her aunt was getting to her feet, and staggered into the Command Center yelling something Susan couldn't follow.
Susan jerked the glass from her leg, it was almost two inches long. She quickly cast several healing spells on it and was relieved when the wound knit cleanly together. There was a small twinge of pain as she stood to follow her aunt.
There were voices in the Atrium so she looked down, dozens of Death Eaters were running towards the office side. She stood in shock a moment and then realized that the pale man in the rear had to be He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named. She didn't understand what the red-skinned man beside him was, but she knew she had to tell her aunt.
"He's here!" She yelled as she ran into the Command Center.
"Who?" One of the Aurors said while her aunt looked up from the duty desk.
"Voldemort!" Susan said firmly.
"Evacuate now, we'll reform at Hogwarts." Amelia said and ran past Susan, grabbing her hand to pull her along. They were at her office when the lift spilled Death Eaters into the hall behind them.
Killing curses shot at them, missing Susan by inches as she ducked into the office. Two of her aunt's guards were struck and killed. Amelia summoned a rubbish bin into the path of one that would have struck her, instead the explosion when it was hit by the curse, threw her into her office and she struggled to catch her breath.
Susan closed the door and then sealed it with a Coloportus spell.
"Madam, you must flee." One of her guards said, casting more spells on the door to strengthen it.
"Sue, you've got to get out of here, go to Hogwarts. Find Harry." Amelia said, struggling to stand, her right leg had been shredded by the exploding trash can.
Her aunt's remaining guard cast multiple healing spells on the leg which allowed Madam Bones to stand.
"Auntie!" Susan said, tears coming to her eyes but she forced them down, now was not the time.
"Go, use my escape passage, get to the end and you can apparate, it's outside of the ward line."
Several spells impacted on the door, it splintered but did not open.
"RUN!" her aunt said, shoving her towards the bookshelf.
Susan stumbled and fell against the shelves, she quickly slipped her wand into the slot to open the secret door. It clicked and fell open. Without looking back she pushed it closed, sheathed her wand in the Auror holster on her left forearm and ran.
It was a long tunnel, lit by small glass balls every ten feet. She saw a yellow line painted across the floor, the tunnel continued for only a few feet beyond that point. Just before reaching the line a red-skinned arm materialized in front of her and drove into her stomach.
The buxom seventeen year old Heiress doubled over in pain, the air in her lungs being driven from her in an instant and her vision darkened.
She was pulled tightly against a large muscular man, whom she couldn't see in the suddenly dark tunnel, but could certainly feel his rock hard body.
Then it felt like her skin was being ripped from her and she would have screamed if she had any air left to do so. Instead she struggled to suck air into her empty lungs but they seemed to fight her.
Then the pain stopped and they were falling. The man holding her grunted in surprise and they landed in soft earth. He just managed to maintain his own footing, keeping them both erect. There was a partial moon above them, it provided her enough light to see they were standing at the bottom of a large crater.
Just as she got her breath back her vision faded and the pain all over her flesh came again. This time she did scream, but initially she couldn't hear it. Then the pain vanished and she was standing in a large hall, surrounded by dozens of men dressed in furs.
"Shut it." The red man said and his hands, tipped by sharp claws, ripped her shirt which then disintegrated along with her bra.
Susan scrambled back, managing to stay just out of his reach and got behind what she guessed was his throne and pulled her wand out of the invisible sheath on her arm.
He laughed, his black horns shimmering in the candlelight. "Your petty human magic can do nothing to me little womb. I'm a demon and you're going to carry my spawn."
"No, no." she said, but the tears didn't come, she knew they wouldn't do her any good anyway.
"In about nine months my spawn will start eating his way out of you. But your pathetic King Potter will be long dead and his Queen will suffer your fate shortly afterwards."
Even in her current state she knew what she had to do. "You're the pathetic one. Your seed won't take in me. I'm the matriarch of Clan Bones. Only my husband can give me a child, my magic will allow no other."
"Bah, your Hogywarts falls in two days, there will be no mate for you little womb!"
"Try this then." She said, pointing her wand at his barrel chest. "EXPECTO PATRONUM!" she roared and her badger erupted from her wand.
It vanished into the demon's chest.
He laughed a moment then doubled in pain. "No!" he said, clearly in shock. Then his voice choked off and he exploded like a popped balloon. She ducked behind the throne but there was no great spray of blood and bone so she stood again. There was no sign the demon had existed.
"EXPECTO PATRONUM!" she encanted again, summoning her badger, it circled her. "Ha." She laughed. "My King taught me that! He's going to kick your ass!" Then she remembered the wild-looking men around the chamber and pointed her wand at them.
The nearest one, a muscular black man with yellow eyes and a shark-toothed sword stepped forward, onto the stairs leading up to the dais, and suddenly knelt. The remainder of the men did the same where they stood.
"So what's this then?" Susan said, still standing behind the throne to hide her bare chest.
"We serve." The man on the stairs said, without looking up.
Susan took the fur cloak that was draped over the back of the throne and put it over her shoulders. She had several bleeding gashes where the demon's claws had scratched her as he ripped off her shirt. She quickly cast several healing spells and the wounds closed. The cloak dragged on the floor but with a quick sticking charm it would at least cover her prominent chest. Feeling better about herself she moved in front of the throne and sat on it.
"I am Susan Bones, Matriarch of the Most Ancient and Noble House of Bones. Who can tell me the plan to take Hogwarts and how we can get there before the scheduled invasion in two days?" Her badger settled at her feet.
The kneeling man on the stairs looked up and seeing the cloak he met her eyes. "Former master and two of his brothers were to join 'Mort." He shrugged after that.
A quick count of those in the large room showed she apparently had about forty warriors in her service, at least that was how many were currently in this room.
"How do we get there?"
The man shrugged.
"Where are we?"
He shrugged again.
"Is there anyone now in my service that can give me this information?"
The men looked among themselves and none of them seemed to have much of a clue what she was talking about.
"I can help. For my freedom." A female voice came from above her.
There was a red-skinned woman suspended in a cage, about twenty feet off the floor. She was completely nude and had a long tail. Her breasts dangled down between the bars of the cage.
"Who are you and why should I trust you?" Susan said, leaning back in her throne.
"I am Jexa, a demoness. And you can only trust me if you defeat me in combat."
Susan shrugged and flicked her wand. Her Patronus shot up, right at Jexa face, but paused inches from her. "Do you yield? I'm not sure what this actually did to that guy, but he hasn't come back and it looked awfully painful."
Jexa seemed to be trying to pull herself away from the patronus but the cage did not allow her to move. "Yes Mistress, I yield and you have my parole."
"Then I accept your service for a year and a day, then you are free." Susan said. "Some of you lower the cage, slowly, do not let it hit the ground!"
The Patronus spiraled down to again settle at Susan's feet.
It took six of the men to turn the iron wheel mounted to the wall that the chain was wrapped on. They stopped when the cage was about a foot from the floor. Two of them removed several iron pins from the back and jerked the doors open causing the demoness to hiss in pain. The doors had two inch long spikes all over the inside of the bars, many of them had been partially stabbing Jexa through her black bat-like wings.
The demoness pushed herself to her feet and climbed from the cage. The wounds healed themselves quickly.
The wild-men backed fearfully away from her, looking to Susan for protection.
"Sit, and explain this to me." Susan said, conjuring a chair, with a large hole in it to allow the demoness' tail room and perhaps the ends of her long wings.
Her black eyebrows rose and she tapped the back of the chair with a long black nail before sitting, her wings fluffed out briefly and then settled like a leather cloak on her back.
She didn't seem to be concerned about her nudity, but then again she wasn't human either. "This is your human magic?"
"Yes." Susan said. "Can I get a drink? Butterbeer or something stronger if you have it." She called into the hall.
Two of the men went to a table and poured a grey, muddy looking beverage into a mug and brought them to the dais. One held it out to Susan and the other Jexa, though he stayed as far away from her as he could.
The demoness took it without looking and drank it down swiftly. She then noticed Susan had not done more than look inside the mug.
"It is kave, similar to your ale." Jexa said and motioned for her to try it.
Susan sipped from it, it had the consistency of an ice cream shake, but definitely had some kick to it. She drank about a third before looking at Jexa again. "Ok, go ahead."
"We are in the realm of the fae, though you will find few of them in this region. Your human magic should be able to transport yourself, but these, and I, must use gateways. It is how you got here, and yes I can form them, though I must regain my strength first, I have been imprisoned for several years and unable to attain proper sustenance."
Susan shivered, then downed the remainder of her mug. "That gate felt like all of my skin was being ripped off, and I went through it twice. How long before you can transport my army?"
"Hmm." Jexa said and cocked her head to the side. "I will be able to transport your army in three days, but I must find real sustenance, your human food does little for me."
Susan leaned back and closed her eyes briefly. This had been one hell of a night, she just wanted to get some sleep. But a Bones knew duty. These people seemed to think in terms of a Monarchy, as Volan had called Harry her King for some reason, she could maintain that illusion if it helped her authority.
"That will be too late for us to defend the school." She leaned her head back, looking up at the ceiling for a few minutes before sighing. What would her Aunt do? Just as she though that it came to her. "Where are the brethren, I heard about? If we cannot get to Hogwarts in time, we will prevent them from joining the fight."
"Interesting, I thought you would immediately seek the safety of your own kind and realm." Jexa said softly. "Volan's brethren are in their fortresses, here in the fae. One is not far, the other a full day's journey, though his fortress is more of a large house."
"My King, Harry Potter, would expect me to do my best to defend the realm. My Aunt, whom I believe is now dead, would expect me to do my duty. I will not let Harry, or his Queen Hermione down. We go to war!" Susan said, her eyes blazing into Jexa's black orbs.
Susan stood and spoke loudly to the hall. "I want everyone now in my service to listen. We go to war against the other demons. Gather others who may not be here, we march in three hours."
Quickly the room was mostly empty as the men scattered.
"I think you are a surprise Lady Matriarch Susan Bones." Jexa said.
"Why is that?"
"Because, you seem born to command, yet I have never met a female with this trait. Among my kind we serve, and among the wild ones, the women breed and provide food." Jexa said with a smile.
"I want to be gone before Volan can return." Susan said, intentionally ignoring Jexa's commentary.
Jexa shrugged. "If he could return quickly he would be here by now. It is likely your creature destroyed his incarnation and his spirit has returned to the third hell. It will be several centuries of Earth time before he forms a new incarnation."
"What do you need to recover your strength if human food is not it?"
"Blood will do, but male essence is better."
Susan blinked and then shook her head. "I will not allow you to kill my people to get the blood and the man must be willing. They seemed terrified of you."
Jexa shrugged. "Then I will use the blood of our enemies to regain my strength. Weak willed men provide weak seed."
"Who are you?" a trembling voice called from one of the doorways. When Susan looked it was an old man, bent and walking with the help of a staff. Several warriors stood behind him.
"I am your new Mistress. I am the Lady Matriarch Susan Bones of the Most Ancient and Noble house of Bones. Prepare to depart."
Her Patronus shot the length of the hall and paced back and forth in front of the small crowd. They all drew back from its aura in fright and quickly left.
Jexa let out a breath. "I didn't realize how much that hurts to be near until it went farther away."
"It is the essence of joy and love." Susan said. "A spiritual spell, used to fight the most evil and dark things. Are there clothes you normally wear? Where I am from many would be upset at your lack of clothes." Susan said when Jexa made no comment about her Patronus.
Instead of answering Jexa shimmered. A pair of grey breeches appeared on her legs while a bright yellow shirt covered her torso loosely, providing room for her wings, which now looked like an actual cloak made of leather. The handle of a sword stood over her shoulder and she wore dragon-hide boots.
"Wish I could do that." Susan said, flicking the rough fur against her bare neck. "Any idea where I can find some clothes?"
"Certainly, follow me. Your army will not need any supervision. War is their main employment." Jexa said and stood from the conjured chair.
Susan let her Patronus fade as she followed the demoness out a side door and up three flights of stairs. They ended up in a large circular chamber, it was full of stacked chests and boxes.
"This is, sorry was, Volan's treasure room. He was always taking tribute." Jexa pulled open a wardrobe, revealing a collection of clothes. "You may need to alter some of these, but they should be close to your size."
"And why would Volan have female human clothes?" Susan asked, looking through the clothes.
"He took them from his victims I'm sure." The demoness said.
Susan shivered, imagining all of the dead women whom this dresser represented. She quickly controlled herself to look carefully for something that would fit her large chest. There were several dresses that might work, but she was going to war, and she still had on her skirt and boots from before. Then she found a thick shirt, it was once red, but was now faded on the shoulders and back. The material was a tightly woven muslin.
She unstuck her fur cloak and was surprised when Jexa lifted it from her shoulders. Susan donned the red shirt, it draped down to her thighs but covered her well enough. Jexa then placed the fur cloak back on her shoulders and sealed the clasp in place.
"It helps you look the part, though it needs to be off of the floor." The demoness said to explain her actions.
Susan had her remove it again and then used a severing charm to cut a foot off of the bottom before trying it on again. Now it brushed her boot heels, it would do. She then transfigured the fur she'd removed into a broad belt.
"I don't think it's worth carrying a sword, I'd be expected to use it."
"Yes." Jexa said tapping the hilt of the blade over her own shoulder.
}-{
Lord Voldemort was angry, yet again his followers failed miserably. Yes they had taken control of the Ministry, but the Minister himself was not here, having left an hour before the attack. Madam Bones, who even now was catching her breath at his feet, had slain eight of his followers, including two more of his inner circle, but her heir had escaped. Crabbe and Goyle were not of much import, but their loss bothered him.
"Crucio!" He encanted, forcing the woman to writhe in agony on the floor again.
One of their main objectives was to capture the Department of Mysteries, instead it had gone missing. None of the lifts even had it listed any longer! He didn't know if it had actually been moved somehow or simply concealed.
His anger intensified the spell and the woman's muscles seemed to all seize at the same time, her back snapped under the pressure and she collapsed like a marionette once its strings had been cut.
Damn it, he had pushed it too far yet again. "Arvada Kevadra!"
"Has anyone seen the demon?" He asked conversationally to his minions, the corpse pointedly ignored now by everyone in the room.
"No my lord, not since we entered the Ministry." Avery said.
"I don't understand where he's gone. He was going to show me how he melted someones skin off while keeping them alive."
He sat in thought for a few minutes, then stood. "Let us return to my manor."
A few minutes later they apparated. He found himself falling, it was raining on him and suddenly he landed atop something. A sharp pain shot through his back as the air was forced from his lungs. His right elbow hyper-extended against something and then snapped. Seconds later he found himself sitting in a foot of water and mud at the bottom of a large crater, his broken arm useless in his lap.
"Who moved my house?" He said in his delirium. It looked like a giant had scooped up the whole manor, including the basement, and carted it off.
The cause of his pain, Avery who had landed before him finally sat up, spitting and coughing mud from his mouth.
Around them his faithful were each doing the same, two of them failed to move, lying face down in the water.
"What in Merlin's name is going on?" Lord Voldemort screamed into the falling rain.