Chapter 29 – I love girls but why me?
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"James, James!" Dan got me out of my daydreaming and back to the land of the living. "Mr. Delacour has insisted that we spend our time here at his Chateau and I have accepted."
Gabi hooked arms with me and was actually dragging me along to her father. By now I had figured out that "The Fates" were at it again I only had to figure out what they were going to try and what I was going to do about it. First there is Gabi and the other has my name written all over it, the tournament.
The port-key was a blast as Hermione and her parents had never taken one before so besides the gut wrenching feeling we all ended up in a pile when we arrived. Mr. Delecour took the men to the living room and Mrs. Delecour took the girls elsewhere.
"Well I guess its time to get down to the difficult part. First just call me Henri as James is likely to be family before all this is over. How much do you know about Veela."
"Lets see, you are not and your wife if half Veela so that makes Gabi and Fleur one-quarter Veela. They have an allure and you don't get them mad as they love fire balls." I was trying to keep this light.
You're well informed but besides the allure what do you know of the soul attraction quandary that Veela have?"
I just shrugged my shoulders."
"Yes we will explain this in full as time goes along but the short version is that Veela can sense the soul in a manner of speaking. Most Veela never find their mate but Gabi has found a compatible soul in you and you will find that you are going to have a hard time getting rid of her. You may or may not feel yourself being attracted and you can walk away if you wish but Gabi feels she has found her soul mate. If you want an example look at me, short, fat and plain. Apolline would not take no for an answer and chased me till I surrendered. Ah, as gorgeous as she is it was a quick surrender on my part I might add."
Awhile later the girls entered the room and Gabi plopped down in my lap.
"Gabriella Delacour you will act like a lady while you are in this house."
"James would you like to take a stroll in the garden; it's quite nice this time of year."
"Gabi you don't know how much I would like that but somehow I don't think I could resist you charms in the garden and all alone."
Henri was laughing and finally choked out, "Harry you are doing quite will. I think our little Gabi has met her match."
I must have looked confused so Henri continued. "I am use to it, women are not affected but Gabi has her allure up full and you are just sweating. Take a look at Dan if you think I'm joshing you."
Dan looked like he was about to get up and ravish Apolline. Emma gave him a slap on the cheek and he seemed to gain some of his senses back.
"Enough Gabi, James is not being persuaded, yet."
/Scene Break/
The next morning at breakfast I brought up the question of the tournament.
Again laughing Henri explained, "Old Dumbeldore has push some of the schools and he is going to start-up the Tri-Wizard Tournament again. Last time it was done all the champions were killed, only a fool would enter…Henri continued but I had already tuned him out. The time line must be changing as that tournament should have been run in previous year besides Voldemort was already back. I shook off thinking of all the "What if's" and joined the conversation as to where we were going to visit today.
/Scene Break/
Our French holiday was gone and September was racing towards us. I had been given a port-key made by the French Ministry along with diplomatic immunity so I could travel. Henri said they didn't trust Gabi with it as they knew she would be popping in to see me every other minute. As it was, my presence was demanded every weekend at the Delacour château. Hedwig was getting a workout carrying letters between us so the port-key would give her a bit of a break. At this time I had no idea were my feelings were but I didn't want to hurt Gabi besides she was one gorgeous girl who was looking more her real age every passing day.
/Scene Break/
"What! You have to be kidding Lockjaw."
"You know our humor Harry and that is not our style. You are sixteen and here are your house rings. It still remains that you must complete your owls as a minimum or they can try and take your house seats in the Wizengamot and try and control your houses and thus your house vaults. I have arranged OWL testing starting next Wednesday."
"I appreciated Lockjaw, sorry for the outburst. I was just thinking of my heritage and taking the rings to honor my parents and ancestors."
"I'm sure the money doesn't hurt much now does it?" Lockjaw gave a nasty Goblin grin. I couldn't stop myself from a grin also.
"I am going to need port-keys as the testing will take the better part of a week."
"That's going to be a problem Harry. Only the Ministry can make legal port-keys that will work inside the Ministry and 'apperation' is also restricted at the Ministry.
"So the minute I step out of the Ministry to use a port-key they can grab me. What's the cost to rent a platoon of Goblin warriors for the day?"
"Nice try Harry but again prohibited by laws and rulings by the Wizengamot."
There was no possibility that Dumbledore wouldn't know of the OWL testing and have his Order of the Phoenix there to escort me to where I would be safe and under his control. That was basic Dumbledore thinking but then I asked the sixty-four dollar question and got Lockjaw's super grin.
/Scene Break/
Voldemort had not forgotten me but he also didn't get my blood this time around. I didn't think that that would mean much but it was a difference. I was enjoying my life as it was and there was nothing stopping me from jumping off the Astronomy tower if I came under either of the two jerks control. I had checked and there was no Miss future Potter, my wife of long ago did not exist here. I would help save the Grangers and Delacours but everyone else could just do their best without me. A trip to Knockturn alley and the passing of a few Galleons and I was ready for Wednesday.
Wednesday came and Emma applied makeup to look like my scare was still there. I changed the color of my hair and stuffed it under a ball cap and I even removed my dragon earring. I hoped the glamour charm changed my appearance enough and that it would hold for the day. I figured if they saw Harry Potter with a Snape size nose they wouldn't give me a second glance when I canceled the glamour.
"Harry…Harry Potter"…Dumbledore was waiting for me in the Atrium.
It was a pincer movement. Dumbledore yelling my name alerted and identified me to his Order members and they moved in to pick up the kid.
The desk was surprised to find I didn't have a wand. The old guy was there to weigh the wand and give them back when you left. I don't know of any government that allows weapons in their government buildings. The Aurors of course was one exception and right now Tonks and Kingsley were moving toward me from either side wands drawn.
"Are you addressing Lord Potter Mr. Dumbledore?"
"Yes Harry we have been looking for you for a long time."
"Perchance you might check your prescription on your glasses Mr. Dumbledore as I have been around for many years."
"Yes Harry of course, now if you just be a nice child and go with these fine people."
"Listen you old coot, you are addressing Lord Potter Black and not some child off the street. Now call off your two goons or I shall take appropriate actions over your interference."
I had not been around for eighty-five years, fought and defeated Voldemort and been Minister of Magic for so many years not to have learned a few things. This was a capture the kid action so I figured I was only to get stunners from Kingsley and Tonks. There also were a few spells, curses and shields that I had picked up along the way and had not forgotten, thank you very much.
Those that might have been looking, which was most of the Atrium, thought they saw The Boy-who-lived grab the two red beam stunners and throw them at Albus Dumbledore. They then saw two people on either side of the Boy-who-lived fly across the atrium and land in a heap. Dumbledore almost got his wand out before he got stunned. I had arrived early to insure that the fun did not make me miss testing. I had refrained but still had the urge to cut off Dumbledore's beard and stuff it up his… thing started to get busy.
With my hands over my head I was shortly surrounded by Aurors. Moments later Amelia Bones came charging in demanding, "What the hell is going on here?" She stopped looked down at Dumbledore on the floor and then to her left and then right to her two stunned Aurors. Then she saw me standing there with my hands over my head showing I was wand-less she started laughing.
"Lord Potter I presume? I heard that you would be here today, please follow me to my office."
"Madam Bones I would like to comply but I am afraid to scratch my nose with twenty Aurors pointing their wands at me."
"Put those wands away you morons and get those three awake and tell them they have an appointment this afternoon with me and to not be late."
We entered the lift, "Nice bit of wand-less magic, caught them with their pants down I'd expect."
"Yes Dumbledore and those two Order of the Phoenix members were attempting to…"
"That was oblivious or your…well maybe you could be…Merlin reincarnated?"
"Believe me I am not but crazy story's are for later in the Dailey Profit. Dumblejerk and company tried to kidnap me as an adult and a Lord, give them a good scare this afternoon for me. It seems that Dumbledore has a plan of some sort that I play an unknown but significant part. Therefore he must control me even if it kills me, not going to happen by the way, I do my own self termination as a rule."
"I know of his Order of the Phoenix and his obsession of finding you but you would have to be crazy to attack Dumbledore and two Aurors in the Atrium with no wand." She started giggling but then sobered. "You're not crazy are you?"
I got to laugh, "No…well maybe…but I really am here to take my OWLs in about fifteen minutes."
"Yes I know, the whole Ministry knows, see me in my office when you're done."
"Yes Madam, thank you."
If I didn't get double OO's on my OWLs test today I would demand a recount but the next subject was tomorrow and that means I must get here and not locked away somewhere at Dumbledore's convenience.
"Ah Lord Potter have a seat."
"So what can I do for you Madam Bones?"
"Well a number of things actually. Could you tell me what is going on with any of the crazy people running around. I am talking of Dumbledore and Voldemort and any other of their associated people. You seem to be directly involved."
"Actually I can to some existent but it makes no difference as far as I am concerned. You must realize I just don't care anymore so don't count on me to get involved if I can avoid it."
"Give me what you can."
"Dumbledore has known the contents of the prophesy in the Department of Mysteries, Voldemort only knows it's there. Tosh I say but the two loons believe in the contents of the prophesy. Snape is a spy and looking after his own butt. Half of Slytherin at Hogwarts are Deatheaters and Dumbledore has to know they are there. Sooner or later Hogwarts and the Ministry will be attacked. Let's just say that this scar used to be a direct channel to Voldemort's brain and some of his plans, thankfully it's now dead. You have a gazillion marked Deatheaters in the Ministry and Dumbledore is off his rocker as he won't kill anyone for any reason with me being an exception I fear."
"So what are you going to do?"
"Madam Bones I am going to run like hell as soon as I can without hurting a couple of people"
"My second reason to talk to you Lord Potter was if you would be interested in a marriage contract with…"
"Susan is a great girl and I would love to produce a Bones heir for you but you must understand something…it's like I am jinxed. My life is no life for anyone."
"Well let me know if you wish to make a contract Lord Potter."
That was not the end of this day. I figured that if I tried to 'floe' out the address would be heard and followed. I was not looking forward to a one on one duel with Dumbledore. I found Dumbledore following me with a couple of Order members. As I walked out of the public side entrance for foot traffic I found several more Order Members waiting. "Now Harry you must be sensible and come with us quietly."
"Go to hell Old man."
Dumbledore raised his arm as if it was beneath him to engage me, everyone else started with the stunners already.
I raised a shield but being a copy cat I raised my arm and thirty thugs I had hired from Knockturn Alley attacked, the Order was loosing another battle this day. In the confusion I legaly port-keyed away.
On the second day of testing I got no problems arriving and again I thought I did well on the tests. As I left the testing room Tonks asked me to follow her to…
"How stupid do you think I am? If I remember yesterday you tried to stun me and give me to Dumbledork?"
"Madam Bones told me to decide if I was loyal to her or Dumbledore. I chose to keep my job."
"Lead away Auror Tonks."
Madam Bones offered her 'floe' to take me to the Leakey Cauldron. She had enough problems and paperwork over yesterdays brawl by the Ministry's foot exit. I accepted and tried to leave but Tonks did a sexual come on which I reluctantly turned down. To tell the truth I had enough problems already and quickly jumped in the fireplace.
Friday was the last day of testing and I wondered what Dumbledore was going to come up with next. It was in the Atrium and very public he tried to use shame to persuade me that it was all my fault from my parents deaths to Voltemort's return.
"Dumbledork go to hell" I said load enough for the atrium to hear.
"Harry you are but a child and need guidance. You cannot evade your responsibilities. You are destined to stay in England with all our citizens and must do your duty to save those citizens. As the chosen one you are restricted by law from leaving England."
"A dare? Make that a bet and watch the newspapers…you have lost it Old Man." I kept my voice loud but controled. Dumbledore did not know I had a secret and shit was just about to hit the fan.
I had no problems leaving on Friday but the papers the next morning were hot enough to cause a fire. "Dumbledore attacks the boy-who-lived DMLE head said attack unjustified."
The next day was another headline. "Boy-Who-Lived tells the Leader of the Light to go to hell."
The Monday morning paper was the big smear by Skeeter who was paid by me to be attentive to my plight and I had a headline of my choice. Dumbledore challenges Potter, "You can not leave or get out of England." The next moving photo showed Harry Potter under the statue of liberty and a paper showing the date. The caption stated Harry's words, "You're losing control old man." I did have a passport and could travel even if the magical community wouldn't let me do it magically.
There were more aspects than just one-upping Dumbledore. One of the biggest was the magical community now knew that their Boy-who-lived had dark hair, glasses, a scar, a large nose and funny ears.