Phoenix Hawk Chapter 5

Disclaimer: same as before; do not own, please don't sue. Back to the present! And a short one!

Harry shook off the bad memories, still petting Fudai. "What an exciting introduction to each other, huh mate?" Harry asked. Fudai made a chuckling kind of bark, knowing what Harry referred to. Harry laughed with his familiar. The resultant investigation had done what Harry couldn't – severed the final ties between him and the Weasley family.

Except, not even twelve hours passed, and Harry had communiques from George, Bill and Charlie, making it clear where THEY stood in the fiasco. Harry met them for the usual business dinner and tried to dissuade them from breaking away from their family. Carefully, they take turns shooting him down, telling him how wrong he was. How proud they were to be his friends, business partners. Bill reminded him of Fleur, which made Harry blush, causing general laughter around the table.

That night only solidified Three Brothers more.

Harry finally got up, calling Tomo to him. The older elf appeared with a pop, and bowed.

"Yes Master Harrys?" he said, straightening.

Harry smiled at the elf wearing a yukata tied with an obi in the House Potter colors of purple and gold.* "Tomo, I have outgoing mail I need taken to Belfry, as well as my report from this last mission. If you don't mind taking it all?", he never ordered his elves, even those bonded to him.

"Of course Master Harrys!", Tomo bowed again, hands reaching out to accept the package Harry had waiting to go.

"Thank you, Tomo. We're packing up for England today, for when you get back," Harry continued, handing over the two envelopes.

"Winky be telling us, Master. Lots chosen to see who goes with yous in the metal birdy," Tomo responded, eyes blinking.

Harry laughed and dismissed the elf before turning back to his owls. "If you need to hunt before we go, I estimate wheels up in ten hours. Be back here in eight, ok?" Harry tells them. Two head bobs later, and Harry can get on with his work.

He checked on the previous trip's activity, seeing everything that had been accomplished over the intervening time. Several of the divisions were constant profit makers, and only a couple had dipped since his last visit. Harry wrote himself notes to track what he wanted to cover before making his calls. He checked the time difference, noting it wasn't too late, before dialing the Longbottoms.

"Longbottom Manor, Neville speaking," was the answering accented tenor, after about four rings.

"Nev? Harry. Wanted to check in," Harry began.

"Harry! Back already? Flying east then?" Neville laughed. Out of all his school year mates that didn't have muggle backgrounds, Neville had adjusted to a muggle influenced life the easiest.

"Yeah Nev, simple mission. I've got 20 days to mess about with, and want to go over the quarterlies coming up in case I get a big one this time," Harry explains, one should lifting in a useless shrug.

"Sure, and you want to bother us all, right?" Neville jokes, but gets serious just a moment later, "But really Harry, everything went okay this time?"

"Yes Neville, perfectly fine, I swear. I've got wheels up in 9.5, so expect me, Winky and Dibby for morning tea, all right?" Harry answered, all hints of joking gone from his own voice. He knew his friends worried deeply about his job with Belfry. The jobs weren't always safe, or quiet guard duty type missions.

"All right Har, good enough for me, but you know the girls. Shall I contact everyone then, and arrange for a luncheon somewhere?" Neville confirmed.

"Please mate, as we're running long," laughter curled through Harry's voice again.

"Cost too many knuts to call home now?" Neville practically cackled.

That made Harry roar with laughter. The absolute absurdity, that he had to count knuts.

"All right, see you in the morning!" Harry signed off, having more to accomplish that day.

"Yep, see ya mate!" Neville said in farewell, disconnecting the call.

* - Harry's picked up elves from several countries, and lets them wear whatever uniform they are comfortable with. Also, wild guess on Potter colors!