Chapter Ten: What a Dead Gift.
Fleur glanced over at Harry "Who is it?" She asked with a lightly raised brow.
Harry smiled at his Owl, giving her a small rub with his index finger; before she took flight once more. "Don't know." He said cracking it open, he skimmed the lines lightly "Just Andromeda, she's letting me know about my training." He said casually, stuffing the note into his pocket.
Really the note was from Sirius, he wasn't sure how to tell her just yet about the loving, slightly mad but innocent convict. 'Harry, I have by this point realized you've likely read the paper; I am fine by the way, this was necessary. Gamma Orionis is completely innocent, just like me; think of it like someone else using your body. She'll be messed up for months maybe years but, at the moment (So long as you don't piss her off) she's as docile as a kitten, claws hurt by the way. ~ Pad-Foot.'
Harry did know a fair bit of Astronomy, Gamma Orionis was the third brightest star along Orion's belt. Though it had another name Bellatrix, which aligned itself with the Black mandate that names come from the stars.
Fleur pursed her lips, he was lying again; what was he hiding? "Arry you know you that you can tell me anything, right?" She asked softly.
Harry scratched his nose "I know." He said looking away.
"Then why do you continue to lie?" She asked curiously.
Harry frowned, picking at the edges of his sleeve "I-er…well…I want to tell you Fleur….I really do…but…I don't know how to tell you." He tried to explain, choosing his words carefully.
Fleur glared at him for a few minutes before cupping his cheek "Tell me when you're ready, no sooner nor later. Understood?" She asked with a voice of closure.
Harry nodded, feeling nervous about this all of a sudden "U-Understood." He said softly.
Fleur grinned "Merci, now I'm 'ungry." She pulled onto his arm "I think Lunch is ready!"
"Hey don't pull so hard!"
XX~XX~XX~XX
Harry paced lightly in the empty Enchanting room that he now claimed as his own, the Golden Egg rested in the middle of the stone floor. Harry had done a fair bit to change the room around, transfiguring socks into curtains to block out the light and using one of his ratty shirts to create a small rug around his bed. Flich never came into this room, it couldn't hurt that Fleur had placed a Silencing charm around the room; blocking all the noise he would make.
The reason for his pace was of course that blasted Egg, it still puzzled him. He stepped over to it and twisted the knob on the top; it let out a wailing screech. At first he thought it might be a banshee's screech but if it was, he'd be dead. Twisting the knob back to silence the wretched thing, he flicked his wrist and his wand slipped in place "Ignis"
With that small word, a wave of fire spawned from his wand. The fire wrapped around the Egg, for a few minutes. Harry started to feel a slight drain at his center and stopped, not wanting to end up in the medical wing again.
He glanced at the Egg, it was glowing a bright golden red colour. Though he thought the thing was impressive, the spot around the egg was not so. A chard black ring sat around the Egg, it was like a demonic halo for the heavenly object. Harry conjured his pair of Dragon hide gloves, which they used for dangerous potions.
Quickly he twisted the top, feeling an overwhelming heat in the palm of his hand. A loud screech and wail could be heard; Harry growled at the object. It needed to be cooled down, Madam Pomfrey wouldn't mind if he did a bit of Water.
"Aqua Undam." He said in a pained voice, if he didn't cool this thing down soon. His ears would start to bleed, and then he'd have to go see Poppy.
After a few seconds of being drenched in water from his wand, steam filled the room and then a voice followed, it was a strange light voice but it was one in song.
'Come seek us where our voices sound, we cannot sing above the ground. While you're searching ponder this, we have taken what you'll surely miss. An hour long you'll have to look, to recover what we have took. Past an hour the prospects black. Too late, it's gone, it won't come back.'
Harry tried to force his magic harder, making his nose leak crimson red blood for a moment. However this caused him to smirk, he had beaten the Egg; wretched thing. He stopped his wave of water and was greeted with a screeching sound once again. Quickly he pulled the Egg shut and twisted the knob.
Before he could forget what the Egg had spoken, he wrote it down on a scrap of parchment; nearly breaking his quill.
Harry looked at the words carefully for a few moments, then he began to talk to himself. "Water, is the key." He muttered. "Whatever made this can sing, thus can speak and if it can speak then it's relatively smart." He tapped the quills edge on his lip "Sirens sing, but they are birds….Mermaids…the creatures are Merpeople.." He wrote that on the first section on the riddle. "So the place is the Black Lake, it will have to be an hour long; what can help me breath under water for an hour?" He stood up and started to pace "I still have time for that, but worries me is what they took."
Here Harry stopped and looked at his trunk, quietly he walked over to the small crate like box. With a small flick of his wand, it clicked and he opened it, off to the side was a small red book. He pulled the book out and closed the trunk, flicking the first page open; it held a small photo of three people. A woman with bright green eyes and hair was long, red and braided lightly to rest onto her left shoulder as she hugged her husband. The man had a head of messy, wild black hair and silver eyes which gleamed with mischief; though covered with a pair of glasses. Then in their arms was a small sleeping bundle, the baby had a small head of black messy hair.
"Mum and Dad…." Harry muttered softly, running his fingers along the film. He had only known what they looked like during his time at Hogwarts; thanks to Hagrid he now had a photo album of them. "They even try to take this from me." He growled clinching his teeth, the threat hanged in the air.
A figure sitting in the room, adjusted his spectacles; he almost wanted to start to clap. Harry had figured out the riddle easy enough, though by accident. The elder was more impressed with the way Harry had taken to living away from his house; the same house he had been. He glanced at a small note that a rather unique House Elf dropped off for him sunk in.
'I would like to take Harry out of Hogwarts from January 24 to February 24. While he might not have an exam at the end of the year; you can test him overall on what the students will be covering while he is away. The reason for this pull is simple; Harry is not ready for this tournament and if my ward is going to live. I'd like to train him.~ Padfoot.'
Harry was already on his way to being more independent, then you have his sudden increase in magical ability; the boy spent most of his time in the Library anymore. The Storm element and Parseltongue.
He was considering letting Harry go, Sirius would be more than enough to watch the boy. Andromeda Tonks would likely be there; thus Nymphadora Tonks as well. Then there was Bellatrix, he was unsure about her but Sirius had never done anything without a reason.
The man stroked his beard as Harry flicked open his Defense Book and started to read.
XX~XX~XX~XX
Three figures sat at a small table, two women who looked almost like twins; even though one was still haunted looking and then a male. "I sent a letter to both Dumbledore and Harry, he just sent me back." Sirius said calmly, pushing the letter to Andie; who after reading passed it to Bella.
"So he's already figured out the Egg, Impressive." Bella said leaning back in her chair, her feet on the table and the first two legs off the floor.
"He's just going to keep growing too, it was the same way with James. At first he was simple with magic, then he started to explore everything." Sirius said picking at his middle fingernail.
"Everything?" Andie asked, she was actually happy to have a sister back; even if that Sister did not fully support her idea of a Husband.
"Everything." Sirius repeated "James didn't go Dark for long, it happened in his sixth year; right after his parents passed. He looked up everything; Blood runes, curses, Rituals…"
Bella pursed her lips "I did notice he had that sudden shift when we had to fight." She said carefully "Should anyone target you or Lily; he'd stop playing."
Sirius nodded "I bet if he had been armed when Voldemort came barging in, Lily would still be alive." He said with a small sigh.
Andie reached over and slapped his head "Moving on." She said lightly "His body is starting to reject the level he's at; I've seen him coughing a lot during meditation or even simple level one spells."
"Thoughts?"
"Have him focus on something else."
"Such as? He's going to be in a water area; why wouldn't he use water?"
"Lightning works rather well in water." Andie said with a sly grin.
"You can't be honestly thinking….would he even be able to control it?"
"Doubtful, that's why Andie will train him after I'm done with him." Bella said calmly, almost looking bored or distant.
"What do you plan to do with him?" Sirius asked with an arched brow.
Bella didn't say anything for a moment or two, and then looked him right in the eyes "Nothing that will kill him." She said coldly.
Sirius frowned but nodded "Fine, do what you feel is best Bella; Andie you'll take on his Lightning?"
"I will, not going to lie; I'm scared, he's skilled with Water that's for sure…." Andie started, leaning on her hands.
Sirius finished for her "Though he has a Lightning shaped scar…that could mean he'll be more skilled with it….which is terrifying." He admitted, rubbing his neck "I'm just waiting on Dumbledore and then we'll get to training Harry."
Bellatrix slammed her hands on the table "This isn't just for the Tournament!" She growled out, pulling up her sleeve; the dark mark had faded but the outline was bold "He's gaining strength, I can still feel it."
Sirius nodded his head "I know, Harry's been complaining about strange dreams. All of which involve Voldemort." He was calm about the situation "This was why I wanted to pull Harry out, he'd be able to survive a normal Tournament, he's a survivor like that."
Bellatrix nodded with a smile "Good. Now if you'll excuse me. Nearly thirteen years in a cell, has made my aim shit." She said standing up and heading for the back door, when her stomach gave off a ghastly growl.
"Not until you eat something, dearest sister!" Andie said sharply, standing up and preparing to chase after the woman. "I'll baby you if I have to! I am a Mother!"
"I'm older than you!" Bella moaned, throwing her hands up in defeat.
Sirius just laughed at his older cousin, he was glad that she was slightly better; if only slightly. He looked towards the door "I'm going out for a bit…I should be back by the end of the day." He said solemnly standing up from the table, leaving the sister to get more acquainted.
XX~XX~XX~XX
Harry knew that Hermione had been asked out a week ago, not by who but she did confirm it. Ginny was going with Neville, which he thought was a good match up; the fire-cracker would bring Neville out of his shell like when he attacked Malfoy. Mindy was going with someone named Smith, Daphne was going with Nott; which didn't really surprise him and Cedric had asked Cho Chang out; speaking of which, he didn't feel much for her anymore.
Regarding the whole idea, he thought himself pretty shallow. Liking her so much for her looks, apparently she was actually quiet the bitch and bully; mainly to a third year Luna Lovegood.
After a little asking around, he found out that Lovegood was quiet…different. Thought not in a bad way, she just thought that certain Creatures existed and were the cause of certain emotions.
With only a few weeks until the Yule-Ball most people were still trying to get dates, a few he did know had dates. A lot of men, a lot of them; had tried to ask Fleur out, most along the lines of dump the zero get with the hero.
This was one of those moments, Harry sat with Fleur; who was leaning her head on his shoulder. Both sat at the Gryffindor table, Harry would sit with the Ravenclaws every now and then; so Fleur could be with her friends.
The day was going great until they heard a dreadful voice, it sounded the same to both of them. "Hello, Mam'selle. Why go with such a low life like Potter?" Malfoy's voice said with a small hint of confusion in his words. "His blood isn't pure, he's wealth is low and his power, please."
Fleur leaned over, onto Harry's shoulder keeping him rooted. "Can you transfigure wings yet?" Harry gave her a small nod, with his brow raised "Good."
With that Fleur pulled out her wand, pointing it a bowl of fruit; primarily mangos, no one seemed to like the tropical food. With some muttered words in Latin, the mango turned into a monkey shape. Harry instantly got the message and threw in wings, to the now flying fruit monkey.
Fleur just pointed her wand at Malfoy and the fruit took off after him, snapping and flicking him in the face or general area; even spitting juice at him. After trying to bat the annoying thing away, he opted to run instead.
Harry leaned over and pecked her cheek lightly "That was amazing, been a while since I saw the Flying Monkey gag." He said with a bright smile.
Fleur's cheeks were covered in a light dust of pink colour. "Merci."
Harry noticed a few other men, carrying flowers or chocolates try to make their way over to them; it was starting to annoy him really. Closing his eyes, he tried to pull out his magic; aiming for his eyes to make them glow.
When his eyes opened he just glared at the men, they instantly stopped at the glowing blood coloured eyes staring back at them. They showed no pity, remorse or mercy; they only showed anger. The men quickly went back to their tables, Harry let his grip go and his eyes slowly returned to normal bright green.
He had felt it a lot, this anger coming from inside him; almost an urge to attack or an instinct. He couldn't really explain it; it was almost like a second side to him, a side he didn't want to see. It also happened when he used Parseltongue, or at least he just now noticed.
Maybe this was connected to his Scar? That part of Voldemort that rubbed off on him, the part that gave him Snake Speech. Harry just shrugged, it's not like Voldemort could have left a piece of his soul or something right?
Fleur leaned back onto his shoulder with a bright smile on her face, he liked to see her smile.
"You do 'ave dress robes? Right?"
"Oui."
"Good, mine are Silver Satin; can you match that?" She asked looking up at him.
Harry nodded his head "Of course I can, Black works with Silver right?"
"Oui."
"See, done deal." He answered with a bright grin.
Fleur rolled her eyes "Boys." She muttered with a sigh, Mindy let out a soft giggle and Hermione refused to look up from her book; though she was smiling.
XX~XX~XX~XX
"Welcome to Flourish and Blotts." A female voice said brightly, the dark chestnut coloured hair and bright pink eyes told him all he needed to know. The cloaked man turned on his heel and flipped the window sign, it now read 'Be Back Soon.'
The woman Jennifer, rose a brow lightly at the action "Can I help you sir?"
"Sir? I think you know my name." Sirius answered dully, lowering his hood a fraction.
Jennifer smirked lightly "Well, Well." She said in a cocky tone "Was wondering when you'd show up, almost lost hope."
Sirius rolled his eyes, taking long strides to the desk "How do you know me?" He asked with a glare.
"Everyone knows you."
"Answer the question."
"I just did." She said with a silky tone.
Sirius furrowed his brow "Did you seek me out?" He asked irritated.
"Maybe." She said with a bright smile "It wasn't hard to find out you're most likely innocent."
Sirius just raised a brow.
"You probably don't remember me." She said with a small sigh "I was a first year when you were on your last year."
"I met a lot of women during Hogwarts love." He said crossing his arms "I don't think we were an item, my standards were never….that young."
Jennifer reached over and punched his arm "Blasted Pervert." She hissed with a cold glare, making her eyes seem even more dangerous. He did like danger.
"Then can you refresh my memory dear woman?" He asked gently.
Jennifer rolled her eyes "You really don't remember? I was a Ravenclaw, some Slytherin's were picking on me; your brother and Severus." She explained softly.
Sirius furrowed his brows in thought this time, Reg had only sided with Severus a few times in his life. He did remember severing a few weeks of detention for breaking Severus' jaw and sending three others to the medical wing.
They were picking on a girl, the girl like to play with dead things, saw things and even talked to herself; she was dark but refused to sign on with the Death Eaters. That's what the whole incident was about, her refusal to sign on.
"I recall…though you do look." He said taking a good look at her, she was wearing a button down black shirt; maybe a size to small for her than it should be. Black pants and heeled boots; he even admired her black choker. "Different."
"Like what you see then? Black?" She asked with a playful smirk.
Sirius was about to answer when he shook himself this was important. "What do you want?"
Jennifer pouted, looking around the shop "I like it here, normally Mr. Davis handles the mornings and afternoon, leaving me with the night shift; like right now." She said running her hands along the book she was reading. "That and all the books…"
"Jennifer."
"Listen Black." She said looking up at him, leaning a little over the desk "I have a gift for you, something you'll thank me for."
Sirius leaned in with a raised brow "What would this gift be?"
"Just a small chat. With a Dear friend." She moved in suddenly, grabbing his front; pulling him towards her and crashing her lips onto his.
Sirius felt her lips onto his own, it felt no different than the other kisses he had with the other women in his life; then it happened. Her lips became cold, deathly cold; it reminded him of a Dementor at first it startled him but he felt warmth, not from her lips though.
Then the feeling was gone, he opened his eyes and all he saw was white; then he heard a small laugh. "Bloody hell, you look like shit." Sirius turned at the voice, the voice he hadn't heard in years. The Messy hair, the silver eyes; that rouge grin, it couldn't be. "You're acting like you see a ghost Pads, oh wait." The figure's grin grew into a full blown smile "Maybe you are."
XX~XX~XX~XX
Fleur awoke on the day of the Ball, or better known as Christmas to other parts of the world; she was actually glad for a moment about her heritage. It meant more time reading, looking through gifts or doing anything other than spending hours on her hair. This was likely just going to be in a small loose bun, maybe with a pin or two which looked like ice and she loved them.
She leaned up from the comfort of her bed and rubbed her eyes a little, she took a quick glance at the mirror on her dresser; it showed her hair was a mess, which was normal for mornings. She stretched a little and got out of bed; moving towards the pile of gifts in the corner.
She looked through all of them, Mother, Father, Gabrielle, Mindy, Hermione, Daphne, Cedric, Victor and Andromeda Tonks. She didn't see Harry's gift in here, at first it made her mad, then sad but after reflecting on it; he'd likely give it in person.
She started with her family, Mother sent her a new brush; which would at to the growing collection of them. Father sent her a pair of silver and sapphire earrings, they matched her eyes almost perfectly. Gabrielle sent her white chocolate, she would admit that she did have a weakness for them.
Mindy somehow got a picture framed of her and Harry from a few weeks earlier, when he was lightly kissing her cheek. It was in a gold frame, with small leaves coming off it. Hermione sent her a book called 'Hogwarts: A History' and Daphne's gift was a simple silver necklace with no charm; it was the thought.
Cedric's was another book, it had no title but the first page said it was called Dracula; she'd heard of the book but never found the time to read it. Victor gifted her with a pair of silver finger-less gloves; the note said they had a cooling charm and warming charm.
Andromeda wasn't written with a female hand; it was clearly male, not from its messiness but from the lack of cursive. 'Dear Fleur Delacour, I hope you have a good time with Mr. Potter on this fine Christmas. Should he act ungentlemanly, please send me a note and I shall deal with him. On a brighter note, Harry loves to fly; as I am sure you are aware, but I thought you'd enjoy this.' She opened the long box, inside was a broom; Pulya-117 it was a famous Russian broom known for its agility.
Of course she'd gotten gifts from her admirers, flowers, dark chocolates and all sorts of fruit. Malfoy had the bollocks to send her a love letter, to which she burned. The only grouping of flowers she kept were from an unnamed source and were lily flowers. She hated Dark Chocolate, giving it to Mindy; who loved them. She got her best friend another charm for her bracelet, this one was shaped like a castle.
Fleur and Mindy were heading back up to Hogwarts Castle only to see Hermione waiting for them "There you two are, you guys need to come with me." She said quickly "Harry's been hurt again!"
XX~XX~XX~XX
Hello Hello, now before you say it. I know I am cruel and I know that I am twisted; please don't waste your time telling me things I know. Moving on, Sirius is not dreaming; all will be explained in the next chapter as well as Harry's new injury. Remus is due for an appearance soon, likely after the second task so a while off. To Answer a question; Harry will follow his father footsteps in terms of Light. What do you guys think of Sirius' request? Would Dumbledore allow it? He doesn't have exams, so no point in classes really. I'll leave you all to think Thank you all for reading! ~ The Demon.