As I am NOT the original author of the Harry Potter series, who as anyone should know is the wonderful JKR who lets us play with her world. I don't own a darn thing here. On with the story.

Chapter 10 Christmas Happening in England Pt 2

Tuesday casually dressed in jeans and trainers the Grangers and Evans were leaving Le Grand Louvre the restaurant located under I. M. Pei's Pyramid at the Louvre after a full morning spent looking at what the Louvre classified as antiquities intending to spend the afternoon focused on paintings when a stunning blond woman who was entering stopped and looked at Harry for a moment before asking, "Harry Potter?"

Harry was about to deny the supposition when Paddy put his hand on Harry's shoulder and spoke up saying, "My godson James Evans is often mistaken for him Madam Delacour. I am Paddy Evans perhaps you remember me we met several months ago in your husband's office?"

Never let it be said that Apolline Delacour was not quick on the uptake. Seeing the fear in the eyes of a few of the young man's companions she quickly responded, "I am sorry I meant no offense, I have only met the young man a few times when he was competing against my daughter Fleur. Although it is perhaps not a bad person to be mistaken for?"

Harry frowned for an instant before replying, "Perhaps in safer times it would be. However from the papers it seems he is always either seeking danger or it is seeking him."

"True enough. How long will you be in Paris young man?"

Injecting herself in the conversation Jane Granger said, "I'm not sure we were currently discussing that issue."

"Mrs. Delacour We are staying at the Hotel du Louvre perhaps your husband and you can visit us tonight and things can be discussed then." Sirius said wanting to get moving. Stationary targets were never a good idea.

"Why don't I send our car to pick your party up at eight for dinner? I know a lovely restaurant. It will be our treat naturally and a word of advice gentlemen, suits would be appropriate." Apolline said hurrying off her relaxing meal forgotten. She had arrangements to make. The wizard who saved her youngest would be treated properly tonight.

The group watched her go. The men wondering what had just happened while Jane and Hermione had identical thoughts working through their minds. 'I did not bring a suitable dress, where can I buy one.'

Jane looked at the rest of the group saying, "Hermione and I are going dress shopping. I suggest the four of you find suits."

It only took Paddy a moment before he said, "Back to the hotel. The concierge will be able to set us all up a lot quicker than we can do it for ourselves and time is of the essence. Hermione use the card I gave you that draws on my account."

"Mr. B… Evans I can take care of my family." Alan said a bit miffed at Sirius's take-charge attitude.

Paddy nodded replying, "I am sure you can Alan. I didn't mean it that way. That particular card draws on a Paris bank. The approvals will occur quicker and the shop attendants should be slightly less surly than they would be if they saw a British bankcard. I'm also going to see if I can have two people accompany us."

"My whole family speaks French." Hermione spoke up not wanting to be bothered with an interpreter.

Shaking his head as they crossed the street to their hotel Paddy said, "In the case of you and your mother I didn't mean to translate for you. More to ease the way let's say. I however will need an interpreter to find a suit and I suspect James will also."

Four hours later James, Paddy, Remus, and Alan returned to their rooms porters following behind with suit bags and boxes of other garments for tonight. After insuring everything was in their own rooms they gathered in the Pissarro Suite and called room service for a lite snack to be sent up. Just as the snack arrived so did the two women their own porters in tow. They grabbed a quick snack as Jane kicked the men out sending them to Paddy & Remus's room saying, "We need these rooms. The hotel has arranged for a hair dresser, manicurist, and cosmologist to come in half an hour and we need to be ready." Grumbling only slightly the men left as directed and placed a second snack order from Paddy & Remus's room.

Once the bellhops had left after placing their meal Sirius watched Harry start to serve himself. Shaking his head Sirius said, "Harry pull the manners out you learned last summer and start using them."

Alan looked to Sirius a raised eyebrow conveying his question.

"Alan these two are starting to move in the social strata where Harry's and Hermione's manners will affect how they are perceived for quite a few years into the future. Up to this point Hermione's have been impeccable while Harry's were tolerable. Tonight however Harry's manners have to rise to Hermione's level. I have no worries about her automatically rising to the occasion having met your wife. It's my godson who needs advance warning. He defaults to servant manners because of those blasted Dursleys. I taught him a good portion of what he needs to know last time he was with me and I plan on completing his education this time.

Promptly at eight the men, all decked out in Armani's finest, watched as the two women arrived in the hotel lobby. Harry knew he and all the men had spent time and effort to look their best. Paddy had even come to his room to insure Harry shaved properly. Nothing however could have prepared him for the sight of his beloved. He was prepared for her to look like she had at the Yule Ball their fourth year. That was so much less than what he saw now. This was Aphrodite personified. Shocked all he could do was stare until she came close causing him to involuntarily ask, "Hermione?"

"Yes," Hermione replied looking at him puzzled.

"Good…, I did ask you to marry me didn't I?"

"Yes Harry what's gotten in to you?"

Alan looked at the boy before turning to his daughter saying, "I do believe you've stupefied him."

"Harry?" Hermione asked waiving her hands in front of his face causing his eyes to snap into focus.

"Sorry?" Harry ventured in a hopeful voice his mind still processing the sight of Hermione wearing a shiny cream colored dress that started below her shoulders and had several layers of what appeared to be torn ending warping around it until it ended about mid-thigh. Her black heels were nothing more than small leather straps holding a base to her foot.

Hermione carefully shook her head not wanting to dislodge any part of her hairdo saying, "You can look at a family of Veela and not react but me dressed up causes this reaction?"

Harry looked at her replying, "I'm not in love with the veela."

Jane heard the exchange and noticed her daughter starting to tear up. "Don't you dare start crying and ruin all that work Hermione Jane." She said sharply bringing her daughter's attention back to her and away from Harry's love filled eyes. "Right Mr. Potter we will be discussing appropriate circumstances for causing that reaction in my daughter later," Jane said to Harry causing him to snap out of it.

Harry was still fixated on the vision in front of him thus his mental slip could have been predicted. Hermione had discussed calling her parents something other than the Sir and Madam he was currently using. Harry's jokingly offered reply was also what came out of his mouth now, "Yes Mum G."

Jane Granger had started for the hotel door and it was only her husband's quick response to his stumbling wife that kept her upright when her brain registered what Harry had said.

"Mum, don't you dare ruin all that work," Hermione teased as she took Harry's arm guiding him as they followed her parents out to a waiting classic Black Mercedes Benz S-600 limousine that was drawing appreciative glances from the hotel staff.

"When she said she'd send a car she didn't fool around did she?" Alan offered as his eyes took in the classic lines.

Their comfortable ride ended when the limousine pulled up beside the now standard unadorned door with a small brass plaque beside it that concealed the high end businesses from all but those in the know. This particular door hid a high end dining room associated with a restaurant whose main dining room was one street over. Stepping inside Harry was grateful for this afternoon's shopping trip. His dark green Armani suit with a cream colored shirt and matching tie that he thought was too flamboyantly tailored was echoed in other dark tones at several of the six tables in the room causing Harry to recall the tailor's words, "After a brief fling with great fashion in the sixties the English have forgotten the joys of fashion. They and therefore the Americans dress for everything like they are dressing for a funeral." Glancing around he noticed most of the male eyes were on Hermione causing him to take her hand as they were ushered to a table where Apolline Delacour sat looking like a regal queen. Her husband rose offering his hand to each one of the group as he introduced himself, "Marc Delacour and in case some of you haven't met the rest of my family, this is my wife Apolline, My eldest Fleur, and our little surprise Gabrielle," Sirius, as the defacto host of Harry's group, returned the gesture introducing his party. Harry scored a few points with Hermione when he held her chair as she sat without prompting by Alan or Sirius. Harry took the seat indicated placing him to Apolline's right and Hermione's left.

As everyone settled into their Louis the 14th style chairs Apolline Delacour said, "You enjoyed a few of the sights in the world's most famous art museum earlier today. Now it is time for you to enjoy the culinary arts. I hope you don't mind but I've already instructed the waiter we will take whatever the Chief feels is his best tonight and given the sommelier free reign to chose complementary wines."

Conversation was light as everyone enjoyed the different courses. Harry wasn't sure what he was eating but the taste sensations were fantastic. Nothing was really extreme but they definitely varied. Each bite seeming to caress a different taste bud.

Somehow by the time a flaming desert appeared a plan for the next few weeks was hashed out. The Grangers and Evans would remain in Paris along with Remus until the second of January allowing them the opportunity to enjoy New Year's Eve in the city of lights.

On January second Remus would return to England allowing him sufficient time to get ready for the full moon on the fifth. The rest of the group would travel to the Delacour chateau where they would stay until Hermione, Harry, and the Granger's returned to England on the 11th.

December 24th Molly Weasley was inside 12 Grimmauld Place checking what remained to be accomplished in converting the front drawing room into a meeting room. A meeting wasn't due before the New Year and she noted the progress her children made was quite good. She apparated back to the burrow convinced her children had earned a few days off for their good work. Outside 12 Grimmauld Place Narcissa Malfoy was discretely following a house elf until the elf finally disappeared. 'I don't remember this area,' Narcissa thought before remembering her training 'find out what's odd.' Carefully taking note of her surroundings she noted she was in a square formed by row houses on four sides of a small park. Walking the block she noted and dismissed a variety of things until she stopped and stepped back slowly. The house she was passing was number 13 and the next one was number 11. Making a point of checking the house numbers she made another circuit of the park walking out of the immediate area before apparating back to Malfoy Manor.

"Any Success?" Lucius Malfoy Narcissa's husband asked when she arrived back in her bedroom to find her husband getting dressed in his death eater robes.

"Yes there is a missing row house right where the house elf disappeared."

"I should have gone."

"You saw what happened when you tried. My aunt's elf would not allow it. Her instructions were for me only and while inconvenient we know the elf's loyalty to her will not allow it to warn the order. Let's focus on just how the house was hidden." Narcissa replied slightly annoyed at her husband's attitude.

"That's the easy part, they used the Fidelius charm. It is hard to cast requiring loads of power and it is even hard to break. Besides Dumbledore used it to protect the Potter's last time around. This time however I don't think he trusted the secret to someone that could be seduced. I must commend Bellatrix her plan of seducing Pettigrew in to becoming a death eater was brilliant. That idiot thought by joining she'd be his despite the fact she was already wearing a Lestrange family heirloom on her left ring finger."

Narcissa knew her husband was enjoying this trip down memory lane while he prepared for an evening with their master kept quiet. Moments later, after he'd checked his mask in the mirror, a quiet pop signaled his departure which she took as indication to adjourn to her study for some wine, blank parchment, and a quill. She did her best scheming while relaxing with a good glass of wine from her favorite French vineyard.

When he returned she laid out her plan drawing a chuckle from Lucius, "That has never been tried Narcissa." He said haughtily. "Still if it will amuse you I will allow you to proceed with this foolishness. It might be good training for Draco and his associates in following orders."

Over the following days Narcissa, Draco and a few of his trusted confidants walked through the Grimmauld Place neighborhood in various disguises while thinking variations on "12 Grimmauld Place" before returning to Malfoy manor and reporting their lack of success, never their failure just not success. Days most of Grimmauld Place's residents noticed the increased foot traffic around their square. Traffic that no one inside number 12 noticed. Their attention was on apparition and floo travel. Basic muggle travel didn't interest them.

In England Christmas Day brought unwelcome surprises. When noon passed and Harry Potter failed to arrive at 12 Grimmauld place using the Portkey that had been with his luggage. Both female members of the Weasley family became concerned. Molly took the lead pestering everyone about Harry until her husband who had retrieved Hermione from her parents on several occasions agreed to retrieve Harry. He returned minutes later bruised and without Harry insisting the muggles had rather forcefully told him Harry was not there. Headmaster Dumbledore nodded to retired master Auror Moody and Hogwarts potion's professor as he passed them heading for the vacant study. Where after casting locking and anti-eaves dropping charms the Headmaster tried to locate Harry Potter using the tracking charms he had placed on the young man over the years. Getting no response he then tried the similar charms he had on Hermione Granger with similar results.

Seeing his old friend getting frustrated Alastor Moody tried the tracking charms he'd place on Remus Lupin. A moment later saying, "It appears Lupin found the one's I'd placed on him."

"Point me Harry Potter," Albus called out his wand resting flat on the palm of his right hand. After several rotations it slowed before stopping pointing at Albus. After several tries he determined Harry was either interfering with the charm or he was out of range.

"Point me Hedwig," Alastor called out his wand resting on his palm. His wand quickly snapped around to point just northwest.

Albus thought for a moment before calling out, "Point me Granger's home." His wand snapped around to point in the same direction Alastor's was pointing. "It seems Arthur was lied to." Albus muttered.

"What me get a group together and go retrieve him?" Alastor asked.

"No my friend. I think they would be expecting us to arrive quickly and in force after what happened to Arthur. We will wait until tonight. That will give them time to relax and get complacent. Severus I trust you can retrieve Mr. Potter with a minimum of fuss." Albus said before dropping the charms and returning to the party.

Severus smiled inside a few quick obliviates and Harry will be back under Dumbledore's thumb. And if he happened to over power the obliviation spell he cast on Hermione wiping several years knowledge from that pushy know it all's mind forcing her to either retake classes for those year or leave the magical world. Well that would just be an incidental benefit wouldn't it. Severus was brought out of his musings by Molly Weasley's voice.

"Albus you need to go get Harry!" she screeched the moment Albus entered the kitchen.

"Now Molly there is nothing to be gained by confronting them now. Let everyone first calm down then Severus will go a bit later. I'm sure Harry will agree to come here once he's had a moment to think it over." Albus said his eyes twinkling as he finished in his mind, 'And I remind Severus to obliviate that mudblood from his mind. Can't have the hero of the wizarding world hooking up with a mudblood. I mean one every five generations or so to prevent the gene pool from becoming too inbred might a good idea but a mudblood for his mother and for his wife that's too much.'

Rambahadur Limbu, late of the 10th Gurkha Rifles and currently all around handyman for his former junior officer Alan Granger was relaxing in his alcove in the bushes waiting for an uninvited visitor. He knew these wizards. They were just like any group, convinced of their superiority. They would obey the law only when it benefited them or when they were forced. Anna's decking of that pushy red haired incompetent would not go unanswered. He looked out at a slight popping sound thinking, 'there's who I've been waiting for' as he bought his weapon of choice up.

Severus collapsed like a puppet with his strings cut. 'Worked just like Miss Hermione said it would.' Mr. Limbu thought quickly stripping the man before him then hogtieing him. Once he was firmly secured he grabbed a garden cart using it to transport the dead weight to the stone cellar under the old stables. After securing the wizard to several rings set in the floor and wall he entombed the individuals hands in plaster then removed the prongs from a tazer carefully imbedding them under the intruder's ghostly pale skin.

Severus came to shivering. He didn't move beyond trying to open his eyes to assess his situation and realized his eyes were covered. Using his other senses he tried to piece together what he could of his current status. Which ended up being naked, bound with what he assumed were ropes and unable to move his heavy hands. 'this is not good.' He thought only to hear a voice speak.

"Ah Mr. Wizard welcome back."

"I demand you release me, I…" Severus tried to say haughtily only to stop as his body went into convulsions

When he came too an unknown amount of time later Severus heard a lilting voice ask, "Care to try that again?"

Severus shook his head he not experienced discomfort like that from anyone other than the Dark Lord himself.

"Very well I will ask the questions, you will answer them. If I don't like the answer you will experience that again. We will keep this up until you have answered my questions properly. Now why were you trespassing?"

"I was not…." Severus started only to be stopped by convulsions again. This time they ended quickly and he stayed conscious.

"I searched your clothes such as they were. You do not carry a badge so obviously are not law enforcement. Now being a private citizen and sneaking about on someone else's property without the owner's permission is the definition of trespassing. That is not up for discussion. I will ask once more, why were you trespassing?"

Severus stalled for a minute then tried to wiggle his fingers free if he could summon his wand.

Rambahadur Limbu let the man play for a few minutes before saying, "Your stick is in a different place. Along with all your other clothes."

Severus realized he was in a no win situation and concentrated hard. Still he was surprised when it worked and he apparated to Grimmauld Place.

"Severus!" Minerva McGonagall's voice rang through the house when a naked and bound Severus Snape appeared on the sitting room floor in front of her and the other members of the order who were discussing Harry Potter's whereabouts.

"Don't just stand there screaming like a first year. Untie me woman!" Severus bellowed.

Minerva pulled her wand casting Finite Incantatem with no effect.

"You stupid…" Severus started only to stop and gather himself, "Minerva what I presume are ropes were tied by a muggle there is no magic to undo. Might I suggest a severing charm. If you cast it properly you should be able to get the ropes and not me." He said continuing under his breath, "Stupid bloody twit just like her Gryffindor's… doesn't use her brain for anything other than a hat rack."

Unfortunately for Severus Minerva heard the sotto voiced part and had to compose herself for several moments before she cast the severing charm less she emasculate him by intent. The delay allowed the rest of the order of the phoenix time to observe the nausea inducing sight of a nude pasty skinned potions professor struggling out of the ropes binding him. A very low powered blasting charm broke the block of quick drying plaster allowing him to free his hands which went to remove the bandages covering his eyes. The younger crowd looked then quickly moved out of direct sight thinking if the Grangers had wards that would do this to Professor Snape they wanted nothing to do with another visit to that house. It fell to Alastor Moody to ask the question on everyone's mind, "What happened?"

"I don't know you bloody useless lump. I apparated to the location Albus gave me. I had time enough to recognize I was in someone's yard then everything went black. Next thing I knew I was naked, tied up, and couldn't see and someone was questioning me. I don't know who it was but their Cruciatus Curse was almost a match for the Dark Lord's."

"Now Severus I don't think either of the two students would use that spell." Albus interjected.

"I know their voices and speech patterns and it wasn't Potter or …... Minerva once I deal with that half breed and his mud blood bitch Gryffindor is going to be so far down in points it will take your house decades to get back to zero!"

"Severus!" Dumbledore said sharply reminding his potions professor they were not alone before conjuring a robe for the man.

Snape wrapped the robe around him glaring in cold fury at anyone who dared look his way. His body language alone promised retribution. Still if a few of the younger order members realized he was wand-less there would have been a bit more excitement this evening.