I do not own Harry Potter, the Wizarding World, or any canon characters.
Extended Family
Chapter 63 – French Assets
Takes place after chapter 55.
"Hey! What're you doing here?"
Harry hugged Tonks back. "I was sent a message to come to the Ministry."
Tonks' eyebrow rose. "What for? Who sent it?"
"That's what I'm trying to find out," Harry said. "The letterhead was plain, a basic Ministry parchment notice and it has nothing else written on it. Am I in trouble?"
"Not as far as I know and you won't be for long if you were," Tonks said. She took the parchment from him and looked at it closely. "Don't recognize the handwriting. That is basic Ministry memo parchment. Did you recognize the owl?"
"No, it was one that wore a Ministry badge but that's it."
"Hmm. That's suspicious."
"It really was not supposed to be," Percy said wryly, walking up to them. "Good morning Harry, Miss Tonks."
"Hey Percy. So it's from you?" Harry asked.
Percy sighed and rubbed his forehead. "Yes. I asked someone to send you a message for me and I should be surprised that it was sent without explanation but honestly, I am not." He gave the two a sheepish look. "Intern."
"Ahhhh," Tonks said knowingly. "There's a reason why Auror interns still have an experienced person with them. To prevent stuff like that."
"Apparently they thought that the bare minimum would suffice since I spoke of you with familiarity," Percy sighed once more. "Then they had the gall to be shocked when I was annoyed with them."
Harry chuckled. "No real harm done then I guess. I was really worried but now I'm not. Knowing you, you're making them pay for it."
"Indeed. I have them transcribing notes. In triplicate."
"Copying charm or dictaquill?" Tonks laughed at Percy's headshake. "Cruel and I love it."
"One must learn somehow," Percy said with a slight smile.
"Well that's good. I better get back to my department. Later little bro." She kissed Harry's cheek messily and waved cheerily to Percy before walking off.
"I do apologize for worrying you," Percy said, walking down one of the hallways with Harry following.
"It's alright. Though I'm still a bit confused why I'm here to be honest."
"The business is official in nature so I thought it best for you to be here. Nothing bad I assure you. Just…well official."
"Fair enough." Harry followed Percy into the Department of International Magical Cooperation and looked around with interest. Desks dotted the floor with dividers for privacy and some offices along the walls had open doors and others were closed. Papers and parchment flew around and paper airplanes constantly flew in and out of a window leading into the hall. People worked industriously but a general sense of professional comradery rang throughout. Conversations were pleasant with more than a few laughing here and there.
"Like your office," Harry said as Percy led him into a corner office. It was modest in size and neatly arrayed. He grinned at a section of a bookshelf dedicated to pictures and little things, set at eye height for someone sitting behind the desk. His smile grew when he recognized the small silver grey goose sitting on the desk.
"Thank you," Percy said warmly. "You know me, prefer more order than not. Clean working environment, clean mind."
"The twins' working office must give you fits then," Harry remarked as he sat.
"If I did not know their working habits better, I would be horrified," Percy snorted. "Thankfully their experimentation space and their finances are very well organized. I am fairly certain their office is a place for them to eat and nap and be messy."
Harry took off his hat and set it on the desk. "So what's going on?"
"I have here a notice of a foreign national buying a property here in England," Percy said, laying out a few pieces of parchment. They were thick and very official looking with filigree and seals inscribed on it.
"Is that something that the Ministry has to approve of?"
"Generally no. Usually as long as there is a record of the sale and everything is done legally, then there is no problem. In this instance, it has come across the department because of who is buying as well as some other addendums to the purchase and coming property."
Harry looked at the parchments and smiled as he recognized the language and the name at the top. "Ah I see. So you're verifying that I did sell them the land?"
"Yes and to go over with the requests they have made with you."
"I did sell the land to Fleur and she is having a house built there. I made sure everything was done right through Uncle Ted."
"Yes, I obtained a copy of the sale and the contract to put in the file." Percy pointed to the next piece of parchment. "Here, Monsieur Delacour is asking permission to have an international Floo installed and connected with his property in France. He is also asking for permission to consider the home to be a protected diplomatic estate."
"What does that mean for us neighbors?"
"Essentially, his request is that he will consider the home to be quasi-official residence for when he is here in the country. Any official notice or post can be sent there while they are there. They are also given some diplomatic immunity when it comes to our laws."
"So no Aurors can just show up or any other Ministry officials?"
"Precisely. Not quite the level of an official embassy of course, but one that has more protections than, say a private residence."
"I don't really own the property land anymore though," Harry frowned.
"No, but you are the head of the neighborhood and because of the close proximity, you must be consulted and acquiesce to the request."
"I'm not the head," Harry protested.
"It is called Barony de Potter," Percy smiled.
"No it isn't!" Harry shook his head and laughed. "Dammit Fred."
"Ah, those words are quite familiar," Percy chuckled. "For legal purposes, you are Harry."
"I know, I just like saying I'm not because I like to think it's more diplomatic than me being the head and making all the decisions."
"It just goes to show the faith everyone has in you."
"Which is amazing," Harry said. He rolled his eyes at Percy's look. "Yeah yeah, I know I know. Modesty and all that. I don't have a reason to say no really to the requests, unless it causes us any trouble."
"It will not. I would have refused on your behalf if there were any negative legal ramifications," Percy assured him. "Monsieur Delacour and I were careful in the wording and what the implications were."
"If you two say that then I have no worries then," Harry said easily. He took the offered quill and signed the documents and tapped his signature with his wand, applying his magical signature on top.
"Splendid. When the house is finished someone from Magical Transportation will come to set up the International Floo."
"Great." Harry leaned back and slightly narrowed his eyes. "So what aren't you telling me about the 'legal ramifications'?"
"You have gotten suspicious," Percy said with faux hurt.
Harry snorted. "Let's just say being a father has sharpened that sense up a lot."
"Especially godfather to my niece," Percy smiled.
"All three of them are really tricky with wording as they get older," Harry laughed, half in exasperation and half in pride. "So no negative ones, meaning there are positive ones?"
"Indeed. While the protections afforded the property are technically only just the property itself, since it is in close proximity with the rest of the homes, some protections will apply to the rest of the homes there as well."
Harry blinked. "Are you telling me that our homes are now somewhat protected by the French government?"
"Yes."
"On top of our usual rights from the British government?"
"Also yes."
"So if anyone came after us to do anything shady…"
"They will have twice the trouble to go through and I have heard that Monsieur Delacour is very…protective of his estates and the estates of his family."
Harry blinked a few more times. "Huh."
"Quite. Things do oddly happen to you and come out in your favor," Percy smiled. "And you should know that this situation is incredibly rare. Last time this happened was a century ago."
"Won't some people here be really mad about that?"
"Most certainly. This sort of thing is something the Ancient or Noble families would covet and drool over. In fact, I imagine some of the more angry ones in the Wizengamot may try to complain and have the protections removed."
Harry winced. "I don't like the sound of that."
"The operative word is 'try'. They can do nothing but complain about the situation and I ignore them easily enough."
"I don't want you to get into any trouble."
Percy leaned back in his seat. "I will not. The worst they can do is waste my time and I have ways to pay them back if they do that. And if they truly try to fight it, they will have to fight with Monsieur Delacour and I once had the privilege to sit in on a meeting between him and the Rosiers about some trading laws. He made them give a very public apology and pay some rather large back fees by the end."
"Don't mess with the Delacours," Harry grinned.
"I have no desire to," Percy said frankly.
"Aren't you glad you have a plot reserved for you?" Harry smiled.
"Very much so," Percy smiled back.
-0-
Katie laughed. "Well, that tracks."
"How so?" Harry asked.
"The whole 'weird things happen to you' thing. Though I'm glad lately it's been more good than bad."
"You and me both," Harry said sincerely. "I'm about to call Fleur on the mirror."
"Oh let me get Iris first. Dally! We're about to talk to Tante Fleur!" Katie called out as she walked to Iris' bassinet.
"Coming!" Dahlia came running over and plopped herself down in Harry's lap. "Can I call her?"
"Go for it, flower," Harry smiled.
"Fleur Delacour!" Dahlia said clearly to the mirror. After a few moments the surface shimmered and Fleur appeared in the mirror. "Bonjour Tante!"
"Dahlia!" Fleur cried happily. "Bonjour my sweetling!" Her eyes sparkled when Katie sat down beside them and she cooed when she saw Iris. "Oh she is darling! Hello dear friends!"
"Wave to your tante," Katie said and gently moved Iris' arm up and down. Iris gurgled and giggled at Fleur's image.
Fleur waved back happily. "Oh I cannot wait to come see all of you."
"We're excited to see you too. They got all the materials ready for your home and you want to be here for the foundation laying, right?" Harry asked.
"Yes. There is a tradition we have for that so I will be there for that," Fleur said with a big smile.
"Wonderful." Harry narrowed an eye playfully. "So, when were you or Sebastian going to tell me about the official residence thing?"
Fleur waved a hand in a negligent way. "Oh that? Think nothing of it. It is not so important."
"It is actually. We're now more than a little politically protected because of it," Harry replied.
"Surely you cannot blame my papa. He only wants the best for me and they will be staying there too. The home will be used by us and Aimee and Colette."
"Just seems a bit much," Harry said with a wry smile. "Doesn't that sort of thing smack of inappropriateness or something? Using powers most don't have?"
"Papa says to use what you have and ignore your detractors," Fleur said prosaically with a small shrug. "It has happened before with others, what is it called in English, something established?"
"Precedent?" Katie offered.
"Yes that! As I said, Papa only wants our home to be well protected. You are included because you are so close. Fortunate really."
"Sure," Harry smiled.
"Besides, grandpere must watch over his petite filles," she said pertly. "You would not deny him that, would you?"
"As if we could stop him even if we wanted to," Katie laughed, "and we don't want to at all."
"I just feel bad," Harry said. "It feels like we are taking advantage of the situation or something."
Fleur frowned at him, making him recoil as if she was there. "Dahlia, pinch your father for me please."
"No!" Dahlia glared at Fleur and hugged her father hard.
"Katie?"
Katie laughed. "Hands are full and Iris doesn't have the ability to but I don't think she'd do it either."
Fleur sighed with mock weariness. "Fine, I will do it when I arrive. Harry James Potter-"
"You're in trouble!" Dahlia gasped.
Fleur smiled. "Harry James Potter, I have not forgotten the first friend I made outside of France and I am not so overburdened with friendship to count you as one of many, certainly not back then. I have not forgotten the kind small boy that extended a hand in friendship simply because someone looked like they needed help. I have not forgotten how he raised his voice in support when I could only count on three others before him. I have not forgotten the boy that made it possible for me to make other friends, one I count as dear ones. I have not forgotten his baked goods."
Her eyes hardened from emotion and softened from tears. "I have not forgotten how that same boy willingly took the place of my precious little sister and placed himself in potential harm for her, without meeting her before, for the sole reason that children should be protected."
She wiped the tears away and her features softened. "You are a friend of my soul and any advantage that you take is one you have earned a thousand times over."
Harry wiped his own tear away and smiled. "Thanks, and well, you know I never do anything for anything you know."
"I do, and know what we do for you is willingly and happily done," she said softly.
He coughed a little, throat thick with affection and emotion. "Well, in that case, I won't say anything more."
"Good. I will be coming early this weekend then to finalize plans and make arrangements for my part in the laying of the foundation. The rest of my family and Aimee and Colette will arrive Sunday."
"I'll be waiting at the Ministry," Harry smiled.
-0-
Fleur swayed in place, still marveling at Harry's control during a side-along apparition. Her smile grew when the door to a charming home burst open and a small girl came running out towards them. This time however, the girl ran straight for her instead of her father first. Fleur knelt and opened her arms and was bowled over by the enthusiastic greeting.
"I thought you only tackled Tante Colette," Harry said, smiling at Fleur splayed out on the ground with Dahlia hugging her hard.
"Oh right, sorry Tante Fleur," Dahlia said sheepishly.
"Do not be," Fleur wheezed, hugging Dahlia tight. "I am very happy to be greeted like this." She rose, catching her breath, and hefted Dahlia into her arms. "I am glad to see you, my sweetling. Are you excited that we will be having a home here?"
"So excited!" Dahlia cried, pulling Fleur's long hair to drape over hers. "I know you won't be living here all the time but you will be able to visit more right?"
"Oh yes. And it will be easier to find work both here and in France so we will not be so distant anymore." Fleur smiled when Katie walked out with Iris. "Hello my friend! Oh goodness, look at the little baby!"
"Wanna trade?" Katie laughed. The two women juggled Dahlia and Iris and after a moment Fleur gazed down at Iris with wonder and delight. Iris reached up with a chubby hand, pulling on Fleur's hair gently and made soft happy noises.
"You are gorgeous!" Fleur gushed. "So beautiful!"
"Iris, don't eat your tante's hair," Harry laughed, watching Iris clumsily stick a lock of platinum hair into her mouth.
"I do not mind at all," Fleur sighed softly, shaking her head from side to side to gently tug on her hair, making Iris laugh.
"Did I ever try to eat your hair?" Dahlia asked.
"No but you also liked to play with it, which I also never minded."
"Oh hey Fleur, how was your trip?" Tracy came walking up with a warm smile and a cheery wave.
"Easy for once, thank you. How are you?" Fleur hugged her fondly.
"Doing good. Harry mentioned you'd be here around now so I wandered over to see if you'd want to come to your plot. The crew is pretty excited to get things started."
"Oh yes, let us do that first!"
Tracy led Fleur and the Potters to the Delacour plot and the waiting crew greeted them warmly. They were familiar faces by now and they all gushed over Dahlia and Iris. Some of them shook away the effects of Fleur's allure but remained professional. Fleur handed a bundle over to the foreman of the crew. "This is earth from our home in France as well as some mixed in from my mother's clan home. I would like for it to be mixed into the foundations please."
"Easy enough. Anything inherently magical in the mix?" the foreman asked.
"Non. A Veela feels most at home with a bit of their family line's earth so I wished to include it into my home here."
"No problem. We'll mix it good with the foundations and make sure it's evenly distributed throughout. Just wanted to make sure none of the charm or spellwork would react funny to it. Here's the last of the plans, any changes you wish to make?"
Fleur looked over the blueprints. "Non, it is wonderful. It only takes a bare couple of weeks to finish everything?"
"Phil and his crew built every house here and each one is amazing," Harry said warmly. "Haven't found a single problem and we're all lucky that they built it all. If he says they can do it in a couple weeks, it'll be done and better than they said it would be in that time."
The crew smiled and preened at the praise and the foreman flushed a little but smiled proudly. "We're the best crew at the firm for sure and it's been a pleasure and I'm not blowing smoke, not like you're doing right now." He hiked a thumb at Tracy while everyone laughed. "Plus Boss Girl here is watching our every move and we'll get axed if we do something wrong you know."
Tracy blushed lightly to more laughter. "It's been years since I threatened to fire you," she mumbled.
"You threatened to fire Phil?!" Katie cried.
"Sassy little girl she was," Phil grinned, relishing the embarrassment on Tracy's face. "Got all mad at me when I couldn't build her a life-sized doll house for her out of dragon bone and wood from Yggdrasil."
"I thought Daphne had more expensive tastes," Harry grinned before wincing when Tracy kicked him.
"Besides, we have to make sure everything is ship shape for the cuties," a witch on the crew said, looking fondly at Dahlia and Iris. She smiled brightly when Dahlia hugged her.
"Then my home will be in expert hands," Fleur said happily.
They watched as the foundation of the home was created by the experienced crew and Dahlia kicked Tracy in the leg for her father and ran squealing, chased by a vengeful Tracy much to everyone's amusement.
-0-
"Hey girls!"
"Katie!" Aimee and Colette said together, rushing up the path through the garden to hug their friend. Harry had gone to the Ministry to bring the others with him after two group apparitions. Sebastian and Apolline were admiring the grounds of the neighborhood and Gabrielle had dashed up the garden too. They hugged and joyfully greeted Katie and immediately started cooing at Iris.
"Where's Dally?" Gabrielle asked after a moment.
Colette spun and threw herself forward and tackled Dahlia who was sneaking up on her. "I got you first this time!" Colette cried victoriously, grappling Dahlia to her and kissing her face.
"How'd you know?!" Dahlia shouted, half pleased by the affection and attention while half annoyed that she could not tackle Colette unawares.
"I put a Sensory Charm on your hair clip before I sent it to you for your birthday," Colette said smugly.
"Boo!" Dahlia cried before snuggling closer to Colette.
The visitors were surprised to see the house being built at a rapid pace, the crew emboldened by Harry's words. They admired the plans and very much were looking forward to it being finished. That night there was a large meal outdoors with the Tonkses and Sirius and Amelia coming over.
"I still can't believe the Barony is now a politically protected space," Sirius chuckled.
"Not you too," Harry groaned.
"With a name like the Barony de Potter, how could I not protect it? My national pride demanded it," Sebastian chuckled richly.
"It's been the talk of the Auror department," Amelia laughed. "More than a few are irritated that if they came, they'd have a lot to do before or else the fallout will be especially ruinous."
"Why were they concerned about coming in the first place?" Andromeda asked, frowning.
"Just talk about cost analysis," Amelia said soothingly. "If anything were to happen and the like. Trust me, most of them don't want to come at all if they can help it."
"What's wrong with our home?" Katie asked indignantly.
"Nothing aside from the fact that Tonks threatened to gut anyone that came without reason," Amelia said dryly.
Tonks' eyes turned bright blue and dripped with insincere innocence. "I didn't threaten," she said in an overly sweet voice that fooled no one, "I said it would happen and I'd put them in the ground and plant pretty shrubbery over them."
"Well that's one way to discourage unwanted visitors," Thomas snorted.
"And that's after Daddy ruins them legally," Tonks finished with relish.
"I'm good at that," Ted smiled.
"Don't threaten to bury people here," Harry sighed, his hands over Dahlia's ears.
"Just saying, I'm very protective of this place," Tonks sniffed and pulled Dahlia into her lap. "And over the people here." She smiled broadly when Dahlia hugged her tightly.
Sebastian leaned over and tapped his glass against hers. "Et moi aussi," he said with a wide smile.
-0-
Fleur cheered when the fire shifted from red and orange to silver and gold before turning bright green, a sign of a positive stable connection. She was in France at her family home and they established the international Floo from there to the finished home in the Barony/Village.
"Excellent," Sebastian said, clapping his hands. "Off you go then, chickadee. You should be first because that is your home foremost."
"Papa, it is our home," Fleur protested.
"Yes but it will be primarily your home in England. Go on then, we will follow soon after," he said warmly.
Not needing any more pushing, Fleur threw a handful of dust into the fire and shouted "Maison en baronnie!" She practically jumped into the fire and felt the magic whisk her away. International Floos were a touch faster than local ones and she felt herself be pulled at a fast speed but it still took a few moments before she felt herself slowing down.
"SURPRISE!"
She was.
The shout and the noise shocked her and she fell over with a squawk, scrabbling for her wand. It took her a moment to realize that her sitting room was full of people, people she knew.
"Sorry!" Hermione said hurriedly, rushing over to help her up. "We did mean to surprise you but not like that!"
"It is okay," Fleur laughed as she accepted Hermione's help. "It was a welcome surprise."
She teared up slightly seeing the other residents there. The sitting room was decorated with flowers and floating garlands. A big sign that said "Welcome!" hung in the air and the colors danced. Everyone was smiling and she gaped at the table covered in food. Gifts and things littered the area around and she was still stock still in amazement when the others came through the Floo behind her.
"Oh, thank you so very much," she whispered as she hugged Harry tightly.
"Bienvenue a la maison," he said warmly to her.
"Je suis a la maison," she said, and kissed him wetly on the cheek.
-0-0-0-
Imaginer.012 - Their first exchange really amused me. Him slapping her hand and saying that it was inappropriate of her grabbing a bloke's pants. And the animagus comment. Hope you have been doing well, great to see you.
DOOOOOOM Lord of Waffles - Speaking without Words is one of my favorite chapters and favorite chapter titles still.
Arnie1701 - Maybe one day.
alix33 - Owl Harry waggling his tail feathers at people really amused me.
