Disclaimer: The characters used within this are mostly the property of others. I have a few originals, but the vast majority are not original. Everything here is fiction. This is for entertainment only and not for profit.
-=oOo=-
To Green Angel Tower - Chapter 4
-=oOo=-
Albus Dumbledore watched the four in mock combat with interest. They had sectioned a corner of the Delacour estate off, to save the rest of it from the damage of their sparring.
"They are very impressive, no?" asked Fleur's father Alain.
"Yes, if there is no objection, I shall make some time to train them in some details about such combat that are not well known."
"Of course. But what about the rest of your country?"
"About half those arrested today may eventually get off, what with bribes and what have you. This is not over."
"I did not really think it would be that easy."
"The prophet has suggested the ancient sharing of magic as likely how it occurred. The quibbler pointed out all the known cases and the details, none of which really matches this. The prophet later confirmed the quibbler's article was accurate."
"So they guessed correct, but it doesn't fit. Your guess?" asked Alain.
"Your daughter represented hope for Harry to survive, and to get rid of that bit of Tom's. The other Veela were not at all rejected, because they were classed by Harry and his magic as on his side, and he desperately worked with it all to cleanse himself. The differences in magic, in one purpose strengthened all, or that is my theory at least. Their later efforts just added to it."
"It is amusing and sad when I think about it. Those like Malfoy believe we must hoard and protect magic as if it was a single pile of gold. They have shown that the opposite is true."
Albus cast a muffling spell.
Alain looked at him curiously.
"It is not widely known. Gellart was a dear friend before he went mad. It wasn't us sharing magic that did it. The fanaticism was there before it. I just was too blind to see it. I know he did a few forbidden rituals as well, that further increased his power at the expense of his reason. They must avoid that, at minimum."
"I, of course, agree, but I do not think you have any cause to fear. A man like Malfoy given the power they have, would likely try to become the ruler in the shadows, assassinating everyone who stood against him. Their first thought, is not that, but to find a way to help. Actually one of their highest priorities is Daphne's sister."
"Pure power will not save her. It would probably accelerate the curse," said Albus.
"They know that. The plan for the thing they are going to sell is actually partly for money to afford to research things like this."
"Do you think they can be trusted fully?" asked Albus.
"I believe so, but then one of them is my daughter."
"I have a meeting to get to. Perhaps I'll have a path for them, if they are serious about solving things like Astoria's curse."
Alain nodded.
-=oOo=-
"So, what do you think old friend?" asked Albus.
"I think you should not have come here Albus."
"Nick, must you really pretend to be dead for so long?"
"The plan worked. People believe we are dead. You even destroyed our stone." The word stone was said with amusement.
"It would have been interesting if Voldemort had gotten that one. It was a talented bit of work."
"Thank you," said Perenelle.
"Oh, that was your work. Ah well, I'd have liked to lock an undying Voldemort up with my old friend for a long time, but this works too," said Albus.
"How did they finish it?" asked Nick.
"My understanding is Fleur attempted to use her Veela gifts to help Harry rest and recover. Since he was immune, she could do it, except it caused him pain, which made no sense. She demonstrated for Filius, and then he took them to the Goblins. They figured it out, but it was Fleur primarily, a couple curse breaker Veela and a whole hoard of additional ones her mother summoned. They put enough Veela magic into Harry to turn him into a vegetable, but it didn't hurt him. It drove the Horcrux out, but kept him alive. I think it is also related to not just his strength, but all four of them."
"Interesting. I find it amazing that he is not a drooling idiot after all that," said Perenelle dryly.
"Yes, Harry does surprise you at times. He was clearly Sorcerer class before all this, even if he demonstrated it rarely. The other three, clearly, were not, nor where they close. All three were moderately stronger than average, but that is all," said Albus.
"And you want us to teach them?" asked Nicholas.
"They are trying to raise money to eventually find the resources to help Astoria. I figured, why not skip the middle man and just learn what is needed?"
"We don't have an answer, other than the obvious one. The curse is tied to the line. Any carriers should not have children. You can't really untie the curse without permanently changing who Astoria is," said Perenelle.
"Bad business is anything tied directly to a magical core. Very few know the trick. Tom's little tattoos could have killed them when he permanently died. They got lucky there," said Nicholas.
"Is there no way to untie it? No way at all?" asked Albus quietly.
"You never did truly understand at the level required to follow in our footsteps," said Perenelle.
"I know."
"You cannot simply eradicate the disease. The disease is part of her. All that she is. Her soul. Her magic. Her disease. It is all one. It is yet another reason Mr. Potter's miracle is so very amazing. To eradicate the disease you must have a way of separating it from her, because right now, they are one," said Perenelle.
"Surely Harry's soul was not merged with Tom's."
"Probably not. Possibly that was his mother's magic keeping the separation until the end, but that is another reason Astoria is actually a more hopeless case."
"Either way, for now we refuse to teach another. Perhaps later, if they truly impress, or if they find some path forward we had not considered. We are not heartless, but learning from us gives you our limitations. Those are not enough," said Nicholas.
"Very well. I'll leave you to your seclusion. Do you need anything of me?"
"Make sure Fawkes has the opportunity to find another. He won't want to, but you have what ten years left at most."
"I will. I have an idea for Fawkes that he has expressed some interest in."
"Oh?" asked Perennele.
"You are familiar with Selene Lovegood?"
"Her daughter then?"
"Yes, I think they would make a great pair," said Albus.
"Good, you are at least considering your mortality. We on the other hand keep cheating. You probably still could if you really wanted to," said Nicholas.
"No. That I will not."
"And that is why we trust you enough with our address."
"Goodbye."
"Goodbye."
-=oOo=-
Albus walked down to the lake at the Delacour estate. They were all sitting around a campfire. Astoria was painting a picture in the firelight. Gabrielle was beside her attempting the same.
"Could I possibly talk to these four privately?" asked Albus genially.
"It is not as if we could stop you," said Astoria.
"I mean to cause no disharmony, but if you will please excuse us." Albus cast a muffling ward as he approached the fire.
"Headmaster," greeted Hermione and Daphne.
"I have a small bit of unhelpful news about Astoria's condition. The people that gave it are particularly learned, but still people. I regret that I could not get them to help, but they didn't know how in any event. You see with Harry we think his mother's magic kept Voldemort's soul fragment from merging with Harry's in any appreciable way. Then Fleur and all the others magic helped force it out. Harry was very fortunate to be immune to that magic, and have that magic be inherently healing. That is our current theory."
"And my sister?" asked Daphne.
"They believe that soul, magic, curse are really all mixed, that to destroy the curse is to destroy Astoria. There is no way to separate and they had no idea how to heal it all together."
"Then don't heal it," said Harry.
"Pardon," said Daphne dangerously.
"Don't heal it. Heal the effects of it, continually. Prevent it from killing her, was what I started to say."
"If you can figure out such a path, or even a decent start, I can ask again for their help, but be sure you have something impressive. They do not like their time wasted."
"It's the Flamels isn't it?" asked Hermione.
"How do you conclude that?"
"The story about destroying the stone always seemed too pat. The story about them lending you the one thing keeping them alive also seemed too pat."
"I can't confirm or deny. I'm sorry."
"Thank you for telling us. Information helps," said Daphne.
"I'm sorry I couldn't find more. Now I should go before your sister's find me incredibly rude."
"We will find a way," said Harry resolutely.
"I have no doubt. Goodbye Harry, Hermione, Daphne, Fleur." Fawkes appeared and he vanished in a puff of flame.
"What did he want?" asked Astoria.
"He asked some friends of his about your case. They also said your situation is very hard to solve. We may look for a method where you are continually healed, somehow," said Daphne.
"That bad huh?" asked Astoria softly.
"We haven't given up. We have barely begun. If you do your part by following your doctors orders we have, what, ten years? We will find a way," said Harry.
"Were you the ones that were responsible for the Dark Marks vanishing?" asked Astoria.
"No, save perhaps indirectly and in small ways, and that is a very big secret pipsqueak," said Daphne.
"So, care to elaborate?"
"No."
"I'm going to study hard to learn how to fix what is wrong with me."
"I can help," piped in Gabriel.
"It certainly can't hurt," said Daphne.
"Sirus is free. The Goblins turned over Peter some time ago, but a bunch of people kept fighting it. He is free now. He did mention his house has a very good library, but he wanted it gone through by experts before anyone could look at it. His family had some very dangerous texts," said Harry.
"I'll have to go to Beauxbatons soon," said Astoria.
"Yea, it is boring," muttered Gabriel.
"Learn what you can, both of you, not just about Astoria's sickness. Astoria, don't worry about your grades, beyond passing. They are irrelevant. Keep yourself well," said Fleur.
"Can I not worry about my grades?" asked Gabriel.
"No, you have no excuse not to do reasonably well," said Fleur.
"Meanie."
Fleur smiled.
"I've got an idea," said Harry.
"Oh?" asked Fleur in curiosity.
"I haven't cast a Patronus charm since I got proper control of my magic. I thought perhaps, since we know it is harmless, we cast it and let Astoria get close, if it doesn't bother her."
"It shouldn't hurt. That is light as light magic gets," said Daphne.
"I'm okay with it," said Astoria.
Fleur leaned over and kissed him softly on the cheek.
"What was that for?" asked Harry surprised.
"Happy thoughts?"
Harry laughed, but was surprised when Hermione did the same, and then surprised most of all when Daphne did.
"Don't read too much into it potter. I'm hedging my bets here, just in case this works," said Daphne stubbornly.
"Focus on your desire to help Astoria, above all Harry. Intent matters, we know this," said Hermione.
He touched his cheeks thoughtfully and smiled before throwing all he could into the charm. The stag was gone. In its place was a pure white glowing, yet seemingly solid unicorn.
Astoria and Gabriel ran up to it and hugged it.
Harry maintained his concentration on the spell for close to twenty minutes before it evaporated, despite his best efforts. Both seem dissapointed it vanished.
"Did that help at all?" asked Harry.
"It's still there. I can feel it, but better I think. Just a bit better," said Astoria.
"Your patronus changed," said Hermione.
"Yes, I don't know. All of your magic maybe, or maybe focusing on healing Astoria? Not sure," said Harry.
"Let's get back to the manor. I want my father to Floo here and check Astoria. If there is a change, no matter how small, we need to know," said Daphne.
"Of course," added Fleur, even as she started back for the manor.
-=oOo=-
Cyrus Greengrass carefully checked his youngest daughter in the empty dining room. It took about ten minutes to go through the full series of tests.
"Well?" she asked.
"Maybe."
"Maybe?" she complained.
"I'm going to talk to our healer. I assume he will want to wait a few days and then repeat the tests I did before and after. I doubt it is a cure, but honestly I think it helped."
"What about Beauxbatons?"
"This is the priority. Those four have already discussed hiring a tutor. I certainly have no problems paying for part of that, and I'd assume they could teach you as well, or you could take days off. We will work it out."
Astoria smiled.
-=oOo=-
Tracy Davis stood near her friend as her grandfather the semi retired Healer Davis examined her friend's sister. He was at it for nearly twice the time Cyrus was.
"I do agree there is possible improvement. Let me get some notes down, and you can try again."
The old healer carefully penned notes for the next fifteen minutes, writing down every observation in exacting detail. He then turned to Daphne and the others.
"Whenever your ready."
"We were thinking of trying all four. We all got them to work," said Daphne.
"Should I tell you to stop, or Astoria tell you to stop, you will do so."
"Of course."
He turned to Astoria's father and mother. "Are you both good to begin?"
"We are," said Cyrus.
He next turned to Astoria.
"Yes, I'm ready for another one. Gabriel wanted to be here, but they made her go back to school."
"Maybe later," he said.
Astoria nodded.
"Astoria you can lay down on the couch."
Astoria did so. Daphne squeezed her hand briefly.
"Now, I suppose cast them and bring them close."
Harry blushed as he remembered something. So did Hermione. Fleur smiled and Daphne rolled her eyes. All four cast simultaneously.
Four solid and brilliantly glowing unicorns filled the room and moved around the couch. Astoria buried her head in ones mane and hugged it for twenty seconds or so before letting it go and then waiting for the next one to come around and repeated it. They kept this up for nearly twenty five minutes before all the charms finally failed.
The healer had to swiftly cast a levitation charm on her when she started to fall through the no longer there patronus.
"I'm going to let things settle a bit before testing her. She is sizzling with the patronus magic," said the healer.
"How do you feel?" asked her mother.
"Great! Never better. I don't know what it is about it, but it just feels right."
"Should we eat dinner before testing her?" asked Cyrus.
The healer snorted. "Good question. If I can still feel the magic working, it is clearly too high to want to add more magic into the mix. Let's start with dinner and see where that goes."
-=oOo=-
Albus knocked once more on his old mentor's door.
"Back again so soon?" asked Nicholas.
"Can I come in?"
"Sure."
Perenelle was in the kitchen drinking tea.
She said softly, "We felt it. Admittedly we are closer to the Delacour clan here in France than you are, but we are not close. It is nearly half a country away, and yet we felt it."
"To be fair few would. Very few are attuned properly to magic anymore," said Nicholas.
"It worked," said Albus softly.
"Time or cure?" asked Perenelle.
"Healer Greengrass who is one of the finest healers in our part of the world could find no trace of the curse."
"Do you have a memory?" asked Nicholas.
"Cyrus allowed me to copy his. I wasn't there at the time. I haven't seen it yet."
He pulled out a small vial from a side pocket and handed it to Nicholas. They left the kitchen for another room in the basement. There he dumped the memory in a very ornate pensive before all three of them doved into it.
Perenelle and Nicholas stopped and thought for several minutes after exiting.
Perenelle said, "It may or may not be a cure, but it should certainly buy many years, and it likely could be repeated."
"I don't really recommend constant exposure to such high levels of magic. There could be some effect we do not know. I also agree with my wife's analysis," said Nicholas.
"I though it was notable that all four had the same patronus," said Albus.
"All four have the same magic, to one degree or another. It would be notable if they did not," said Perenelle.
"Did they still want to learn from us?" asked Nicholas.
"I never mentioned your name, though they did guess. I did not confirm."
"Leave them be for now. We would like to keep posted, but I'm curious what fresh ideas will do for now," said Perenelle.
Nicholas shrugged, then nodded.
"Do you have any suggestion for further tests for Astoria?"
"No. He is clearly a master of his field. The few spells we know different are not necessarily better," said Nicholas.
-=oOo=-
They sat in front of the only television on the estate that evening and watched the news. It was not even technically on the estate, but rather in an mostly underground house built on the adjacent property that the family also owned.
About ten minutes into the news they reported on events in England.
"In other news, there is an unexplained house fire in Hampstead London. The family had recently moved out, and was not in the country. The utilities were cut. There was no possible weather condition to cause it, yet it burned to the ground quite quickly according to the neighbors. Authorities are asking for any tips people my have."
"That's my house," said Hermione softly.
"Stay away from there. Part of the reason they did it is to draw you out," said Daphne.
"We need to tell our parents," said Fleur.
"In other news, ten students and one teacher at Roussillon middle school are confirmed missing in a cave that underwent surprised flooding. They think they may be alive, but all access is impossible."
"We could fix that," said Hermione.
"We are not allowed to reveal magic," said Fleur.
"Then don't. Get in there disillusioned. We can get through the water with bubble head charms. There is a small chance we are seen, but I doubt it. If they are good, we subtly make sure they stay that way."
"Let us talk to my father."
-=oOo=-
"All four of you is too big a risk for discovery, particularly you Fleur."
"I know. They would have no defense against my Allure, and one distraction and they would be affected."
"I'll go. I know the charms to get through. We have covered that," said Harry.
"I will as well. As far as skill with general magic, I'm second after Fleur. Hermione may be better with theory, but I can do this," said Daphne.
"Sirius sent me a two way mirror. If they came here, or you went there, you could communicate with us," said Harry.
"I will request they come here. Stay hidden. Do not expose the existence of magic, but if you do mess up report it to me fast, so we can deal with it," said Alain.
-=oOo=-
Harry and Daphne remained mostly invisible as they swam with only a conjured swimming clothes provided by Hermione, a small pouch, and their wands attached to their arms in holsters. Their bubble heads were their most visible area, and that too was merely a blurring.
It took them the better part of an hour to navigate fully through the water. The spell they used to see in the dark barely worked when there was no light at all. They eventually reached clear air and then kept going for another thirty minutes.
"Something is wrong. It's hard to believe, and they are all sleeping," said Daphne.
Harry recast the bubble head charm, and then cast it also on Daphne. She then quickly stunned all of them with a light stunner while Harry cast a bubble head charm on all of them.
"Well this is lovely. How do we solve this mess?" asked Daphne.
Harry pulled out the mirror and said, "Sirius, are you there?"
"We are here pup. What is the situation?"
"We got to them, but the air is going bad. We stunned them lightly and cast the bubble head charm on them all. I think we need some help to pull this off without someone finding out," said Harry.
"We are in front of the television on the next estate. The rescuers are preparing to try to go in. They are bringing oxygen," said a new voice.
"Remus?" Harry guessed.
"Right in one."
"I think I'm going to involve the help of the magical DMLE. They may not be thrilled, but as you are not exposing magic, they will help, and make sure you do not expose magic," said Alain.
"How will that work?" asked Daphne.
"Not sure. I'll let you know. I'll call them now."
-=oOo=-
Harry's mirror got warm. He tapped it with his wand.
"Okay, I'm with the French MLE, and one of the few that know English. Can one of you safely apparate to outside the Delacour wards, and then side along me back?"
"I think either of us can. I'm probably safer for side along. We both are tested and rated, but we haven't practiced side along a great deal," said Daphne.
"That will do. Come when your ready."
A small pop later and Harry was alone. Ten minutes later both were back. He quickly cast a bubble head on himself before casting a few diagnostics spells on them.
"In future, do not stun people that are potentially low on oxygen. Instead keep them alive, protect the statute, and call us in. It caused no harm, but it could have."
"I made it was weak as I could," said Daphne.
"Your weak stunner is still pretty strong from what I can tell. It isn't harming them, and your bubble heads are solid. You two get going. I'll deal with the rest, well that and my team standing by outside."
"Are you sure? It could be hours or days."
"Yes. It is the job. I have some shrunken supplies. I'll live."
"Thanks," said both Daphne and Harry.
She took his hand and they vanished with a slightly louder pop.
-=oOo=-
They were all together in the small house with the television watching three days later as all came out alive. It was hailed as a miracle. They were surprised a week later to get an invitation from the first lady of France. The entire family, including Daphne, Harry, and Hermione took the provided car on a nearly two hour trip before they were shown into the formal dining room.
The first lady stood. "I'm afraid I can't give you any formal thanks. Medals and such are all recorded. We probably need to figure out a path forward anyway, but to keep the secrecy it is myself, and not my husband greeting you. So, tell me, how can we thank you for keeping our citizens alive?"
"They were worried about causing problems, but didn't want to risk letting them die. Perhaps we could talk and find a path forward, where there is more cooperation, but both sides are protected?" asked Alain.
"I think you are correct. Certain things do exist already. Your MLE did contact us right away, to make sure their intervention went unnoticed. I'll speak about authorizing your group, not as MLE, but as citizens who know how to work within the system to help where there is a clear need for help. Perhaps mixed teams can even be formed to help with select emergencies. Care is required, but I think it worth exploring. The time when both acted separately. Perhaps that can partly end now."
"That sounds good to us," said Fleur.
"Tell me, can you keep your gift under control when near the non magical? I feel nothing, but I've also had extensive training to resist at least somewhat."
"Mostly, but I worry I will slip. I continue to be as careful as possible out in public."
"You will likely have to verify your skills before being placed on such a team, if they are approved. It is not, or at least I don't think it is, prejudice. It is just addressing things as they are."
"I understand," said Fleur.
"Her control is very good," said Hermione.
"You would notice," said an amused Daphne.
"So would you," noted Hermione.
Daphne pinked.
"You appear quite popular," said the wife of the president of the country to Fleur.
"So it would seem. This gift helped us heal Harry, so I'll take all the downsides of it and smile."
"Well said, though I would like to hear more about that sometime."
"That is fine with me," said Harry.
"First lunch I think."
-=oOo=-
The next morning they got a message hand delivered by Fawkes. Fleur took it and read it.
"The Headmaster of Hogwarts wants us to return for the first task."
"Really?" asked Hermione.
"Why? Didn't we establish that we didn't actually care?" asked Daphne.
"He writes that the level of our abilities will become known, sooner or later, so we might as well avoid the negative PR those like the prophet will do when we are not there."
"He does have a point there," said Daphne.
"I don't mind, as long as no one is seriously hurt. Daphne, Hermione's parents house was attacked. I know we just heard that they think they have the suspects, but you two be careful while we are presumably separated," said Harry.
"We will," said Hermione.
"It might also give people pause if they know if they attack our families we have the power to hurt them badly," said Fleur.
"Yes, it might at that," said Daphne.