Ch.5 Friends and Foes
Harry blinked out the green tinge of flames from his eyelids as he stepped out of the floo at Shell Cottage, ash fluttering down his robes onto the burgundy carpet.
With a small twist, the ash rose slightly before vanishing without a trace just as Fleur appeared in the doorway.
"'Arry!" Fleur greeted as her pearly white teeth flashed between her lips and her blue eyes sparkled.
Harry smiled lightly as the French witch leaned over and kissed his cheeks, mindful of the curve of her belly.
"How are you, Fleur? How's the pregnancy coming along?"
Fleur's eyes glimmered like the sea on a sunny day, as she cradled her belly. "Wonderfully! Bill and I are very happy."
"What's up, Harry?" Bill appeared in the doorway, holding a stack of glasses. "George and Ron are already here. Come in."
"Tell me something, 'Arry" Fleur said, eyeing Bill with a look. "Do I look fat?"
"No, Fleur. You look as wonderful as ever."
Fleur beamed before glaring at her husband. "See, Bill! Learn something from 'Arry!"
"I said the same thing!" Bill blustered.
"You 'esitated! Should 'e have 'esitated, 'Arry?"
"Not at all," Harry grinned unrepentantly, making Bill scowl.
"Come, 'Arry. Ze ozzers are waiting." Fleur took his hand and pulled him toward the drawing room.
The room was bathed in a soft, creamy hue as the wind chime swayed in the non-existent wind. Blue candles flickered, the flame changing shapes with each tick of the clock as the smell of peppermint wafted through the air.
"And look who it is! The man of the hour!" George grinned just as Ron craned his head to peer over the top of the couch
"Hey mate!" Ron chimed. "How's it going?"
"As well as it can," Harry said, flopping down onto the sofa as he slapped Ron's arm. "Where are Angelina and Hermione?"
"Hermione's a busy bee, mate. You know her. She's coming directly from the ministry. Has to even work on the weekend if you can believe it."
Harry snorted.
Over the side table, the candle flame took the shape of a miniature owl before changing to a swarm of bees that fluttered away.
"Hermione will likely work even if she has the day off," George guffawed. "The woman's too much of a workaholic."
"She is doing good work," Bill said, entering the room. "I am not sure how she puts up with someone like you, Ron."
"I could say the same for you, Bill," Ron said, a grin curling his lips. "Oh, or is it Weeleeum?"
Fleur poked her head through the door leading to the kitchen.
"What's happening?"
"Ron's making fun of your accent," George snitched with a grin, making color drain out of Ron's face.
"Is eet true, Ronald?"
Her voice was sweet, holding a tinge of sharpness to it.
"No-no. George's kidding," Ron said, shaking his head frantically.
Fleur hummed in response, narrowing her eyes at the men assembled. "Can you please help me out in the kitchen, William?"
Color returned to Ron's face as he let out a light sigh.
"Of course, honey. I'll be right there." Bill replied, slapping Ron's head on the way as Fleur's head disappeared.
"Oi! Bloody hell."
Harry chuckled as George winked at him.
"So, where's Angelina, George?" Harry asked.
"She'll be coming with Ginny," George replied carefully. "Holyhead Harpies, you know?"
Harry watched as the candle flame turned into two dragons, roaring at each other before turning into an eagle with its wings stretched.
Harry tore his eyes away from the candle and smiled weakly at George.
"When are you planning the wedding, George?"
"Oi," Ron poked his arm. "What's with you and weddings?"
"I will get to meet new chicks," Harry smirked. "You all are bound by now. Might as well do your best mate a favor. Plus I've had your best man's speech ready since the past one year."
"What makes you think you're gonna be my best man?" Ron scoffed, making both Harry and George raise an eyebrow.
Ron threw up his hands and scuttled onto the end of the couch with a sulking expression.
"Cheer up. I've even picked up robes for you to save you from your mother. You at least won't go to your own wedding looking like a fifteenth-century grandma."
"I thought Ron looked wonderful in that. Absolute chick-magnet, I tell you," George snickered, making Ron flip him the bird.
"Well, if he does wear those—"
Harry heard the floo whoosh in the distance.
Bill hurried out of the kitchen only to stop at the door as a wide grin formed on his face.
"Hermione! Come on in. Right on time."
Hermione entered the room with a tired smile, still in her work attire. Strands of her brunette hair hung out of her braid, dangling down her face.
Ron stood up and pecked Hermione on her lips as she approached before leading her toward the couch.
Harry scooted over to the side allowing Hermione to slump into the couch.
"Long day?" Harry asked.
"You don't know half of it," Hermione muttered irritably. "And do me a favor. Knock down Kingsley's door and tell him to piss off."
"What did he do to piss you off?" George asked, amusement shining in his eyes.
"Nothing," She scowled. "He keeps pestering me to get Harry to work for him again. He even gave me a ten-percent raise out of the blue last week. Today he let slip that he had leads on some Death Eaters."
"Which is definitely a lie," Harry completed. "I am hundred-percent sure that they don't have shit on any of them. He just wants me to be his poster boy."
Hermione nodded, her eyes closing.
"At least look at the bright side," George said. "You got a raise! How many do they give anyway?"
Hermione didn't deem to respond as she laid, her head slumped on the soft back of the couch.
"'Ermione! William told me you arrived."
If he didn't know better, Harry could've sworn Hermione glared at the French witch as her eyes shot open.
"Hey, Fleur. How's the baby coming along?" Hermione mumbled, leaning forward as a few more strands of her hair came undone
"Wonderfully! Eet even kicks!" Fleur said, her eyes sparking as she rubbed the side of her belly.
"Really? That's wonderful." Hermione said, standing up before she hurried Fleur to the side.
"How is it wonderful if it kicks? Shouldn't it hurt?"
Both women ignored Ron in favor of sauntering to the kitchen, their voices a low hum of fervent conversation.
Bill gave Ron a look before shaking his head.
"What?"
"Nothing Ronald. Nothing."
"But the kicks—"
"Drop it, mate. Really." Harry advised, making Ron's mouth snap shut.
"Anyhow," Bill coughed. "I heard you left your job, Harry."
"I did," Harry confirmed, eyeing the kitchen door. "And Kingsley wants me back desperately, it seems."
"Who would want to let you go? Aren't you the best thing to happen to this country since Merlin?" George snickered lightly, as he trailed his finger across the plush armrest.
"At that time, I was just glad that bloody Skeeter wrote something good about me for once. She probably had to."
"Would've been much better if she had written and been rounded up for being a suspected Death Eater," Ron said darkly, anger brimming in his eyes. "That would've been the best thing since Merlin."
"Ron," Bill chided. "That is a horrible thing to say."
"Piss off. You're beginning to sound like mom." Ron grumbled.
The curse breaker rolled his eyes before his gaze settled on Harry.
"So, what are you doing now Harry, now that— you know?"
"I don't have a job?" Harry hummed. "Relaxing, I guess. It is definitely a break from the madness."
"And the paperwork," Ron snorted.
"Can't forget that now, can I? You left the Auror force three months in due to it."
"It was a pain in the arse, let me tell you. Bloody horrible."
"That is why folks, you should run a joke shop," George declared with a wide grin. "No paperwork. Harry, and you're absolutely welcome to join. It would be spiffing to have you."
"You mean all the customers I would attract," Harry snorted. "No thanks."
"You could totally be the first brand ambassador of the Weasleys Wizarding Wheezes. Who better than the son of Prongs, mate! You totally gotta do it." George implored.
"And feature in the prophet more than I already am?" Harry said derisively. "No thank you."
"I reckon Skeeter will go on a bloody tirade about the fame getting into your head if you do it. Man-who-conquered chooses fame over saving damsels. That's one catchy headline."
Harry groaned just as the bell chimed loudly.
"I'll get it," Bill announced.
He quickly rose from the armrest of the sofa before scurrying out of the room.
"Five sickles say it is Ginny and Angelina," Ron declared loudly.
"No one is taking that bet, brother dearest," George scoffed as Hermione appeared through the door of the kitchen followed by Fleur who walked out slowly.
"I don't think you should remain standing, Fleur," Harry pointed out, as Fleur leaned against the wall.
Fleur shook her head.
"I 'ave been sitting all day even in the kitchen. Bill barely lets me do anything since the news of my pregnancy came out." Fleur said, tossing her head over her shoulder. "I spend most days enchanting things."
Harry's eyes darted to the candle whose flame took the shape of a penguin which hobbled mid-air around the candle.
"Oui, that's one of mine," Fleur said, following Harry's gaze.
Harry watched as the flame shaped itself into a hippogriff before it flew away, disappearing in the wind.
"Hey Fleur!" Angelina's boisterous voice echoed as she hurried across the hall and placed her hands around Fleur's baby bump. "How's the baby, Fleur?"
"Um— eet is coming along fine, Angelina," Fleur said, as she squirmed a step back.
Harry glanced away from the two of them, only to catch the sight of Bill entering the room with Ginny following behind.
Her top blazed like a ruby in the room's harsh light, the deep magenta tones shimmering with each movement. Her auburn hair flowed like a river down her back, the golden curls contrasting sharply against her top over her shoulders.
A miniature Quaffle and a Snitch danced around her earlobes, like they were caught in a playful game of catch. A Hungarian Horntail was coiled around her pale, sleeveless right arm, roaring fiercely before flying around and appearing over her left arm.
'Mrs. Weasley would kill Ginny if she found out about that tattoo.'
"Ginerva! Come in!" Fleur said, stepping away from Angelina.
"Hey Fleur," Ginny greeted, stepping forward to hug her, carefully avoiding Fleur's baby bump. "You're glowing, girl."
"Thank you," Fleur beamed, breaking the hug. "I heard you won yesterday. Congratulations!"
Ginny waved her off. "They were the Chudley Cannons. Really, they stood no chance against us even if half our team was injured."
An indignant growl from behind, had Harry's lips curling in amusement.
Ron had learned, rather painfully, to hold his tongue when speaking of Quidditch around his sister and Angelina.
Ginny glanced at him, catching his eyes just as the dragon flew down her right arm, coiling over it.
They said nothing before Ginny looked away, smiling at everyone else.
"So, what's going on? What did I miss?"
"Nothing much," Hermione said slowly. "We were just helping out Mimsy in the kitchen."
'Hermione still disapproves of house-elves working for wizards.' Harry observed.
Hermione had tried to draft numerous laws for house-elf freedom and fair payment for them but those laws had been shot down by a majority of the Wizengamot before amendments of any kind had even been suggested.
'At least she got a couple of fair treatment laws going for them. Even if the worst punishment for elf-mistreatment is a hundred-galleon fine and freeing of the house-elf into ministry custody. They're still not getting paid— not that they want to. Kreacher will die before accepting a single knut.'
"I'll help you out," Ginny said, placing her small, golden purse on the side table. Her long, red heels clicked as she followed all the ladies, disappearing into the kitchen.
"Well, that happened," George muttered. "And I think we should have some boys time. What do you all say?"
"And what do you want to do, George?"
"Play Quidditch outside?" He suggested. "Harry and I versus Ron and you."
"With two professional Quidditch players in the next room, I think it is a really bad idea." Harry scoffed. "How long till they join us and trash us all, two versus four?"
"Come on mate. All of us played for Gryffindor. You were the bloody youngest seeker of the century. That gotta count for something, eh? There's no way they could defeat us two on four, especially."
"They both have Firebolts. You've got what? A couple of Cleansweeps here?"
"A Nimbus two-thousand, actually," Bill said. "Charlie got one as a gift a few months back. He has left it with me."
"Not bad, but not a Firebolt," Harry pointed out.
"Speaking of Quidditch, why don't you try your hand at it, Harry?" Bill suggested. "I heard you were spectacular."
"He was the best seeker Gryffindor ever had, Ginny and Charlie included. He had this uncanny ability to spot the snitch." George said.
"I was not that good," Harry scowled.
"Bullshit. You were the absolute best. Remember the match where Snape refereed? You caught the snitch in less than five minutes."
"And the world record is three and a half seconds."
"Plumpton caught that by a fluke, despite whatever he said," Ron scoffed.
"You should really think about it, Harry. If you're remotely as good as you say, you just need to say that you're interested. They will bend over backward to have you on their team."
"I reckon, even Harpies won't say no to recruiting you," Ron suggested.
"Harpies is an all-woman team, Ron. I don't think they're breaking that for me." Harry said. "And I am not stealing your sister's spot."
"But just think," Ron said dreamily. "Amongst the Holyhead Harpies mates. All those girls— I've even heard they have wild girl parties."
"Ginny!" George called loudly, making Ron jump. "Ron wants to ask if Harpies have orgies in their locker rooms!"
Harry choked on his spit as Ginny appeared in the kitchen doorway, a frown on her face.
"Ron asked what?"
"He asked— ouch, geez Ronnekins. What was that for?"
"I asked no such thing, I swear."
"Oh, shut up, Ron," Ginny said before disappearing into the kitchen.
A moment later, Ron pounced at George, poking him harshly as George tried to defend himself, laughing hysterically.
Harry felt the corners of his mouth curl into an easy grin.
These were good times.
Little dots and dashes floated and swirled on the parchment, as letters printed in crisp black ink began to appear slowly floating into existence.
Colors swirled on the side of the page forming a picture of an albino white skinned man who smirked as he straightened up, his dark, long red hair parting to reveal his eerily glowing red eyes as he wiped blood from his mouth, his lips parting to reveal sharp, elongated canines dripping with blood.
"A vampire," Daphne peered over Harry's shoulder. "Lord Draven. First appearance in the late '90s in Romania."
"Wanted for a total of thirty-eight suspected murders," Harry muttered. "And consequently, our new target."
"That's the kind of stuff we deal with, Puttar," Mr. Singh said, his hand scratching his beard lightly. "But vampires are bad news."
"Unnatural strength, speed, bloodthirsty, and having an affinity for manipulating shadows," Daphne muttered. "But pretty easy to ward off— garlic works like magic."
"No it doesn't," Mr. Singh scoffed. "Rumors really. Vampires might hate the smell of garlic but it won't send them running, believe me."
"That's— well, our Defense Against the Dark Arts professor in our first year wore garlic in his turban to ward vampires off." Daphne said.
Harry coughed slightly.
'Quirrell. Only if it was something as harmless as garlic under that turban of his.'
"Anything you wish to share, Potter?"
"No, nothing much really. It just was that it wasn't garlic in his turban— just Voldemort sticking out of the back of his head."
"What?"
"The dark lord of yours? He seems to have been popping up everywhere throughout your life." Natalie observed. "And he sure did more than dabble in soul magic."
"Possession is a tricky art. Only the worst necromancers know how to do that." Natalie said. "Plus Horcruxes. Nasty stuff."
"You have no idea," Harry muttered. "Anyhow, this vampire. What's his deal? He has been wanted for murder for more than half-a-decade. And with anti-vampirism laws of the ICW, he should've been hunted down by now."
"Half of the murders he is wanted for are murders of vampire hunters and local hit-wizards," Faizal informed, wiping his wet hands with a towel. "I figure that his motive is something along the lines of vampire supremacy or freedom because Draven is a word with Gothic origins meaning hunter or protector."
"You're saying it is a made-up name?" Daphne frowned.
"Well, I won't pretend to know about vampire-baby names but that's what I found," Faizal shrugged.
"That is not the point, I am afraid. We have to hunt this vampire down. Kill orders. Subduing is too dangerous."
"Right, I will begin looking into ways to easily kill a bloody vampire," Daphne muttered standing up. "Or drag one into the sun."
"We have a creature's expert right here, Daphne," Natalie drawled, jabbing a thumb at Mr. Singh.
"You do," Mr. Singh said, his mustache quivering. "The easiest way to kill a vampire is to burn the body or behead it. Beheading, though, is a little tricky, considering how fast they can move out of a spell's way."
"That seems pretty simple," Daphne said. "But vampires are still near impossible to kill."
"Well, you cannot kill what you don't see in time," Mr. Singh shrugged. "Vampires excel at killing from the shadows before their victim can get a hint of their presence. That is what makes them extremely dangerous."
"Right," Harry drawled. "Anything else we need to know before we set off on this mission?"
"Not much," Crystal said. "Faizal and I have put everything we have in that file."
"I have contacted my—"
A knock sounded loudly on the door making De Luca stop.
"Are we expecting anyone?" Natalie asked.
De Luca shook his head as he waved his wand. The doors slid open to admit Valkyrie who strode into the room, a severe look framing her face.
"Valkyrie, is there—"
"I need you to sign this," Valkyrie said shortly, thrusting a scroll of parchment into De Luca's hand. "It is an information-release form for whatever you have on the O-63 you recently retrieved from Germany."
"The gun?" De Luca asked, unfurling the scroll. "Why do you need this?"
"A mission," Valkyrie replied, offering De Luca a quill.
"I know it is for a mission," De Luca's frown turned into a scowl. "But how does this information play a role in it? As the one signing the information release, I have a right to know."
"My sources reported that the MACUSA recently stumbled upon a crate of similar weaponry," Valkyrie sighed. "Magical firearms, they called it. It was stolen two days ago."
"Stolen?" De Luca's jaw twitched. "That's troubling especially if those guns were anything like the one we retrieved."
"I know. While it might not be the same, it might be something similar. That's why I need the information. So my team and I are prepared for whatever we might face."
"Shouldn't we be doing this mission?" Natalie asked loudly. "We did retrieve the first of them— if more exist."
"Your primary mission was to subdue Myers, not get the O-63. And the MACUSA did seek the aid of the ICW within hours since the theft was discovered, labeling the magical firearms as extremely dangerous and lethal."
"Right," De Luca cut in. "I will also release what we have on Myers— the one who had the gun. It might help you get a lead."
Valkyrie nodded a smile curling on her face.
"Thank you," Valkyrie said before peering past De Luca and meeting Harry's eyes. "And I have something for your new teammate."
"And what might that be?" Natalie asked with a scowl.
A file materialized in Valkyrie's hand as she strode toward Harry, ignoring Natalie completely.
Her pearly white teeth peeked between her lips as she dangled the file between her fingertips. "I never welcomed you here, Mr. Potter. Consider this a welcome to WAND gift from me."
"You don't have to. With all due respect—"
"Uh-huh, you don't argue with me, darling. It is a gift. Take it," She thrust the file into Harry's hand making him stumble a step back. "Feel free to throw it in the trash if you don't like my gift. No hard feelings. But somehow, I have the feeling that you won't."
She turned on her heel and stared at De Luca. "Well, De Luca, have you signed the release form?"
De Luca glanced between Harry and Valkyrie for a moment before signing.
"Thank you for your cooperation, De Luca. Have a good day folks."
She plucked the parchment out of his hand before swaggering out of the room, the doors sliding back behind her magically.
"That was something," Crystal noted, staring at the doors through which Valkyrie had just left.
"What's in the file, Potter?" Daphne asked, pointing to the gift Valkyrie had given him.
Harry opened the file to see meaningless dots and dashes strewn about the page with a splattering of colors to the side.
"That's a mission file," Natalie said. "She gave Harry a mission?"
"Well, Potter, go on," Daphne prodded.
Harry tapped the tip of his wand to the center of the parchment.
The dots and dashes floated and swirled on the parchment, as letters printed in crisp black ink began to appear slowly floating into existence.
Colors swirled on the side of the page forming a picture of a snarling disheveled man who held a board in his hand, chains restraining him in his place as he tugged at them.
Fire curled up in Harry's chest.
"That's—" Daphne breathed.
"Rookwood," Harry growled. "Augustus Rookwood."
And… DONE! Hope you all liked the chapter!
It was admittedly a short chapter but it had a LOT if you read it carefully.
.
Thank you all for your reviews.
A huge thank you to Darkness Enthroned, Mughil and Nanu for betaing this chapter.
.
Also, join my server, House of HP66, to interact with me directly, and see the pictures of the characters there, so you all can get an idea of how they look. I will also post descriptions and stuff for reference. I also post sneak peeks there when it catches my fancy.
Link: discord . gg / 4qfP3fxdQ4 [Remove the spaces please]
.
As of this moment, I have six main stories. They are:
1. The Rise of the Last Potter: My Novel length Harry Potter fic which is already 400k+ words long and it is a work in progress. Updated Regularly.
2. The Legend of the Son of Poseidon: A Novel Length Percy Jackson fic which is already 350k+ words long and it is a work in progress. Updated Regularly
3. Loved Ones Skipping Stones and Ice-cream: A fluffy Haphne one-shot. It is completed obviously.
4. SECRETS: Another romantic one-shot I published recently. Complete as well.
5. Agent Potter: The Wizard of W.A.N.D. - My spy!Harry fanfic which I implore you all to read!
6. Guardian of the Soul: Infinity Saga – My newest fic. An HP–MCU crossover. Novel length, in progress.
.
Stay Happy! Stay Safe! Keep Smiling! Keep Reading!
HPfanfictioner66