CHAPTER 5:

KEEPING UP APPEARANCES

A few weeks later…

The sound of Jack the Spiv's body being slammed against a wall was music to Harry's ears. After all those defences the four of them had gone through, not to mention dealing with an Edelfelt, it was satisfying to finally deal with the bastard. True, Barghest was the one chokeslamming the man against the wall, but after all that trouble, it was really satisfying to see him flail and gag.

Harry utterly despised Mundungus Fletcher, the wizarding spiv(1) whom Dumbledore trusted enough to have him in the Order of the Phoenix, despite the fact that Fletcher was a flaky, cowardly bastard. Yet Fletcher was a saint by comparison to Jack the Spiv. It said a lot when Fletcher was the one to give them the information on a man who was one of his contacts in the black market readily. For all of Fletcher's flaws, he despised human trafficking, and the only reason he didn't rat Jack the Spiv out sooner was he didn't know human trafficking was involved.

The sad fact of life was, human trafficking for test subjects was too-common in the Magi's end of the Moonlit World. Given the amorality of a lot of Magi, the general consensus was 'don't get caught', though in truth, a lot of Magi simply looked down on those who used human test subjects (aside from themselves or family members) as gauche. That, and too many kidnappings and disappearances could lead to the exposure of the Moonlit World, and aside from the whole 'Mystery going away and weakening magecraft' issue, there was the fact that the Muggles would potentially take issue with every magic user in the world.

Of course, human trafficking was only part of the reason they were here. Luviagelita Edelfelt had, albeit with the blessing of Waver, approached Harry and Bazette (after having secured Barghest's help) for help in retrieving a number of items of hers. Now, Harry wanted little to do with the haughty blonde Magus. The Edelfelts, a Finnish family of Magi, were notoriously mercenary, and dressed themselves up as noble, often being called the most elegant hyenas of the Moonlit World, an appellation they appropriated for themselves. And Luvia, in his opinion, acted like a genderflipped Draco Malfoy with a few more morals and a thing for professional wrestling. He got along better with her eternal rival and distant relative, Rin Tohsaka, another one of Waver's students.

However, Luvia, while a condescending elitist cow with a really pretentious, grating and annoying noblewoman's laugh, was nonetheless not only a pragmatist, but she had a genuine sense of noblesse oblige that many Purebloods would do well to emulate, let alone Magi. And she cared about her family, more so than the Malfoys she resembled. Which was why, when a few family members of one of her retainers was abducted, along with a few Mystic Codes, she was willing to go to war. The Mystic Codes were bad enough, but the Edelfelts looked after their own.

Her Mystic Codes had something not unlike a homing beacon put in, one that used the Jewelcraft abilities of the Edelfelt line. To remove them was to potentially destroy the items, and the homing beacons were not easily detectable by magecraft anyway. Luvia knew where to go, but getting the muscle needed on short notice was another matter. It was a matter of urgency, after all.

Thankfully, for her at least, she had a number of favours she could call in. And as reluctant as Harry was to get involved with an Edelfelt, her story had him agreeing. Hence why they were here, in a secret underground part of Shad Thames.

"…You Edelfelt slut," Jack the Spiv sneered at Luvia, albeit half-choked by Barghest's arm across his throat. "You think you can waltz in here with your pet dogs and meddle with my business?"

"Meddle? You took my retainer's family members, and my Mystic Codes, so yes, I think I can, given how you believe you can meddle with my business with impunity." In most other circumstances, Harry would have wanted to wipe that smug smirk off Luvia's face. But not only did she acquit herself well in battle, but he understood the desire to torment her foe. Thankfully, they rescued said people, and a few others besides. It reminded him of the time he and Bazette were sent after Atrum Galliasta, albeit on a smaller scale.

"And I'm nobody's pet," Barghest said, pressing her arm against Jack the Spiv's throat just a little harder. Jack the Spiv was no Sealing Designation, and while officially, he was meant to be brought back for questioning, unofficially, she was given the green light to test out her conversion ability. In her Lostbelt, she had the ability to turn humans into Black Dogs, and she wanted to test that ability out on someone who was scum. Given what Jack the Spiv was up to, it was agreed by all concerned parties to let her do so, as long as they had other evidence to use.

But first, he would need to be questioned, if only to learn where other sources of information he had were. Or subject to Legilimency. Harry felt uneasy about using it after what Snape did to him, and Hermione was a better Legilimens than he was by far, but in a pinch, he could use it.

Jack the Spiv, however, began laughing hoarsely. "You've no idea what is happening, do you? Someone's got a curse on me, tricked me into a geas, and the moment I start talking, I burn. There's scarier fucks out there than some musclebound dyke working under the Edelfelts. And whatever you do to me will be less painful than what they will do to the world! The Seventy-Two will re-emerge, and…GYAAARRGGHHKLE!"

Jack the Spiv began spasming and screaming, with the others hurrying over. Harry cast a Diagnostic Charm as the man went limp, his expression vacant, drool dripping from his lips. "What the bloody hell?!" he yelped as the results slid into his mind.

"What's wrong, Harry?" Bazette asked.

"It's like a Dementor ate him. There's some last lingering vestiges of his soul, enough to show up in his magic circuits, but…it's like most of his soul just suddenly burned away. His brain's been liquified as well." He looked to Bazette and Luvia, both of whom looked extremely disturbed. "You know curses that work like that?"

"Nothing that'd work like that, not that I know of," Bazette said. "Even the Killing Curse your dark wizards use simply blasts the soul out of the body, severing the threads between it and the body. If you're right, someone's covering their tracks, trying to prevent necromancy from allowing us to interrogate him magically. While that's a not-unusual practise amongst Magi who kill others, I've never seen it done as a means of execution, the Dementor's Kiss aside."

"I concur with Enforcer McRemitz," Luvia said. "I can't say I have a comprehensive knowledge of magecraft outside of my family's specialty, but to do this, and with a geas…" She scowled. "His fate was richly deserved, but I personally think he deserved to suffer more."

Barghest let the body of Jack the Spiv slide down the wall to the floor, with a loud flatulent noise heralding the vacant body soiling itself. "I agree, Lady Edelfelt. And turning him into a Black Dog is ill-advised. As a member of the Fang Clan, I can resist certain curses, especially that of the Mors, but…if there's any part of that curse still lingering…do we need his body?"

"For an autopsy if nothing else," Bazette said.

"Very well…" Barghest was looking around, until her eyes fell on a rather large jar filled with murky liquid, almost barrel-sized. There was a misshapen lump of silvery flesh within it. Harry didn't recognise it, but Luvia did, if the way her eyes opened wide in shock was any indication. "…I know this," Barghest said quietly. "The feeling is so familiar somehow."

Luvia sniffed haughtily. "And how would a Fae from another timeline know what the flesh of Albion is?"

At this, Barghest's eyes widened, before she turned a triumphant smirk to Luvia. "Because her counterpart in that timeline was one of my allies. Melusine, or Tam Lin Lancelot. Born from a rotting lump of Albion's very flesh. From decay came great beauty."

"Clock Tower is built on Albion's grave, isn't it?" Harry asked. "You mine that grave for the flesh of Albion, which is a potent magical reagent. Did someone smuggle this stuff out to Jack the Spiv?"

Bazette nodded. "There's a massive black market for that and what else can be mined from Albion's grave. True, it's not that expensive compared to some materials, particularly those from other Phantasmal Beasts that normally only exist on the Reverse Side of the World, but it'd still be worth a pretty penny because supply is heavily regulated by Clock Tower. Of course, using standard dragons' flesh is easier and cheaper, and while nothing compared to Albion, it's still potent. Why are you so interested, Barghest?"

After a moment, the Fae woman asked, "Lady Edelfelt, in lieu of payment for myself, may I have this?"

Luvia seemed to consider this. Eventually, she said, "Very well. While the cost does not cover the remuneration we agreed upon, you helped save the life of my retainer's family. Family is everything to us, after all. We will have to ensure Professor Velvet agrees, though, but I am sure he will. Did this Melusine mean much to you?"

"She was a rival and a comrade, and she was in love with a cruel and evil woman who used her for her own ends," Barghest said quietly. "But I suppose she was the nearest thing I had to a friend back home, my lovers aside. Nobody else native to the Lostbelt came close. I know this is a somewhat macabre souvenir, but…"

Bazette shrugged. "Believe me, by Magi standards, that only raises an eyebrow. But I get wanting a memento of your friend, even if it's by proxy…"

Thankfully, Waver was willing to allow Barghest to take the jar home, though the rest of the contraband Jack the Spiv had in stock had to be kept aside to be either returned to their owners or sold. The black marketeer's death had caused a stir as well, especially as they had no idea how the geis worked. Harry knew Waver would have his hands full with it. Thankfully, enough paperwork remained for a continuing investigation to try and find some of his customers and suppliers.

Over the past few weeks, his friendship with the Fae woman had strengthened. True, they were still wary of each other to some degree, given Barghest's trauma and Harry seeing her memories. But so far, Barghest had proven to be not only a good houseguest, but a fast friend. He could say housebroken, but besides being in extremely poor taste, the fact of the matter remained that, despite her nobility and seemingly genuine decency as a person, she was also an extremely powerful Fae who still had a certain wild nature to her.

Yet Harry felt that he and Delphi were beginning to bring the damaged Fae woman out of her shell. Despite her Social Darwinistic tendencies, she didn't truly look down on them for being physically weak. She recognised all kinds of strength, physical, intellectual, emotional, magical and psychological. But she kept much of her past to herself, including the month leading up to her transformation and death. Occasionally, she alluded to an organisation called Chaldea, which rang a bell with Harry, though he wasn't sure why.

Harry couldn't blame her to some degree. Some of it was shame at what she did as Morgan's enforcer. But there was also the trauma of eating her lovers under the curse inflicted on her, culminating in devouring Adonis. Even now, the feeling of his flesh in her gullet echoed in Harry's mind.

Yet Barghest was, when she wasn't fighting, a gentle, thoughtful and caring soul. And she was more than welcome in his home. In fact, he hoped he could help her become acclimated to this brave new world she found herself in.

In any case, Harry and Barghest were hoping to come back home for a shower and a rest, but they found an unwanted visitor waiting patiently at the door. "Is that a Goblin?" Barghest asked quietly.

"Didn't you have any in your Lostbelt?"

"For the most part, no, though some arrived as Changelings, unwitting emigrants from Proper Human History."

"Right, well, I forgot to tell you, Goblins run the banks for the wizards in Britain, specifically Gringotts. Goblins are belligerent, prideful buggers, but most are fairly decent. Unfortunately, I've had bad dealings with them before. I broke into Gringotts to retrieve one of Voldemort's Horcruxes, and they've never forgiven me, never mind that one of their number actually betrayed me." A little more loudly, he said, "And may I ask what you want, Mr Lodgok?"

The diminutive form of the current Potter account banking agent came up to them. "I'm afraid it is unpleasant business as usual, Mr Potter. May I come in?"

"It's not like I'd be able to refuse you…"

"Ugh, this shit again?" Delphi asked, leafing through the letters in Potter Manor's living room. "You'd think that they'd given up after the last lot got rejected."

Lodgok harrumphed. "Be that as it may, Harry Potter is one of Magical Britain's most eligible bachelors. On top of that, he is the regent for your share of the Black family vault, as well as the Lestrange vault, which is now extinct, at least where blood is concerned."

"Bloody gold diggers," Harry snarled. "They still want political and financial influence. I mean, this one is from Draco Malfoy, suggesting a marriage be set up between Delphi and his son Scorpius!"

"Nope, nope, nope, all kinds of nope!" Delphi said hurriedly. "Kill it with fire, bury the ashes at the crossroads with salt and a stake through the grave! I mean, I could stand marrying a cousin, but I'm already pretty inbred as it is, what with Voldemort being a descendant of the Gaunts, and, well, you know what the Blacks are like, and I reckon that's part of what made Bellatrix the way she was. Anyway, what is this, the bloody Middle Ages? Scorpius is too young for me! He's six years old! I'm fourteen!"

Lodgok chuckled. "I think the recent surge in the offers is partly due to your being seen in the company of this woman. I heard from our contacts in the Magus Association that she was called Lady Barghest, but I didn't realise she was a Fae until I have seen her in person. I believe that the offers were to head off any possibility that this one was a rival claimant. The sad thing is, while you pay us to rid yourself of these unwanted contracts, they pay us to send you more. Thus does Gringotts make its business, Mr Potter."

Barghest was looking thoughtfully at the letters. Eventually, she said, "If it were known that Harry Potter was courting someone, would the offers for him at least cease?"

Lodgok frowned. "Well, most certainly would, while a few would simply redouble their efforts."

"And would the courtship need to be a formal, binding one?"

"No, just public and witnessed by the people of Magical Britain. Why do you ask?"

Barghest then looked to Harry. "I will not do this without your permission, Harry. But if you agree, I can pose as your paramour to shield you from these unwanted betrothals."

"Sorry, what?"

Barghest's lips twitched into a sardonic smile. "I am still a knight, and while I am not sworn to your service, it would not do if I could not protect my host from at least some things that vex him."

Harry considered it. He knew Barghest wouldn't suggest a thing lightly. After all, she had a very bad experience with her former lovers, what with devouring them, and she knew he wasn't fond of being forced into a relationship, especially after his prior experiences. He would be willing to settle down with someone, as long as it was the right someone.

Was that someone Barghest? Despite her heavily-muscled body, she was still quite physically attractive, and she was intelligent and empathic. But leaving aside her history as a brutal enforcer for an alternate Morgan le Fay, he had only known her for a few weeks, and they were both damaged goods.

But her suggestion had merit. If nothing else, wooing a Fae woman would help practise for when he truly got serious. And if it strengthened their relationship, so much the better.

So he nodded. "Sure. Let's try doing that…"

CHAPTER 5 ANNOTATIONS:

So, Barghest has found a proxy keepsake of her old comrade, and has had an unconventional suggestion for Harry's betrothal woes.

I put in Luvia partly as an excuse to have a cameo from another Nasuverse staple. I actually hate how some people lionise her and the Edelfelt family (Jaenera Targaryen, for all the fact they write excellent Nasuverse fics, also has a major thing for the Edelfelts, and bashing the Tohsakas). In the end, Luvia, from what I've seen in the Unlimited Blade Works anime and the Lord El-Melloi II Case Files anime, is basically a genderflipped Draco Malfoy with less xenophobia and more of a case of noblesse oblige. She doesn't deserve to be lionised as much as she is. She's a haughty and obnoxious bitch who deserves being taken down a peg or three, and the less said about that noblewoman laugh of hers, the better. However, she was good to put in to show that she is, at least, willing to get her hands dirty to help out someone she considers family.

Jack the Spiv is another OC. I wanted someone like Mundungus Fletcher, only worse. I was originally thinking of an evil version of Del Boy from Only Fools and Horses, but I have it in my mind that he looks like a young Jack Nicholson (hence the name) or even a young Philip Madoc. The character Madoc plays in the movie Daleks Invasion Earth 2150 AD, Brockley, is a spiv-like character, and unpleasant and treacherous to boot. Plus, Jack the Spiv serves to give some foreshadowing. He's the one who gave Lev the bombs he needed to attack Chaldea, but Lev tricked him into a geas, and then, to tie up loose ends, sent an anonymous tip, just after Luvia's retainer's family was kidnapped.

The 'fake' courtship was a plot device I used for a prior Nasuverse crossover, my Fate/Apocrypha story My Beautiful Huntress. I needed something to get the actual romance going, or poor Harry and Barghest would be circling each other all their lives.

1. For those outside Britain, a 'spiv' is someone who engages in shady deals, often on the black market, and particularly during the Second World War.