£ Cat tongue £

$ Serpent tongue $

: High Mind Speech:

SPRB

Harry retook his seat. "My first question: how fixed is the Bank on the Fees and Fines? If there is some slide, I can be talked into returning to the Nation, one or two Relics."

"And what are you calling Relics?" The third Goblin inquired.

"A Craftwork of Value… older than fifty years."

"To your Question," the third Goblin grinned, showing his teeth, "It will depend on how much is on the table… on both sides."

"Have you read through the file?" Harry smiled back.

"Just got our copy this morning." Hangnail sneered.

"Same here." Hermione turned the page. She then flipped the pack of pages over in front of Harry. "The Catalog Number and Name of the item. The Core Value, the Fine or Fee, and Give or Keep." She glared across the table. "I don't like them either."

SPRB

Two Hours later, the Brazilian trio left pleased with the resolution of the Deal.

"You could have squeezed them for more." Ted spoke.

"Yes. But if I was trying to just get gold from them, I would have gone to London. No, Gripsaq needed a feather in his hat, Barchoke needed the Coin to Flow, and Ashraq needed to see what Lord Black could do. Now on a side note. There were two 'letter openers' listed on the contested list. Both read to me as 'Daggers to keep on the Desk'. Grindstone, you are to choose one, before giving the other to Ted here, with the understanding that the crafted blade is Goblin Craft. If the Clan wants it back on your Death, it is theirs."

"Ashraq. Before you use your Goblets, check them." Hermione looked up from her notes. "Lord Potter using something that fancy… it was in mixed company and he would be looking for truth and trouble."

Ashraq thought about it, before grinning at the conclusion he drew. "Thank you Aunty."

"As House Potter Account Manager, what is the Female's Official Position?" Barchoke lost his grin.

Harry leaned back. Three slow breaths. "While She has declared that she is mine… she has not begun anything related to our Mating Rituals. That said, she has not said that she was not interested in being under me. She is my Aunty of my Clan. She has the right to pull on the account… within reason." He turned to look at Grindstone. "Grindstone, take a chair over on the Brazil side. Take Notes. During my travels, I have acquired three dependents. Hermione here, My Adopted Daughter, and her Mother. I am also keeping Hermione's parents so that the English Elitists can't force her to return to England. I need them to be able to support themselves while I am in School."

Grindstone scrambled to do as requested. "Three things. How long do I have before you need this? You said Adopted, is that Official? And for the Muggles…"

"Squibs. I classify them as Squibs. They can Navigate Diagon Alley with help of finding the Leaky Cauldron. I would like everything settled within a week. And No. I am wanting to Blood adopt Daphne… but I am afraid of what my blood will do to her." He turned to the London Goblins. "Gentlemen, Are you going to be here a while or you needed back in London?"

Barchoke grinned at the Lad. "You have already been billed for the Month. Your down payment settlement means that we need to be here for you… until you leave Rio."

"Then, Gentlemen, Let's adjourn for the Day. Aunty needs to get her Cultural Attire and I need to bond with my Heiress." Harry stood up and walked around the table, shaking hands with each goblin. At the Door he turned to them. "Gentlemen. The Gold Must Flow.*"

SPRB

The Three Bankers found The Shoppers by use of the 'point me' jinx, and Ted surprised his Wife by hugging her from behind and kissing her neck.

"Dad!" The pink haired girl cried as her hair turned reddish purple.

Lord Potter stepped out of the Crowd. "So… Who do you Ladies answer to?"

Four witches snapped around, wands in his face.

Harry started laughing. "Put those away before I take them from you. You won't cast anything for me to worry about because you need me alive. The Public around me will keep the damage hexes and curses in the bag. And between my support, skill, and speed, the four of you are not on the high ground, or in power."

Hermione spoke from behind the eldest of the Witches. "Now… which of are you loyal to Bones and Who Answers to Dumbledore?"

"Dumbledore?" The Witch before Hermione lowered her wand. "Why would we be answering to that old fool?"

The witch in the Brown Bob looked a bit wild about the eyes.

Pink sighed. "Vance is a member of the Order, a group of wizards and witches that Albus assembled to fight the first rise of He Who Must Not Be Named. I was recruited, but have not fully joined. Until last Month, I was Loyal to Bones… now I'm Loyal first to Black. Lord Black." She sheathed her wand, stepping back to stand beside her Mother.

"Kitty!" Daphne squealed, making herself known. She pushed through the Witches, looking cute in her dress and harness. In her hand she was carrying a twisted scarf harness.

His new harness.

"Hey Kitten. Once the Ladies are settled, you can put that on Knight, and even ride him as you want." The Lord persona broke as his 'child' arrived.

"You have a child?" Vance, the witch in the bob, shrieked. "He said that you were only fifteen!"

"I am. Just had my birthday last week." Harry glared at the witch.

"And where did you get a Child?" The eldest asked.

"She is mine." Tasha stepped forward.

"So we can add kidnapping to the charges of Murder, and Sedition." The older witch sneered, her wand snapped back to pointing at Harry's face.

The third Witch turned her wand on the Eldest. "Senior Auror Brown, what are you doing?"

"My Job. Madam Umbridge told me that it fell to me to see that I corrected the situation. This Blood Traitor is a menace to our Society, a threat to the Ministry, and the Accused Murderer of the poor boy…" her wand dipped low enough to be pointed at Daphne during her rant.

Lord Gryffindor stepped forward and slugged her, knocking her wand flying one direction as she went another. "No one threatens Daphne and walks away. Normally I would kill her, but her eyes didn't look right. Now that all wands are either holstered or held by allies, I need my Daffy time." And a black puma was head butting and purring at the three year old witchling.

Tonks made a flick motion with her hand and caught the crazed woman's wand.

Hermione smiled as she stepped up and helped the witchling harness the big cat. Once the harness was settled about his chest and shoulders, she lifted the child onto his shoulders and thumped his side.

"So… when he said that she was his…" the third Witch cocked her head as she watched the child try to get the hunting cat to run.

"Between the trauma in his life and the way he met her, he sees her as his kitten. Literally." Tasha stood beside the young woman. "Tasha. No idea if I am Von Grünesgras or Potter or whatever."

"Tate. Auror, First Class." She smiled at the young mother. "Senior Auror Brown, and the witch about to pass out is Master Auror Vance. And there she goes." Vance collapsed beside Brown.

Andromeda Tonks sighed. "Nymphadora."

"Mom!" Pink flashed purplish.

"Take Tate and go shopping for Culturally Proper Attire. Lord Black's Orders. Hermione, Tasha. Go with. Take Daphne and her kitty with you. I am going to portkey these two to the Villa. Call the Elf when you are ready to join us. Please take your time."

Three Witches and a troubled Wizard vanished in a swirl of blue light.

"And by Culturally Proper Attire…" Tate asked.

"Bikini and sandals." Hermione smiled. "You are going to want to be out of your heavy clothes within the hour. Besides, Lord Black is buying."

The next three hours were blissful hell for kitty Harry.

Following four young-ish witches about as they tried on things that the Locals considered comfortable. The biggest hurdle was the inset modesty protocols.

Even Daphne tried on a suit or two.

Of course, there was the odd street food vendor, selling things from fried plantains to shaved ice. Of course there were also the ones who were selling drinks ranging from Fanta to Rum Punch.

They returned to the Villa just as the sun began to set.

SPRB

When the party arrived in the Forward courtyard they found a happy Emma.

"Winky gave birth. Two girls." She hugged Hermione.

"Twins?" Tonks asked. "That's almost unheard of."

"Yes." Emma smirked, "And it is tradition for the Master to name them. But I don't think we want Sirius to name them."

"Lily and Rose." Hermione smiled. "Simple, easy to Elf, and keeping with the Evens girls naming scheme."

"I will tell Winky." Emma kissed Hermione's cheek. "Andi and the others are in the south patio."

"And it's time for a quick nap." Tasha picked Daphne up off Knight.

"No Nap!"

"Yes Nap." Harry had returned to Human form as soon as his back was free. "Nap now means Kitties go running on the beach, later."

"Promise?" a pinkie was extended.

"Promise." Harry hooked his own pinkie around hers.

"Promise." Hermione hooked her finger into the spiral. "After dinner."

"Nap now." Daphne sighed.

Tasha carried the sleepy child into the house.

In the Patio, three older Witches sat on the wicker and padded chairs sipping wine, as the sun warmed the stone around them.

"I take it you have things worked out?" Harry Drew on Lord Potter.

Auror Brown stood, after setting her wine aside. "I must Apologize Lord Potter. I personally don't know what came over me, but suddenly I had the Toad's voice in my ear. It was her words that you heard me speaking just before you hit me."

"Okay." Harry waved her off. "No Harm, no fowl… between us. I only moved because your wand was pointing at Daphne. But if for any reason I return to London… the Toad had better not be heard in my presence. Sit. Let us enjoy the afternoon, while Daphne has her nap."

"So… Lord Potter…" Vance adjusted her shawl.

"Unless it's Official, call me Harry." He sat on the wall around the fire pit.

"Lord Potter." Vance grimaced. "About Bones… and Dumbledore…"

"Pinky. You're Ted's Daughter. Andi has reported that you were on my trail up Marseille. Having also reported back to Bones… and Dumbledore. Since it is Dumbledore I don't want to find me, I can't allow you to tell him. Now Bones… if only to keep her from worrying about her people… can be sent one message."

"Tell her that Lord Black has captured your team. That you will be released when his business in Rio is complete." Hermione smirked as she sat beside Harry. "Projected timeline of two, three weeks. During that time, you will be well treated hostages."

"Oh Dear." Emma gasped as she sashayed drunkenly… and topless across the patio. Her skimpy bikini bottoms looking hurriedly tied. "Lord Black captured you too, oh dear. That is so horrible. Nothing to do but lay in the sun, drink wine and have the cabana boy rub oil on your skin." She sipped her mai tai. "Oh Cabana Boys!"

Dan and Remus followed her from the East Corner Floor Suite. Both were dressed in Speedo style trunks.

Hermione hid her face in Harry's chest. "Oh Merlin, Mom. Please let's just go tomorrow." She whispered to Harry.

"And the dog?" Harry rubbed her back.

"Tasha grabbed him, told him it was nap time." Dan sat as a new tray of wine glasses appeared with two chilled bottles of Fanta Orange.

"And these Cabana Boys, are they full service?" Dora asked.

Remus, who was drinking, snorted.

"That depends on the service." Harry answered. "Pinky. Send your report to Bones, then hand your wands to Andi." He glared at Vance. "All of them."

"Just to clarify… Why?" Vane asked.

"We can't have our Hostages trying to escape." Hermione looked up from Harry's chest. "Best way to hobble a witch is to take her wand. Besides, you are trapped here with two Squibs, and two Elves. You have two medical personnel and a near bottomless wine cellar."

Brown looked at Hermione. "Just who are you?"

"Granger, Hermione Jane." She smiled at the senior Auror. "The two Squibs are my parents, muggle healers, and hostages forcing my compliance."

"Your Compliance?" Ted snickered. "She is a co-conspirator at least." He informed the witches.

"In truth, she is the Brains of the Operation." Remus smirked as he leaned on the nearby column. "He just brings everything else."

"I knew when I decided to go where I am going, I had to take her with me. Or she would be leveraged to force me back to Dumbledore. I also knew that they would be leveraged to force her back. Easiest way to protect them was to kidnap them. Easiest way to do that was an all expenses paid trip to Rio."

"Cheaper than capturing them and smuggling them too." Remus joked.

"Tonks, report to Bones. Include the thing about the Toad, and have us placed on leave. Lord Black will be returning us when he finishes his thing. Advise that any further investigation on this matter could end with Dead Aurors, and Righteous Kills." She sipped her wine. "Did I see a jacuzzi?"

"There are three. Two private and one public one." Emma smirked. "Dan and I got the one private one, but…"

Brown shuffled into her chair. "We will talk tomorrow.

That night, dinner was a lovely grilled fish and rice.

Afterwards, three cats were spotted playing tag on the sand as a Puppy cut Grim watched from the steps.

SPRB

The Full Moon that month, had a big cat, a hunting cat and a kitten romping with Padfoot and Moony. The Puppy pile after they played themselves out cemented the bond of the Pack/Pryde.

Harry's blood was altered so that it would not harm Daphne and she was officially adopted into House Potter and named Heiress. Tasha was named Matron of Potter, and placed in charge of the House in Rio.

Remus was Named Steward of Black, and told to Hold the Villa ready for the Lord's

Return.

Andi was Named Proxy for House Black and Ted was Named Proxy for Potter. They had the power to negotiate but not sign. Anything that needed signing would be sent through the mail box.

SPRB

It finally was time for Harry and Hermione to head south. He chartered two planes.

One, a mini airbus, to Florida so that those returning to London could enjoy the Muggle Experience. They were to also retrieve Albus's device.

The other, a broad wing long flight plane that was registered for a city in south Chile.

By using the 'cat tongue' Crookshanks was told to watch the place. He just blinked at the 'Slaves' and rolled over in the sun.

After being in the air for an hour, Hermione got her quill out and wrote a note to the cafe they were heading to.

Once the Great Mountain Range was in sight, Harry handed the pilot the equivalent of five hundred pounds. "Thanks but we changed our minds. We head back from here."

By the time, the pilot got to the cargo/passenger area, the two teens and the caged bird were gone.

Because the guy had paid in full for everything, including the bribes needed for speedy service, plus the tip just now… the pilot was sad that they jumped, but there was nothing he could do but close the door and return to the cockpit. He reported the two jumpers, and a change of course.

TBC

AN: *Yes, I used the Line in my other stories. But only Dragons hoard Gold.