£ Cat tongue £

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: High Mind Speech:

SPRB

In the Headmistress's office, Adriana glared at the bird perched across the desk from her. "Could you repeat that… please."

:Head Bastard Dumb-asa-door has sent a hexed letter to force the Potter Boy to return to him.: He trilled. :My Orders are to Wait until the Boy asks me to return him. Now if the Letter were to…:

Adriana snapped her fingers and the letter ignited and quickly turned to ash. "I am going to demand a few feathers as payment, You can deliver them to the Foci Craft Master this Weekend, and you roost with the boy. Because of your… traits, I won't need to tie you into the Wards. And I will tell you, he will be learning the Mind Speech Gift. You will see when you meet his… the American word is posse. An Entourage of Fighters."

Fawkes trilled happily.

SPRB

Harry sat at a round table with twelve seats. With Hermione at his left and Trogg to his right, he was snacking on a plate of fruits and nuts that he was sharing with Trogg.

Verra and Soran sat across the table, sharing a leg of some kind of deer.

Hermione and the two female Grunn were keeping an eye on their males as they were selecting their courses.

Steel-lotus and Star were sitting with the Hertasi.

Tish had strotted past the other Kree, 'spoke' with them and returned to Harry.

Dobby was blissed out of his little mind as he popped around the Dining Hall, making sure his charges were cared for.

Harry had decided to test into Potions, Combat Magic, Combat Arts, Blood Magic, Beginning Necromancy, and Heartstone Magics.

"That's what you are taking?" Hermione asked.

"If I am taking out Tommy Boy, I don't think advanced Divination is going to do me any good. I have you for any Rune and Math work I need done." Harry looked at her list. "Enchantment, Advanced Runes, Imperial Arcane Studies and Potions." He nodded. "I would advise Combat Arts, especially with your new babies. There are advantages to using them over your wand."

Hermione nodded. "I think I will. If only to cover your hairy ass."

Trogg snorted. "Harr Ass."

Hermione raised an eyebrow.

"Like Dobby. My Grangy." Harry smiled.

The Females blinked at him, exchanged looks and turned back to the work before them.

Harry looked at what Trogg had chosen. "Combat Magic, Combat Arts." Harry nodded. "And you have stalled. Try for Hunting Arts, Construction Magics, and…" He flipped through the course source material. "Ward Building. Hunting will teach you how to fight things like Wrysa and Chimera. Construction Magic is hard work, but with your brute power…" he tapped the book. "Wards are based on the power of their maker and the power of their anchors. For your sixth… the Strongest Wizard from my last school was a druid in training. My Strongest Friend was a Beast Master."

"Plants?" Trogg sneered in question.

"Food." Harry pointed at the plate of fruit and nuts. "Defense… Attack… dispose of bodies… hide buildings in jungle settings."

Trogg rocked on his stool. "Plants. Step on plant, Trogg steps on you."

"Within reason."

Harry took his list to the nearest open examiner, passed over his list.

"Combat Magic, Combat Arts and Potions you will need to test with the Professors. Beginning Necromancy is a funny course…" The Examiner shook his head as he passed a black sable bag to Harry. "Draw out a handful of tiles and drop them on the desk here."

Harry did as told. Six pale gray tiles rolled face up. Harry recognized the runes as Viking and by the paling of the man's face, he knew something was about to happen.

"Well, I see Necromancy is going to be in your future. Blood Magic…" he held out a clear orb. Harry took it. The Globe filled with a black mist. "Let me see that…" the orb turned from black to a light pink, before he passed the orb back. It turned black again. "You are painting a bit of a picture." He exchanged a sphere of layered stone for the glass orb… nothing happened. "And here I was expecting something weird to happen."

A flash of light behind and above the Lad drew all the eyes… as the Chamber… thrice the size of Hogwarts Great Hall, was filled with the trilling of a Phoenix. The Crest of every Bird type person was raised as the highest of their order announced its arrival.

Harry recognized the old friend and raised his arm.

The Red Feathered beast perched on his arm. They locked eyes as the bird hummed.

Harry began to Purr as he adjusted the Bird's perch to his right shoulder. "I don't think this is related." He tried to hand the sphere back… but the stone was 'stuck' to his palm. The Examiner tried three times to remove it before he had to summon Ward. "In the meantime, return to your seat." He stamped the page and waved Harry away.

: When will you stop surprising me?: Tish wagged her tail as he sat in his spot.

"Three days after my Death." Harry snarked.

Verra had watched the movement of Fawkes. As Harry sat, she spotted the sphere. "Why do you have a Heartstone?" For once she didn't roll her r or s.

"He was testing me… and when he handed me this, nothing happened, but when he tried to take it back…" Harry passed it to his other hand, but when he held the hand out to Verra, palm open flat… and try as she might, Verra could not lift it off his palm. It was like it weighed a ton.

One by one, everyone had gone and tested for their courses.

Harry got bored and started to 'ball dancing', where he would roll the ball along his hands, arms, and across his shoulders. As long as the compressed layered stone was in contact with him, it rolled easily, he just couldn't set it aside.

Ward finally arrived and inspected the stone. A double tap of his wand, and the stone lifted away. "Your Professors are going to Love you. You test into Necromancy with the tiles for CHOSEN. The Blood Magic orb turned black almost immediately and then the Heartstone refused to leave you alone. It seems that I am going to need those potions you were telling me about."

SPRB

After Dinner… Harry pulled out a pack of exploding snap cards.

Trogg enjoyed the game once he got past the cards exploding in his face when he got caught holding or playing the wrong card. But once he understood that it was a test of strategy, agility, and luck of the draw… his game picked up and all the explosions were in Harry's face.

Harry and the Grunn spent an hour trying to blow up each other, when Lefa, the Matron of the group called him to bed.

"Trogg gotta go. Work Work Work. Trogg Work never done. Trogg work every night and still they demand more." Trogg grinned at Harry.

"Of course, You are only digging your own hole." Harry collected the cards. "They only demand more because Trogg work so Well. Please remember the silence spells."

Trogg grunted his laugh as he strolled, on all fours, to his Dorm.

"Harry." Hermione spoke up behind him. "Steel-lotus and Star want to use the men's side before bed… and it's your bath day."

"Where is Soran?" Harry stood as he dropped the deck into the pouch.

"He's already in the bath, Dobby is giving him a good scrub." Hermione crossed her arms. "You too Tish."

"And you my little Mynx." Harry wrapped his right arm around her shoulders. "When was your bath?"

"The last night in the tunnel. Kyra helped me with washing and drying." She passed him a tin. As he looked at it, he saw that it was Mundane in origin. Then he saw runes cut into opposite sides the metal of the can. "Place your thumb on one rune, and your forefinger on the other, then cast a luminous charm through it.

Harry did as instructed only for a stream of hot air to blow out of the opening of the tin.

"Like with the charm, you can adjust the airflow and heat…"

Harry had looked into it as he opened his channels… and only his reflexes prevented his face from being burned as a swirling tongue of plasma fire erupted from within the tin cylinder.

Hermione whacked the back of his head. "Idiot." She snatched the tin back. "We will try again after you have thought about what you did wrong and why. Get to your bath… both of you."

Harry hung his head in an appearance of shame, but Tish could hear laughter in his thoughts.

SPRB

Harry's room after his bath, as a human, as a Puma and a Griffin. The water was too deep for his Owl form. As Dobby dried him, he also collected a few loose feathers.

"Dobby… I have a need for a few feathers from the feathered serpent. Don't force them. I want pinion feathers like these.

He kept the longest feather from his wings but put the rest and three of the rainbow feathers from the serpent in a box, transfigured from a History of Magic textbook.

He then wrote a letter to Barchoke:

Barchoke, My good friend and ally.

I hope that you were unaware of the treasure Ragnok gave me. What I have learned this past week about the gift he has given me…

It leaves me no choice to declare War. I gave him a minor artifact that was taking up space in my Vault. He responded by giving me a living Home. She even has a Wardstone, that I can turn into a Heartstone. This means that I most return Fire. I have been trying to think of something to send him… but all I can think of is… the Basilisk skull… arranged to fit over his throne?

I would offer to give him a Coatl skull, but that was a lucky find… not a battle trophy. Besides, I don't know if I should replace the teeth of the Basilisk or let him do it.

Please take the week to divine the solution to my problem. Please keep this matter between you and Ashraq.

I doubt that our Great Ragnok is just going to accept the small gift I have planned for him. So when he returns his assault on my honour as the giver of Greatest Gift… I ask for advice.

Lord Potter

Lord Black

HJP.

He pressed his rings to the bottom of the page, before he folded it and sealed it with wax, which he pressed his Lord Potter ring into.

He held the letter out for Hedwig to grab and fly down to the Mailbox that he had Perma-stuck to the wall beside her perch in the main room.

It turned out that above the main room, there were a few 'pigeonholes' that could fit his owl form. Fawkes had taken the largest as his due.

Harry fell into bed and was soon joined by Hermione, Tish, and Scandalous Inferno.

SPRB

"Please repeat that." While Director Bones words were phrased as a request, her Tone was not.

"You are needed to send a request to arrest and extradite Mister Potter from Brazil." Delores 'Umbitch' Umbridge spoke softly rather than simpering.

"On what Charges?"

"Including but not limited to Murder, Sedition, Treason, and Fleeing from Lawful Arrest." The blonde sneered at the fading redhead.

Amelia sat back in her Chair. "I don't think Lord Potter will come willing… even if he is still there. And I think Lord Black will object to you attempting to arrest his Guest."

"Malfoy will okay it." Delores shrugged it off.

"Are you sure that Malfoy is the one that you need to okay it with?" Amelia leered at the toad-faced witch. "Better make sure. I will need to see a Black House Signet … from an Authority, not just a Scion."

Delores sneered at her in hatred, as she snatched the Warrant from the Desk and stormed out.

She scratched out a note, copied it, and sent one copy to Dirk Cresswell in the Goblin Liaison Office. The other she sent to Tonks in the Bullpen.

She was eager for the Wizengamot Meeting on the tenth of every month. This next one was going to be a hoot.

She Pressed the rune on her desk. "Runcorn. Shacklebolt. My office."

The two men entered without knocking.

She had chosen them for a reason.

Shacklebolt, while expected to work for Dumbledore, was loyal to her as long as she didn't point him at Albus.

Runcorn. His loyalty was to the Law … and if you changed the Law… he too changed.

Right now, She was the Law.

"What is Delores doing walking about the Ministry with a Warrant for Lord Potter?"

Shacklebolt stiffened.

Runcorn sneered.

"It seems that Fudge gave her a pardon." Runcorn grunted.

"Fetch."

"Are they under Arrest?" Shacklebolt raised an eyebrow.

"Only if they resist. At this time I just need them here for questions."

After they loomed out the door, like the Gorillas that they were at the minute, she leaned back and chuckled. "It's good to be the Director."

SPRB

Narcissa Malfoy nee Black.

She double checked her hair, in the Mirror. Her two-toned hair was pinned up in a manner that emphasized her long neck and showed off her earrings and black velvet choker with its Dragon bone scrimshaw of the Black Family Crest. Her earrings were carved jet Spiders with limbs and webbing of twisted platinum wire.

Her Parasol in hand, she wore her House Black Battle Robes and riding boots. She cast a bubble Charm on herself and stepped into the Floo.

And stepped out in the Leaky Cauldron. She knew that her passage was going to start tongues wagging… but they would be wagging the wrong way.

She strolled up to the Bank, like the fighter she was.

By the time she entered the lobby, people were whispering around her.

As she arrived at the front of the short queue, a Goblin in a tie and vest, but no coat, appeared at her knee.

"Miss…Black. This way." His long-fingered hand waved at the back of the Bank. "Please."

She nodded and strolled as leisurely as she could while also keeping pace with the Goblin Gofer.

The Door closed behind her, leaving her in the dim Office of…Ashraq, House Black Account Manager. Only three current Houses had enough Value for a private Account Manager… House Black, House Potter and House Greengrass. Greengrass had most of their funds tied up in import and export inventory and with his connections, Lucious had leveraged Greengrass over a barrel. House Malfoy had always fallen short of the minimum for private Account Management.

"Miss Black. Sit." The tweed suited Goblin waved at a seat before the desk. "Please."

As she sat, she noticed that the Goblin was pouring wine into a goblet, before passing it to her.

She sipped.

"Now, Miss Black, what brings you here?"

"I was going to see Ashroot about the money I need to run the House… until Lucious is feeling better. Dragon Pox, you understand." She sipped. "Or that's the story."

Ashraq raised his eyebrow. "So… you are not here about Lord Black?" As she sipped again.

"Ever since Grandfather died, I feared what Luci would do with the Black Estate, but everything he tried, he was denied the Lordship."

"That's because while Luci was given the Proxy, Your Grandfather held to his choice of Heir… even when the 'boy' was disinherited by his mother." Ashraq grinned at her, his teeth flashed in the dim light.

"Siri? Well, no wonder Luci was blocked at every turn. So where is the Son of a Bitch?"

"I can't say. But I can send him a letter if you wish. With half of your elite having succumbed to Dragon Pox… and you needing money… I can write to Lord Black and see if you can get a loan." He pulled a pocket watch from his vest. "But he is asleep at the moment. Even Sirius won't be awake for another two hours."

She blinked at the Goblin. "Did you just say…"

"I have no idea what you just heard. I know that Lord Black is asleep unless he is not holding to the usual hours… given that when I last saw him, he was rubbing lotion on the back of your niece." He scratched out a note. "Your Sister will meet you at Dunning's. I am told the goose is to kill for." He tapped his desk, and the door opened for the Goblin Gofer from earlier to guide her out. "Your sister has some things to explain. Good day Miss Black."

The Door closed on her heels as she followed the tunnel runner back to the lobby, where she quickly found herself on the steps in the bright light of the September sun.

The bright light snapped her from her daze. Because the office was so dark, she didn't notice, but she was showing signs of being drugged. She frowned at the golden doors.

"Gold Groper is up to something." She hissed. "But he did say I should go to lunch at Dunning's." Her Parasol snapped open over her head and she enjoyed the stroll to the chic café, window shopping and gossiping as she went.

"Good to see you, Cissi." A warm voice from behind her caused her to turn and see a witch she had not spoken to in twenty years.

"Romi. You're looking good."

"Come, we have much to speak on." Andromeda Tonks smiled softly. "Our Lord has made a few decrees. Lord Black has welcomed me back and leveraged House Tonks as a Vassal House. He has set his eye on House Malfoy. In nine days, during the Wizengamot, dung will not only be flung… but ignited first. Only two Houses are being offered Cover for this."

"Lady Malfoy… we weren't informed that you were coming." The Host simpered.

"House Black, table for two." Andi smiled at the man, as she offered her hand for him to take. As he bowed over it, as to mine a kiss, he palmed the gold coin she saw her sister slip him. "Balcony will do."

"Of course. I didn't see you, milady." He had seen the ring on her finger. "This way."

As he sat them, "Your waiter will be with you shortly." he bowed once more. "Thank you for choosing Dunning's." And he vanished.

"So…" Narcissa said, looking around to see who was there, "I heard that Goose is to kill for."

"Too rich for my stomach. I am going to have a MLT melt. And a Gilly water. You?"

Cissi hummed. "Still going for the Goose… but I don't think I want any wine. Ashraq had some but I swear that I was drugged but I couldn't detect any…"

"It was the Goblet." Andi smiled at her sister. "Lord Potter gifted it to him. They are Goblin Craft that Lord Charles Potter had enchanted to loosen tongues and steer to the truth. Bright light counters the effect. You should see the gifts he sent to Gripsaq and Ragnok."

"If he is giving Black Relics…"

"One, as a Malfoy you have no say in what our Lord does." Andi smirked, "Two, this is Lord Potter I'm talking about, which means that it is coming from the Potter Vaults. And Three… only the Lady can forbid the actions of the Lord."

"And why are you talking to me?"

Andi held up her right hand, showing the ring on her middle finger. The Black Proxy ring. Until the Lord of Black said otherwise… Andromeda Black was the Black Voice. Only the Lord could overrule her.

A noise at the Hosts Podium drew all eyes. Delores was trying to browbeat the simpering man into allowing her pass. While he was taking her verbal abuse, he refused to let her pass.

"I have always wondered about him." Andromeda sneered. "He almost seems to enjoy the patrons' verbally abusive attitudes."

"He does." Cissi smiled. "His wife is a real Harpy. During one tea circle, she admitted that he gets off on being demeaned. It's why he got the job." Cissi sighed. "She is in her Official Mode. If she isn't redirected, she is going to ruin everyone's day."

The two Black Witches returned to the door.

"Ah, Lady Malfoy. I couldn't find your husband. I need the Black Regent to stamp the Ministry Warrant for the Arrest of Mister Potter."

TBC