DISCLAIMER: I DON'T OWN ANYTHING BUT Original story ideas and characters. EVERYTHING ELSE BELONGS TO J.K. ROWLING
OKAY SO HERE'S THE PROMISED REWRITE! BETTER LATE THAN NEVER!
NOW IT'S NOT JUST A SIMPLE REWRITE BUT AN EVOLVED STORY!
SHOUT OUT TO ALL MY SUPPORTERS ON THE SITE THAT SHOULDN'T BE NAMED! I APPRECIATE YOUR LOVE AND SUPPORT, IT MOTIVATES ME TO WRITE AND IMPROVE MYSELF EVERY DAY! THANK YOU ALL A TON.
I WON'T BORE YOU GUYS SO PLEASE GO AHEAD AND ENJOY!
24th February, Hogwarts Infirmary
It was nearing dinner time when Fleur sitting at Harry's beside, shortly after revealing her conversation with her family Madame Poppy came by to give her the all-clear after an extensive check-up but suggested staying for a night just to be safe. Her family had to leave and from what it looked like her mother was going to unleash a world of pain on tournament organizers.
For the rest of the evening, she was alone with her unconscious boyfriend and her mind. Naturally, it drifted off back to the summer, when she was home, back in Gaul. She knew about the tournament for over a year a privilege of being daughter of Alain Delacour, she had trained for it day and night.
But then came the Quidditch World Cup which she came for because her mother loved the game along with Gabrielle and with it brought the young man laying on the bed. She smiled remembering how they met, or how Gabrielle played the role of literal cupid, being the catalyst to bring them together. Oh, she will never accept, that when Gabby came back to the tent bragging about meeting him she was a little, just a tiny bit jealous.
Their first meeting at the Quidditch stadium cabin was unique for sure, after all, first expressions were everything. Until that moment she hadn't met anyone immune or even resistant to veela allure but of course, Harry wasn't just anyone. He was immune and a perfect gentleman to the extent that he charmed her family and herself effortlessly. After that moment he had a permanent home in her mind.
But then the nightmare happened, at night when the Death Eaters attacked the campsite and they were running to the forest only to be chased, Celine and Marie getting injured in the process. They had to let Gabrielle hoping she would be safe and thank Aphrodite she was found by Harry, she didn't even want to think of another possibility.
Then she and Maman stood their ground but that day she found out how different it was to fight in the real world than in the dueling ring. A reality check as she was defeated in not minutes but seconds, it was different from handling some over-eager boys at her school. She shuddered to think what would have happened to them had it not been for their savior.
After that her belief system was shaken to the core, in a single trip she found a boy who was resistant to her allure and was perfect in every sense for her, her inner veela had accepted it but her mind just couldn't. She had nightmares until the month before she came here, the only solace she had was dreams of her savior and thoughts of a young man laying on the cot, that was when she didn't know both were the same.
Then she came back to Hogwarts, reunited with Harry and well the embers of their mutual attractions became a raging inferno. She met his friends who were now her friends too, something she didn't have back in Beauxbatons due to her heritage but she was never alone thanks to Marie and Celine. Still, it was a different thing to make friends on your own and not with the people who are paid to protect you.
She sighed looking down at her boyfriend and chuckled, she remembered how she wanted to take things slow, but then he asked her out to be her date to Yule Ball. She just couldn't say no to him [Yes he asked him not the other way around! End of the discussion!]
The Yule ball will forever be the night to remember and so were the following holidays, somewhere in her heart she always knew that there was a possibility she would have to share Harry with other witches, as veela didn't have a problem with that, and was relieved to find that every single one of her sister wives was okay with their relationship.
Just then a groan from a sleeping teen drew her attention, she looked down and noticed him stir and slowly coming back to the conscious world. She smiled seeing the emerald orbs through the slits of his squinting eyes saying " Welcome back, Mon Sauveur" caressing his face.
"Hey… love… you look… beautiful as ever…" he said with a smile on his face taking her other hand in his before asking in a scratchy voice "Where… Angel… safe?"
Giving his hand a squeeze she nodded "All okay, not a scratch on 'er, just a little tired, and zat's all zanks to you, Mon Sauveur!"
With a confused look on his face with a smile, he questioned "What does that mean? Sauveur?"
She chuckled running her hand through his hair and saying "First of all you completely butchered the pronunciation we are going to 'ave to work on your French, as for your question Angel told me that she remembered who saved me and Maman at the Quidditch world cup" and relished at the guilty look on his face, she smiled "Don't worry Mon Amour, I am not upset or anything just a little curious, why didn't you tell moi?"
"Because I… failed that day Fleur" he answered with a defeated look on his face before continuing "When I reached you guys, they were torturing both you and Apple. I was still unknown to them, I could have been patient and taken them out from shadows but…" he closed his eyes taking a gulp saying "… I let my anger get better of me. I engaged them head on and the result, I failed to safe both of you. I…" his throat closed up unshed tears coming to his eyes.
He shook his head "I don't know what happened that day flower! The last thing I remember was urging my magic to respond and suddenly there was a bright light before everything faded to black. It was only after when Sirius told me about the wave and how I caused it, was I able to figure out what that bright light was, I am not a savior, I anything I failed you and Apple that day" looking at her not wanting to see the revulsion in the sapphire orbs he loved.
Fleur who had been listening to it all with tears down let out a shuddering breath mumbling "La magie aide-moi avec l'idiot que j'aime" before softly turning his head and saying in a stern voice "You 'ear me 'Adrian James Potter, cause I don't like repeating myself! 'Ear it and store it in zat ridiculously humongous heart of yours! You ready?"
Any man on the planet could tell you that when the woman you love who calls you by your common name daily suddenly calls you with your birth certificate name along with your middle and last name, that means you are in trouble so pay attention. This was the first lesson Harry learned from Sirius and nodded listening in rapt attention.
She took a deep breath before starting "You saved me! And Maman zat day! Sure you could've been more skillful and tactical but zat doesn't matter! Not to me nor Maman! You were brave enough to fight when the odds were stacked highest against you, to save two people who you barely knew.
Yes, you lost the fight against zose scums but you never entered to defeat zem, it was to save us which you accomplished. You called upon magic so pure to protect us zat it was felt world over! Zat doesn't sound like a failure! Non, zat sounds like a 'Ero! Ze same hero who saved Dap'ne and Sif from the same fate as me, learning from his experience! You're our hero! And ze man we love" At the end of her passionate rant she leaned down capturing his lips with hers.
He kissed her back, as best as he could relishing in the touch of her rosy soft lips against his and loving the taste of her soft maple and ever-present scent of ocean breeze soothing him, the best medicine if there ever was.
But before it could get any more passionate the sound of incoming footsteps broke it as Fleur sat back on the stool when Poppy came over, her stern mask cracking into a knowing smirk when she noticed the flushed red faces of the teens. She smiled "Ms. Delacour please wait outside while I finish Mr. Potter's check-up"
With a quick nod, the veela stood up saying "I will see you later, Mon Amour" As she left and Poppy drew the privacy screen, went on to move her wand all over her patient for a quick diagnosis.
"Hey Poppy, I missed you so much! I don't get to see you much outside being injured I mean" he said with a loopy smile on his face. But his feelings were genuine, he never saw the healer outside the infirmary, it was like she lived here. She was the first and the only person to know about his past other than his family, he knew he could more than trust her.
That's when his eyes widened as he exclaimed "You should join me and Minerva for tea! Yeah that will be perfect!" just as the healer finished her check and his suggestion made her breathe hitch.
"I…" she paused trying to come up with a reply but remembering her promise to live life more like a Gryffindor, she beamed at him saying "That's a wonderful idea Harry and I would love to spend some time with you" with blush adorning her cheek.
The teen beamed at her "Great! Well, it's this Thursday, 4 in the evening!"
"Not happening, Mister" the stern healer was back as she informed "You are on bed rest for next week. I healed your injuries but you broke your femur during the task when you were saving lovely Ms. Delacour" with a mischievous smile and chuckle followed as the boy blushed a little. She leaned down adding "And that means you will be sharing your breakfast, lunch, and dinner with me not just tea, how does that sound?" keeping her embarrassment at the blatant flirting to herself.
He kissed her on the cheek saying "Oh I would love that Poppy!" not noticing that the older turned atomic red as she stepped back quickly removed the privacy screen, and made her way to her office for a change of her undergarments. In her hurry, she didn't notice a large group that consisted of all of Harry's fiancees.
He beamed and sat up "Hey gu…" but didn't get a chance as two red missiles flew towards him and he found himself in a three-way hug with Susan and Sif. Catching his breath he hugged them back saying "It's okay girls, I am fine though currently in pain" he winced.
Both girls freed him speaking in unison "Sorry Harry!" "Fyrirgefðu Hadrian" looking a little flushed with a mix of guilt and embarrassment in it.
He waved it off asking "It's okay, now come here" as she pulled Susan close and kissed her, enjoying the mild taste of cinnamon. It was short but left the redhead a little dazed with him adding "See perfectly fine"
"Mmmm… for now but I think I will need some more reassurance later!" Susan purred in satisfaction with dizza y smile on her swollen ruby red lips.
Sif seeing her chance moved to claim his lips for herself, trying to be a little gentle watching her strength as she caressed his face with both of her hands at the start but they were soon roaming in his hair while he simply wrapped his arms around her waist bringing her body flush against his as much as his strength allowed.
Daphne had red cheeks and was trying to be discreet with the way she was rubbing her thighs together. But beside her Fleur and Dora shared a smirk knowing that it was s good sign, that their troubled sister's wife was taking the first steps towards healing her intimacy issues.
The kiss ended when the need for air became apparent with them resting their foreheads against each other with satisfied smiles on their lips. Sif caressed his face saying "You scared the hell out of us! Don't you dare do that ever again? You understand" Her voice sounds a little sterner at the end.
Before he could answer Dora came on his other side doing it for him saying "Yeah! That's not a promise he can keep, something you will learn and accept eventually, that our man here is a trouble magnet, right Har?"
He whined "Hey it's not like go looking for it…" Fleur, Susan, and Dora chimed in "... it always finds me" with him, all of them broke into laughter with Harry blushing at this and protesting "But it's true!" with a cute little pout on his face.
"Aww… don't be like that Har" as she sat beside him and took her turn kissing him enjoying as his hands traveled up and down her sides. She finally felt all the hidden tension leaving her body. By magic she was scared for him, how could she not? He was the most precious person to her! To their family. Honestly, she was about a minute away from diving in herself when he didn't come up after the time ran out.
Harry kissed her back pouring as much reassurance as he could in it, he never wanted to make anyone worried but the circumstances he found himself in weren't in his control. Yet he once again promised himself for a thousandth time to try his best to stay away from trouble. But for now, he was focusing on his beautiful fiancee's delicious lips which tasted like freshly picked berries.
As it ended she smirked "Look at that I still know how to kiss you pouts away" chuckling alongside others who heard it. She caressed his face saying "Now, you write to others, inform them cause all of them must be going spare about now worrying about you"
He smiled "Of course, I am going to do that after dinner, which is going to start in a few minutes, so you lot need to leave now, don't want any of you missing any meals" he added looking at Daphne who blushed standing at aside.
Susan caught on and nodded "Yeah, you are right, see you later love" She pecked him and stood back with Sif and Dora took their turns before stepping back. Daphne who had been silent all this while stepped forward sitting on the cot and took his hand saying "I… was so worried about you…" a tear slipping down her face as she hesitantly leaned forward and lightning fast kissed him on the cheek before bolting out of the ward.
Others chuckled at this and followed her out while sitting back, he spotted Fleur taking a seat beside him, taking her hand in his sleep with a smile on his face mumbling "Love You, Flower"
25th February Afternoon, Head of DMLE Office- Ministry of Magic
"For magic's sake, Siri calm down!" Andromeda snapped at her cousin.
Sirius who was sweating bullets whipped his forehead with his handkerchief saying "You don't know Augusta, like I do! I swear, other than Mum, she is the only woman who scares the living hell out of me!"
Andromeda snorted "Don't let Bella hear you or you are more than dead!"
Ignoring the comment he continued "Do you know the first time when me and Prongs went to visit Frank, I addressed her casually thinking she would be like mum, you know since they were best friends? The next thing I knew was made to work at her greenhouse shoveling manure and fertilizer with hand, which was followed by her teaching me proper pureblood etiquette" with a haunted look on his face.
Amelia whistled "Wow, so I am not the only one?" with an amused smile on her face as she remembered her rookie years on the force when Lady Augusta dressed her down after a particular case but also saved her from being kicked out of the Auror force.
"See! Even the great Amelia Bones is afraid of Lady Longbottom" Sirius rejoiced feeling validated and supported in his feeling of terror.
Andromeda rolled her eyes saying "Okay I understand that both of you are cowards but she will be arriving any second and convincing her to grant Bella a trial is our top priority, so you both need to pull yourselves together!" scolding her sister wife and cousin.
Just then a knock drew their attention, Amelia called "Yes Ms. Clearwater?"
"Madame Bones, Lady Longbottom is here" The usually cheery girl was looking very anxious and nervous.
All three stood up from their chairs with Amelia nodded "Very well, please escort us in" with her professional facade settling back on her face. While Sirius's legs were trembling a little and Andromeda felt like a first-year student.
As an aged woman entered the office with a commanding aura surrounding her, her steel gray hair was done in an elaborate yet elegant hair, and dressed in elegant forest green robes. She moved gracefully through the room, not a single movement was wasted. Yet her eyes, steely brown told anyone and everyone that crossing her would be not a good idea.
Lady Augusta Hestia Longbottom nee Crouch stood in front of the table greeting "Regent Madame Bones, Lord Black, and, Lady Black, good afternoon to all of you" with a curt nod.
"Welcome, Lady Longbottom, and good afternoon to you too" Amelia greeted as she was playing a host and a slightly biased intermediary between two parties in the meeting.
As they all took seats Sirius cleared his throat and continued "Thank you for accepting this meeting, Lady Longbottom"
The older witch turned to him saying "Lord Black if you must know, I only accepted this because Regent Bones, promised me that it would be worth my time, which seems to be an empty promise so far" throwing a glare at the redhead sitting across her.
Amelia narrowed her eyes but controlled her temper saying "Lady Longbottom, the reason behind this meeting is related to the attack on Longbottom Manor back in 1980, November 1st"
If Lady Longbottom's demeanor was cool before now it was a fridge and her eyes sharp as steel as she threatened "I must advise you to tread carefully Regent Bones, House Longbottom has a long memory especially when it comes to its enemies, you wouldn't want to add your house in that list" her voice cold as arctic as she turned to both members of House Black.
"Lady Longbottom, some new evidence has come to light regarding that night, I urge you to take a look at it as it is possible an innocent individual is being punished for crimes they didn't commit" Amelia tried to placate the older woman.
Lady Longbottom turned to the Black siblings stating "It's about Bellatrix isn't it?" she didn't wait for the answer "Your expressions are answers enough and let me save you your breath, there is nothing you can tell me which will change my mind about that vile bitch and what her bastard husband and brother-in-law did to my Frank and Alice!"
Standing up from her chair in anger she continued "How can you even think for a minute that, I will even consider that she is innocent! He was your friend, Sirius Black and you tarnish his memory by siding on the side of his tormentor!"
Sirius banged the table with his palm standing up in anger "For Magic's sake Augusta! Frank was my friend too! He was James's god brother and above all an honorary Marauder! So you better shut up and listen for once you old bat! Cause lives are at stakes here" his magical aura flaring as both glared at each other.
Before Lady Longbottom could retort Andromeda stood up saying "Lady Longbottom, please give us a chance to explain outside, my sister Bellatrix Black is innocent of the crimes the world has accused her of and we have enough proof to grant her a trial, we are only seeking your permission to proceed with it as to not insult the memories of your son and daughter in law"
Amelia took it from that point providing Lady Longbottom with a copy of the slave contract provided by Goblins "This is the slave agreement made between Cygnus Black and Randolph Francis Lestrange in 1980, December 21, Yule Tide. It is a copy and the original is still with Gringotts, if you read it you will find that it clearly states that Bellatrix Cassiopeia Black is sold to Rudolphus Lestrange as a slave, not as a wife"
Lady Longbottom still fuming took a cursory glance at the parchment before snorting "It's no different from Imperious defense used by other death eater scums!"
Sirius was about to explode but Andromeda put a hand on his shoulder as Amelia continued "I disagree with your statement Lady Longbottom. The very base of an imperious defense is that there is no way to verify it but this" taping the parchment on the table she continued "this isn't only a verifiable also presentable and thus provable" her eyes gaining a hard steel quality as she glared at the older witch.
Andromeda stepped in saying "My uncle conducted Ananke's Binding, an ancient ritual which binds a slave to its master's will and world view, leaving no trace of free will or rebellion in slave. The slave becomes a perfect conduit for the master's will, which means that Bellatrix Lestrange is the product of Rudolphus Lestrange's twisted imagination. Every action she took was on his back and call!"
"I don't have to believe a word you say! And I certainly won't be giving my permission to continue this farce any longer" Lady Longbottom warned but it was clear that she was holding on to a grudge out of sheer stubbornness and past hurt.
Sirius who had calmed a bit down added "Lady Longbottom, I urge you to see the reason. Our sister is innocent of the crimes she has been accused of. We can prove it all to you with a trial, just give it a fair chance. You have known Bellatrix since she was a little, you know she was best friends with your daughter-in-law, Alice, and god-daughter-in-law, Lily! She is the family of the woman you considered your sister in all but blood, Dorea Potter! If you can't trust me, then trust her judgment"
It strung a cord of the old woman's stone-cold heart, for years she had built the image of a demonic woman who took her family away from her replacing the previous image of a courageous, bold, and rebellious young girl she knew. The questions had always plagued her, what happened to her? Why did she marry the enemy out of the blue? How did it all change so suddenly?
She had ignored them for so long, that she had let the curiosity be replaced by bitterness, hate, and cold demeanor. As the image of her best friend came to her mind she let out an inaudible sigh as she steeled herself and came to a decision. Looking at them she nodded "Lord Black, Lady Black, Regent Bones, I will be deliberating on this subject on my own before giving any answer, I will be getting back to you when I have made my peace and decision with this, good day to all of you" having said her mind she stood up and left the office.
Three of them sat there in silence too scared that should they say something remotely stupid the Iron Lady might change her mind. Once she was gone they all relaxed in their seats with Sirius groaning "Bloody hell, my back is killing me but it was worth it"
"Yeah, tell me about it," Amelia said closing her eyes and throwing her head back against her seat. She knew that this as hard as it seemed was the easy part, hard part for her to procure a date for the trial.
Andromeda shook her head saying "Yeah, for a minute I thought she was going say no, well not just no but a long elaborate version with multiple insults, that is until you reminded her of Aunt Dorea" with a nostalgic smile on her face.
Sirius sighed "I didn't want to use their friendship like that but she didn't leave any room for argument" looking a little downtrodden and ashamed to use the memory of a loved one in an argument like that. But that was only for a minute as he shook his head saying "Now it's all in her hand but I have a feeling that it will be a, yes. If it is, Well that's a start and a half a war won, now all we need to do is get Bella a Trial"
Amelia nodded "That will be easier said than done, though with Greengrass supporting us and a sizable amount of votes of Potter and Black alliance it shouldn't be that hard. But it will take some time, at the earliest it will be a week after The Final Task of the tournament, basically summer"
Sirius waved it off saying "Take as much time as you want Bones, right now we need to do everything by the book and make sure that she is out and free for good, just like me. That also means pulling that bastard Lestrange out and making him confess everything that he did to her" with a furious look on his face as he stood up.
Andromeda followed him "That's a great idea, it will help any lingering doubt anyone has about Bella's innocence" she sighed before saying "But that's your purview, our part is done, so we will leave you to do what you do best, Good day Amelia" with a smile as she made her way over and hugged her to be sister wife while Sirius simply exchanged a nod before both took their leave.
Sitting back in her chair she opened the right-hand side table drawer withdrawing the picture of herself and Harry in front of the Black Manor. Both of them were sharing a blanket with cups of hot chocolate in their hands. A fond smile came on her lips as she said "You better be okay Green Eyes and a great shag, 'cause when the time comes I am going to get my efforts worth and more out of you" rubbing her hand over the picture lightly.
Just then a knock on her door startled her as she quickly but carefully put the picture down back in the drawer. She looked a little flustered but controlled herself getting back into her professional avatar as she said "Come in" looking at the side instead of the front. It was a special entrance connecting her office to the Unspeakables department which was currently entering the room.
Dressed in slate gray floor-length robes with the hood up and face covered in darkness, the voice gravelly thanks to a spell "Afternoon Madam Bones"
She gave a curt nod saying "Good afternoon, Croaker, any progress in our investigation?" with an exasperated sigh. It had been a dead end since the start, the only information they gathered since the World Cup was that it originated from her to-be husband.
"Yes Madam Bones, in fact, I just had a breakthrough" the man informed as he withdrew the large ancient tome from his robes. The red leather covering was frayed and the parchment looked as if it was about to fall apart. Putting the book on the table he passed it over.
With a confused look on her face, she asked "What is this?"
"Answer " Croaker answered "This Madam Bones is Book of Bonds, a magical artifact of unknown origin. The department records state it was found in ruins in Ireland, way before the signing of the statute. The book had been studied extensively over centuries, but no one knew its purpose until the night of the shock wave" as he leaned over and opened the book before turning it around, passing it to the redhead witch.
Amelia gave him a skeptical look before looking down at the book only to turn her eyes widened as she read what was written on the old parchment. Looking back at the unspeakable she started "I swear…"
"I am oath-bound to keep this knowledge to myself, Madam Bones. You can forget your worries about me babbling anything to anyone, as it will cost me my life. I don't want to be another Rookwood after all" Croaker reassured her with a light shudder in his voice.
Amelia was flabbergasted looking at the book in front of her, she quickly shut the book saying "Thanks for informing me Croaker, you are dismissed" passing the book back.
The man simply stood up saying "Keep the book, Madam Bones, no one has checked on it and I don't think anyone will be missing it down there. Besides you will need proof of your claims. But I must warn you, Dark times are coming, you better be prepared for them" before taking his leave.
Amelia's mind was spinning as she read and re-read the book, the implications of this knowledge should it fall into the wrong hands would be disastrous for her newfound family. She took a minute to calm herself down for a minute before reopening the book to the same book-marked point reading the page, and memorizing the names.
Starting from Harry's to the glowing golden threads connecting to countless names out of which only a few were readable others were hidden. She saw her name along with her niece and all the other girls with a few blurry names in the mix, she sighed "My Magic have Mercy!"
Please Re-View and if you have additional input don't hesitate to PM me!
To Read Chapters 22, 23, 24, 25 AND 26 visit the Link in Profile