The Ties that Bind the Soul (unedited)

by TheL0sts0uls

Feeling empty in the aftermath of the War and seeing the hypocrisy of the survivors of the OotP, Harry vanishes from the world. Years later, as old and new dangers surface, many still search for him, including Gabrielle Delacour, who tries to find her own path in the world, all the while a figure tries to live a peaceful life in the French countryside. Trans Harry Potter.

2. Chapter 11-20

Chapter 11: Making a Choice

After leaving her daughter tucked into bed for her afternoon nap, Fleur stepped out of Victoire's room, fulling intending to enjoy a long, hot shower, only to pause at the entrance to Gabrielle's room as her sister seemed intent on emptying out her entire wardrobe in search for something to wear. Fleur rested herself against the door frame. "What's all this? Do you have a hot date you are preparing for?" Gabrielle, having been so intensely focused on what she was doing, was startled by her sister. "Mon dieu! Fleur, please knock first." The elder sister just smiled. "Now where is the fun in that? So, has my baby sister finally got a date with someone?" The sight of Gabrielle's face turning deep red before she turned away surprised Fleur. "Wait… you do have a date! Who is he? Let me guess… tall, dark and handsome with some passing resemblance to a certain British Wizard?" Gabrielle tried her best to quiet her beating heart. "It's just the person who could end up lending me a room. They have a property near enough to Beauxbatons and they were willing to rent it out to me… on the condition they got to know me first." Fleur waved her hand dismissively. "You wouldn't go through all this trouble if it weren't for anything short of a potential boyfriend. While I am not overly fond of the idea that your landlord could be your significant other, that doesn't change the fact that you are clearly looking to make a bigger impression than simply getting permission to rent a room. Come now, Gabrielle, I know we never got to talk about our love lives, but I am seriously interested in hearing who has finally gotten your interest after so long!"

As Gabrielle was trying to decide what she could and couldn't share, another voice broke the silence first. "What's all this?" Fleur pointed at her sister as Apolline stopped just outside her youngest's bedroom. "Gabby is preparing to go out on a date with whom she says will be her landlord." Apolline looked at her daughter's red face as she kept a dress held against her chest, raising an eyebrow. "Is that so? And who is this lovely gentleman? Do I need to ask your father to run a background check on them first?" Gabrielle sputtered. "You don't need to go that far, Maman. I am not planning on anything happening between us… just yet. Besides… my… uhm…landlord… is… actually… a land…lady." That bit of information certainly drew the attention of her sister and mother, as they both only knew of Gabrielle's interests in men. Fleur apologized for the earlier comments and was asking Gabrielle what she knew about girl on girl relationships, as Apolline narrowed her eyes on her daughter, fully aware of her intentions to pursue a romantic relationship with a certain young wizard. That she was possibly pursuing one with a woman… "Mon ange, is this the same person we had talked about before?" Gabrielle lowered her eyes. "Yes… and no. It's all very confusing." Fleur looked between her sister and her mother. "Am I missing something?" Apolline raised an eyebrow at Gabrielle, causing the young Veela to sigh as she tossed the dress she had in her arms onto the bed. "I… have a bond with someone…and I have had it for… ten years now." Fleur looked stunned. "Ten years?! Why didn't you say something!" Apolline turned to her oldest. "The Elder who confirmed it told me after informing Gabrielle. I was waiting for her to tell me and she did this January. I imagine she didn't want to tell you since you yourself had your own familial responsibilities. The following marital troubles probably didn't make it seem like the right time either."

Fleur crossed her arms over her chest, but sighed. "You… are not wrong. Telling me would have done nothing but give me a new worry and I was already pretty busy and exhausted. Still… who is it? It sounds like you found them so why all the secrecy about who they are? Ten years ago… was it a girl from Hogwarts?" Gabrielle bit her lip. Elysia had told her not to say anything but her mother already knew who she was bonded to and Fleur… "Please don't share this with anyone else. I… will tell you both because you know of the bond but you can't let anyone else know. Maybe not even Papa." Getting their promises, Gabrielle sat down, feeling her hands trembling. "My bonded, as mother knows, was Harry Potter. I had sensed he was nearby when we visited the Place Cachée before New Year's and that's why I ended up telling Maman. I sensed them again near Beauxbatons during the year but I wasn't able to find him. Then, when I was with Adeline in her village, we walked into a friend of her mother's at the bakery… and I realized… that she was Harry." Apolline's eyes widened. "Ah… and I am guessing… that you are unsure what this will mean concerning the possible relationship between you two." Gabrielle nodded. "I have never been attracted to a woman before and while I don't think I am attracted to most women… I can't deny that Elysia seemed… beautiful to me, and not just because of the bond. If anything, the bond between us seems to have been closed off. I can… feel her, like an ever present thought in the back of my mind, but the emotions I used to get from it are gone. I don't know if this is from the time my bond was… stressed or if it's because of something Elysia is actively doing."

Apolline rubbed her chin. "It's possible that interacting with you made her aware that the bond existed and it probably grew a bit stronger for it, enough that she has grown concerned enough to block out her emotions. As for your sudden attraction to women… perhaps it's not so sudden." Gabrielle felt her mother's hands wrap around her, finding her looking at her eyes with a big smile. "Perhaps the bond with Harry had you so fixated on him that you never realized that you could be attracted to certain women… until one who matched your tastes stood before you. The fact she is your bonded must have helped in breaking through your tunnel vision." Gabrielle sighed. "Then… what am I supposed to do now?" Apolline chuckled. "The same as with any other relationship… you start by getting to know each other. If you two manage to live in the same house, it would certainly make things easier for you in that regard. As for today…" Apolline took the elegant dresses and tossed them all into a pile, before picking up a plain dress, a dress shirt, a skirt and some pants, before handing them to her daughter. "Wear what makes you feel comfortable. Let her get to know you as you get to know her before looking for something more intimate." Fleur wiggled her finger at Gabrielle. "Of course, there is nothing wrong with looking gorgeous in what you choose to wear, as long as you are comfortable." Apolline chuckled as she raised herself back up. "Indeed. So, why don't you try these on and see what you feel more comfortable in. Fleur and I can offer a few comments… if Victoire doesn't wake up first." As Gabrielle stripped down to her knickers and tried on a long flowing blue dress, Apolline, who was now sitting on the bed, asked something that had been on her mind.

"Why was it that you felt that we shouldn't tell your father about your date?" Gabrielle turned to her after taking the dress off, picking up a white dress shirt instead. "I got the feeling that she doesn't want her name being looked into and you know how Dad would be if he heard I was dating someone. By the way Adeline talked about her, it sounded like Elysia doesn't like being out in public. At least, not when she's outside of the village she lives close by." Hearing the name a second time made Apolline pause. "Elysia… Elysia Peverell?" At her daughter's nod, Apolline crossed her arms. "Well, I can see why. She already got his attention when her Wolfsbane potion caused an uproar among the packs. The ICW had to get involved to get the recipe into circulation. She's apparently an excellent Potions Master." Gabrielle pulled up a skirt before taking it off, electing to wear black dress pants instead. "Adeline mentioned she was her mother's biggest supplier and has apparently earned herself a reputation in the town as a guardian angel. How do I look?" Apolline stood up and loosened the shirt from around Gabrielle's pants. "Go for a more relaxed look. See? That's better. And use as little make up as possible. If she falls in love with you, let it be with how you normally look. Anything else should be saved for special occasions. Now sit down before the mirror so I can do your hair." As her daughter did as she was told, Apolline found herself enjoying the moment as well. Because her daughters were Veela, she was certain that she wouldn't be able to help them out too much with their romantic lives, as had happened with Fleur and her ex-husband. Gabrielle's unusual situation, however, had resulted in her needing more guidance and not only was Apolline glad to offer it, but she was going to enjoy helping her daughter find out whether she had found her true love or not. If it allowed her to spend more time as a mother, then all the better.

As soon as her feet touched the ground, Gabrielle felt the drain on her magic leaving her winded, though she was relieved to see that she had successfully arrived at the Apparition point in the village of Saint-Cirq-Lapopie in one piece. Looking around, she was able to quickly spot Elysia, as the raven haired witch was currently seated at a streetside table in front of a coffee shop. As soon as Gabrielle reached her, the witch closed her pocketbook and looked up at her, giving the Veela woman coming towards her a guarded smile. "You made it on time." Gabrielle nodded, her response coming out more winded then she would have liked. "I hope I didn't make you wait too long." Shaking her head, Elysia passed a foil wrapped pastry to Gabrielle. "Here. Ida, the house elf minding my home, wanted you to have this. Since you are traveling greater distances than I am, it seemed only fair to get you something to perk you right up." Unwrapping the warm foil, Gabrielle felt her mouth water at the sweet scent of apples and cinnamon from the small pastry in her hand. "Thank you." Waiting a moment for her to finish her snack, Gabrielle took the opportunity to look over her potential landlady, blushing at the way her body reacted to what she was seeing. Sure, Elysia seemed to be short, but what she lacked in height seemed to be balanced out by her physique, as her arms were clearly more toned than Gabrielle's, as were her jean clad legs. Her shirt for today seemed to be a deep red sleeveless turtleneck with a black and red scarf draped loosely over her shoulders, the jacket from yesterday resting on the back of her seat.

It took some effort from Gabrielle to tear off her gaze from Elysia's ample chest, a mix of jealousy and arousal fighting for dominance in her mind. "So… how do we do this?" Elysia raised an eyebrow. "We can start here if you like. I can order you something to drink and we can then have a turn answering each other's questions. Any questions deemed too private can just be ignored and a new one asked, but we should try to be even in the amount of questions and answers we give. Once we are done here, we can just walk along the town and just try and relax into it." Gabrielle nodded as she gave the waiter her order for iced tea, before looking at Elysia, trying to figure out what could be considered too private. "Why Potions?" Elysia gave her an approving look, which made Gabrielle's stomach act up. "When I was… away, I discovered that my inadequate studies in Potions had been a deliberate choice. So I made sure to correct my inadequacy and I discovered that I actually enjoyed the process of brewing. Eventually, I decided to make a living from it." Nodding, Gabrielle waited for Elysia to ask her own question as she too seemed to be weighing what was too private. "For how long will you be looking to rent a room at my Estate?" Gabrielle thought for a moment, thanking the waiter as the tea was delivered to their table, with Elysia asking for the bill. "For… three years? I understand that it typically takes a minimum of three to complete a Mastery or Certification. I would try to make it shorter but only after I find an adequate means of communication between my professor, future clients and myself."

Elysia hummed to herself, as Gabrielle thought of a new question. "Why France?" The raven haired witch chuckled. "Because the image people have of my former self is of a thrill seeker and a poor student with a talent for Defence and nothing else. They would expect him to be in an English speaking country on the other side of the world, not in a French speaking country on Britain's doorstep. Add in my current… state and few people who pass me on the street will give much thought to who I am, let alone who I used to be." Gabrielle blushed. "Something tells me that you could attract quite a few wandering eyes as is." Elysia shrugged. "Wouldn't know nor care… Do you expect something more from this… association with me?" Gabrirlle lowered her cup of tea down. This was a key question, one she knew could end up costing her much if she answered it incorrectly. "It would be a lie If I said no. I… I always found your other self to be quite an attractive person and I deeply admired them. Having been a teenager, I was very much looking for those high school romances that turn into lifelong commitments… but that was just my fantasy. I know that ultimately what can happen will be up to both of us and how we eventually feel about each other. At the very least… I would love to be your friend, if nothing else." Gabrielle watched as Elysia looked away from her, her eyes lost looking at something. As Gabrielle formulated a question, Elysia broke the silence first. "I am still interested in only women, just so we're clear." Gabrielle blushed even as she felt her heart sing in relief. The two of them eventually stepped away from the coffee shop, slowly making their way through the village streets, both finding that they shared a similar love for the outdoors and flying, though not Quidditch.

The young Veela was surprised by the latter, though fully understood when Elysia explained that playing Quidditch had been less about the sport and more about the freedom of being able to fly, as Hogwarts rarely gave students the chance to use brooms beyond just Quidditch, with his more competitive drive being an attempt to fit in with the students rather than an actual love for the sport. For her part, Gabrielle shared her insecurities about being around people, particularly the former students of Beauxbatons who were friends with the two men who assaulted her and Adeline, but that she wouldn't let that get in the way of the profession she wants to pursue. She did try to get a response from her about the raven, but Elysia refused to answer, and Gabrielle knew better than to push the matter further today. Reaching the edge of town, a few steps from the church, Elysia and Gabrielle looked out over the Lot river valley and the fields of agriculture that straddled it until the woodlands covered the distance, with the more inclined hills rolling along their side of the river, the old stone gate standing despite the rest of the defences having been destroyed centuries prior, as the rest of the houses broke through the lush green foliage in this narrow gap of civilization. A cool gentle breeze blew past them, drawing a smile from Gabrielle. "I can see why you picked this place. There is a peace here that can't be found in most places, whether magical or not." Elysia turned to her, watching as the wind tugged at her golden locks, with Gabrielle noticing her attention, a small blush breaking across her cheeks. "So… Do I pass?"

Elysia shrugged. "I will give you an O for effort but…" Her eyes turned back to look over the landscape. "The place where I am staying at… I guess you could call it the last bastion of my family. It's all that I have left after I sold the rest of the British properties and it has been my personal retreat for the past two years. Allowing you to just live there after a brief discussion and walk, pleasant as they have been, would be too precipitous for my taste." Gabrielle tried her best not to let disappointment enter her voice, despite how reasonable Elysia was about everything. "I understand." The feel of two rough fingers against her chin sent sparks racing across her skin as her eyes were lifted up so that Elysia could look into them. Those green eyes that she had seen so many times in her dreams staring at her, as if seeing into her soul. "I have an opening for Friday if you want to try getting together again this week, if not we can meet again next Tuesday." Gabrielle recalled something her mother had said. "My family has plans for Friday so… I guess it will have to be Tuesday." Elysia nodded. "It will do then. Just one thing. For Tuesday, make sure you wear clothes more suited for a nature walk than a day out on the town." Gabrielle blinked at her. "Were my clothes… not to your liking?" Those green eyes softened, making the young Veela's heart flutter again, her skin growing even more flushed. "You look beautiful. I am merely suggesting a change in clothes because I intend to have us continue these conversations on a hiking trail. You have been engrossed in the village but your focus has been divided. I imagine it is because you have been restraining your Allure the entire time. A hiking trail will give you the freedom you need to just… relax and enjoy the moment."

Gabrielle rested the urge to lower her eyes, every inch of her body screaming at her to do something more than just standing around. Her mind did fully misfire as Elysia whispered to her. "Hold your breath." Following Elysia's advice, Gabrielle felt the familiar sensation of an Apparition, before her feet touched ground, right back on the Apparition point at the village, with Elysia releasing her hand. "Do you think you can make it back home safely?" Gabrielle took a moment to sense her magic, feeling that most of it had been restored. "I will probably feel winded again, but it shouldn't be a problem. Thank you… Elysia…" The raven haired witch smiled at her. "Ça m'a fait plaisir de faire ta connaissance, Gabrielle." Those words rang in Gabrielle's ears, as she wondered if Elysia had meant the flirtatious tone and choice of words, as she apparated herself back home, the experience a bit easier this time around as she had more practice visualizing her parent's house. For her part, Elysia remained standing at the apparition point, rubbing the fingers with which she had touched Gabrielle's skin as the peanut gallery in her head started up again, the three of them having been quiet throughout the entire interaction, before she too apparated herself back home, with Ida seeming mighty pleased to see her even as she stripped out of her clothes and switched into one of her jumpsuits. She was hoping that brewing a new batch of potions was all she needed to ease the desires that had been building up throughout her interaction with Gabrielle, though she knew it wouldn't be that easy, as she would have a whole week to think about her before seeing her again.

Fleur watched as her sister returned from her second "date" in as many weeks, even if they never would call them that, a smile breaking across her face at the sight of Gabrielle's disheveled hair and sweaty workout clothes. "Did you have a stimulating jog?" Gabrielle's face went red. "Can we… discuss this after I have taken a shower?" Fleur nodded, but decided to tease her a little. "Don't take too long "relieving your stress."" Gabrielle's indignant retort had Fleur laughing, something she hadn't done in a while, as she returned her attention back to the book in her hand regarding unusual enchantments and how best to detect them. When Gabrielle had initially told her that she had been bonded to Harry Potter over ten years ago, she had initially felt sorry for her sister, having seen the effect that the second of Voldemort's Wars had on the young boy, though she couldn't deny that she had also felt somewhat jealous. She had met Harry first at Hogwarts and had inadvertently discovered his immunity to her Allure, which had made her initially interested in the boy, but his subsequent entrance into the Triwizard Tournament as a Fourth Champion had made her believe that he was an attention seeker and a cheat. When he had proven himself innocent of said accusations and a worthy Champion after saving her sister from the Merfolk, Fleur had reconsidered her assessment and had wanted to try and pursue something with him, but the death of Cedric Diggory and the conclusion of the Tournament brought an end to her presence at Hogwarts. She had eventually decided to work at Gringotts since working for the Goblins carried with it many advantages, including the ability to work from any of the Bank's Branches, which had resulted in her meeting Victoire's father, Bill.

William Weasley had been, at first, just any other would-be suitor, affected by the Allure and inisistant in his advances. Fleur had ignored him until she noticed that he had built himself a resistance to the Allure through his occlumency training and she decided to indulge him by going out for a few meals together. His training as Curse Breaker made him a fountain of endless stories, some of which Fleur had found amusing. Eventually, she had decided to give him a chance and started a relationship with him. His decision to join the Order of the Phoenix during the war had made him all the more endearing, as Fleur respected a strong sense of justice. After the war ended, however, things changed. Initially, William retained the same passion as he had during the conflict, despite the attack from Fenrir Greyback and the death of his brother, Fred Weasley. The damage done by the war to his family and community required him to stay close to home, with he and Fleur enjoying a proper honeymoon period in the Shell Cottage. Then, after Victoire was born, he began to distance himself from her, going on digging expedition after expedition, only coming home at the insistence of his own mother. Fleur had not minded at first but as Victoire began to develop and had a need for someone else in her life, he simply was not there. After taking Victoire to her parents for several Christmases unaccompanied, Fleur had endured enough lonely days and nights taking care of their daughter all on her own. Even Hermoine Granger's visits, which had been numerous during the years, weren't enough to ease the pain that Bill inflicted on Fleur. There would always be a part of her that regretted giving Bill Weasley the attention he clearly didn't deserve, though she would never regret the birth of their child. She had been the brightest ray of light in years of lonely days in the Shell Cottage.

Hearing footsteps approaching, Fleur gave her sister a smile as she arrived dressed in a light blue bathrobe, as she dried her hair with a towel, her face still flushed, making Fleur raise an eyebrow. "I like seeing this side of you. You were so composed for so long that it was worrying. So, what were you up to today?" Gabrielle sat down next to Fleur, her hair partly wet as she lowered her towel. "More of the same… though we did it while on a hiking trail. It was… surprisingly nice. The air was uncommonly cool for summer and the sound of the nearby river was ever present in the background. There was no one else on the trail for a while so I was able to let my Allure loose… and Elysia didn't react at all! I asked her and she says she can feel it but it's just like a whisper in the back of her mind telling her to look at me, but one that she can ignore all the time." Fleur shoved her sister playfully. "And what about you? How goes resisting her "allure"?" Gabrielle's face turned red. "I don't know what's going on. I mean, she was there with a jogging outfit and a hoodie, so I wasn't staring as much but… I have never seen any magicals have the level of physical conditioning she has. We had to take several water breaks through the jog so I could rest up a bit and catch my breath, but she was just sweating, though it looked like her skin was just glowing. She wasn't even out of breath by the time she brought me back to the town." Fleur laughed. "You have fallen for her badly." Gabrielle sighed, laying the towel across her lap. "You remember how Harry was? From both the Tournament and the time he was at your place?"

Fleur nodded. "In the tournament he was… angry, tired and just… it was clear he had no desire to compete besides fulfilling the binding magical contract. During and after my wedding? He still looked tired… a little defeated but still fighting with everything he had." Gabrielle pulled her drying hair behind her ear. "Elysia is still as reserved as Harry ever seemed, distant from everyone but still willing to help those who need it. I… made a poor teen slip when he ran into my Allure on the hiking trail and as I was getting control over it again, Elysia pulled out a first aid kit from her backpack and just patched him up. I think I felt her use some magic but it seemed more geared towards expediting the natural healing rather than outright healing spells. And that's another thing! She hardly uses magic! She apparates like no one I have ever met, the feeling being almost downright pleasant when she's doing the Apparition, but other than that? Nothing. I still haven't seen her wand at all. Lastly… where Harry always felt like he could fail, like he was unsure of his own abilities all the time? Elysia looks and feels so confident. She doesn't care how she looks even though she dresses well, and she just… I was about to give up on the jog halfway, as I could barely get a question out, but Elysia sat me down, gave me a massage that did more than loosen up my muscles and just told me to give it one more go. And I did. There is a quiet confidence in her that… I don't know… I just can't help but want to be next to her. To live up to the expectations she has of me, which seem and are quite reasonable when you hear them." Fleur rubbed her sister's hair. "Sounds like you got quite the catch. Has she decided to let you live at her place yet for the internship?"

The younger Veela sister leaned her head back onto the sofa's backrest. "She said she was going to think about it, though we did set up a meeting for next week, just in case." Fleur looked at her sister. "You aren't sure what she will say?" Gabrielle exhaled loudly. "It's… hard to tell. She is very comfortable when I am around her and when we were in the town, but the moment I asked about her Estate, she seemed to close herself off. I don't get the feeling that her home is a problem in of itself, she actually sounds very proud of it. I think… I think that she saw the Estate as her place away from everything. She doesn't have to worry about the Ministries, The ICW, who she is or anything. It's her private Sanctuary. So… it makes sense why she is so hesitant to let anyone in, because she made it clear that aside from her and the people who helped repair and refurbish the Estate, no one else has ever been there." Fleur sighed. "Yeah, that makes sense. Before everything went wrong with Bill, the Shell Cottage was our sanctuary. It was far enough away from anybody that I didn't need to have my Allure contained all the time, the rolling waves of the sea were my constant companion and we were pretty much left alone out there before and after the war, not counting that one time that Harry and the others arrived in a heap. It was a small little slice of paradise… until the loneliness began to set in." Pulling her sister into a side hug, Fleur kissed her on her golden hair. "After a while, an empty sanctuary can begin to wear on the mind and Elysia has probably been there for enough time that she has to be feeling pretty lonely. So the question will end up being whether she wants to stay there in her own solitude… or take the risk in bringing life into her house. And who knows… maybe in a few years you two will be doing that quite literally."

The thought of having children sent Gabrielle's already hot and bothered mind into overheating territory as she shoved her sister away. "I am too young for that!" Fleur's laugh was cut short as the front door's lock clicked open, with a tiny girl rushing straight into her mother's wide open arms. Kissing her lovely girl repeatedly on the cheeks and head, Fleur looked up to see her parents entering the house, closing the door behind them. "Welcome back, you two. How did Victoire behave?" Apolline caressed her granddaughter's head lovingly. "Like a brave little warrior. She didn't cry at all when they were giving her the vaccines." Fleur stood up from the sofa with her daughter attached to her hip. "Thank you two for taking her to the hospital. I tried to schedule the vaccine when I was free from work but the hospital didn't want to have it done in the afternoon. I barely made it back home before Gabrielle arrived." François kissed Fleur's cheek. "It was no trouble at all, my flower. Aside from having to wait for the doctor who had been called away to help with an emergency, everything else went as expected." Noticing Gabrielle's attire, François raised an eyebrow. "What were you up to for today?" Gabrielle blushed a little. "I was meeting with my potential landlady. She wanted to get a better grasp on who she was going to be renting a room to so I went to see her back at the village." François rubbed his chin but nodded. "It's understandable. If you give me her name, I can run her through the system and check that she's safe. Can't be too careful. There have been a lot of kidnappings and human trafficking incidents lately." Apolline noticed Gabrielle's unease. "Perhaps that can wait until after they agree to the rent in the first place?"

Gabrielle nodded. "She hasn't agreed yet out of concern over her own privacy and because she was getting to know me better. If she says yes, I promise I will let you know her name and introduce her so you can vet her personally." François noticed the sharp look in his wife's eye that told him to drop the issue. It did concern him a bit that his wife and daughter were keeping something from him but there was no harm in agreeing, as it was true that if the deal didn't go through, his department would be wasting time vetting a person for no reason whatsoever. "Fine, but I expect an in person meeting as soon as possible, as well as guarantees that you won't end up getting stuck somewhere you can't get out from under." Apolline kissed him on the cheek. "I am sure Gabrielle will raise those concerns as soon as a decision is made. Now why don't you be a dear and get the bath running… I could really use a good scrubbing from your experienced hands." Whilst Apolline did lean over and whisper the last part to her husband, Gabrielle did take the precaution to cover Victoire's ears in case anything too inappropriate was said. After Fleur had moved out and Gabrielle had turned seventeen, her mother had been having trouble containing herself around her husband. With François excusing himself and Fleur taking her daughter up for her own bubble bath, Apolline looked over at her daughter, who shook her head. "Not yet. We will be meeting again next week." Apolline nodded. "Very well, but do run your father's concerns with her. At the very least there will be a need to have portkeys made to help out with your long distance travel. Her contacts with Gringotts should be able to help with those." As her mother went up stairs, Gabrielle slouched into the sofa and sighed, hoping that her sister was right and that Elysia would make a decision soon.

Londinium District, Fall 1999

"A pleasure to see you as always, Challenger Potter. Please, have a seat. The Healers tell me your body has recovered, which is why I hear you wish to schedule a new Arena Task for December." Harry nodded after taking a seat before the Viceroy of Gringotts Londinium. "I am. It's still a few months away so I was certain I would have the time to prepare for it now that my body is fully healed." Ragnar stared at the young man, his long fingers steepled as the nails clicked against each other. "As you are aware, from this task onward you will be informed as to the beast you will be encountering. Every creature so far, by their very nature, could sneak up on an unsuspecting soul and end their life with little to no warning. These first five tasks were designed to test whether a single individual could train themselves to survive the unknowable. The next seven… Well, there is a reason they are all listed as XXXXX creatures in the ICW Magical Creatures Index. Everyone of these is rated to be beyond the level of a single witch or wizard to contain, restrain or even render unconscious. I am not saying this to compel you to kill the creatures. If you can complete the task by sparing them, then all the better. What I want you to know is that you cannot go into these Tasks without coming to terms with the need to take a life." Harry frowned. "But you have seen me kill creatures in the Arena before." Ragnar nodded. "You have indeed, but the creatures you killed were fundamentally considered pests. When you killed the Nundu, however, it was clear that you regret it. Am I wrong?"

Harry was silent for a moment. "Fighting the Nundu… brought back memories of Voldemort. After my eleventh birthday, it felt like there was a shadow, stalking me beyond my sight. A threat that petrified everyone else, that had killed so many, and it was solely focused on me. On my death. When I forced the Nundu to come at me and we started trading blows… It was like when I was facing Voldemort one last time. Destroying the jungle was like when I destroyed the Horcruxes he had made. I stripped both of their cover, their protection, the thing that made them both seemingly insurmountable in my eyes. And like a caged beast, both reacted violently, recognizing that I represented their own mortality, their inevitable end. Then, as we both lay dying on the ground, bleeding out from the wounds we inflicted on each other, when the Nundu looked at me in the eyes without hate, or malice… I felt… I felt…" Ragnar went silent as Harry began to visibly shake, tears racing down his cheeks. He gave the young man all the time he needed to compose himself. It took a few moments for that to occur, after Harry took several deep breaths. "With Voldemort, there had been fear, hate and malice. He didn't want to die, but if he didn't, then the horrors from the two wars that the British Magical Community had endured would have just continued repeating themselves. He had to die. But the Nundu? There was nothing… but exhaustion and… acceptance… he knew… he knew he was going to die and there was no stopping it and he just accepted it. Why? After everything that happened, how could he just accept it so easily? And why was I so powerless to… to help him… I wanted to spare it, I wanted to save the creature, but I…"

Ragnar sighed, his eyes turned down to look at his desk and the Nundu skull prominently displayed there. "Challenger Potter… Harry… This is why I wished to speak to you. You are not a Goblin warrior, you clearly do not enjoy the act of killing these creatures. Even the Wyverns, creatures that you faced after the Nundu, even with them you initially sought a means of victory that did not require their death. This is a very admirable trait, but it can be a costly one for you. Against them, you persevered because they behaved as predators and you were their prey. They did not seek to die until only one remained, its mind twisted by grief and the belief that its death was inevitable now, without its hunting mates. Their hesitation counterbalanced your own at the beginning of the match, same as with the Nundu. However… in the trials to come, you will face creatures that will not hesitate to kill you. There will be no fear in their eyes towards their own death, they will not consider you a threat at all. Some may even seek to kill you with no desire to feast on you. They will not treat you as a prey, or a meal or a fellow predator. Only a pest that must be eradicated, like the creatures you yourself faced before. That is why the Tasks are designed as they are, to get the Challengers into the very mindset of the beasts they will truly be challenged by. If you walk into the next Arena Trial without understanding this… you may not survive." Harry went silent for a moment, processing this, before Ragnar picked up a file and handed it to the young mage.

"This contains some, not all, of the information regarding the beast you will be facing next. When you read it, I think you will understand the why of certain things. It also behooves me to inform you that if you survive this next task, you will have earned a few privileges. Not only will your total sentence be reduced by half, counting the time you have already served as a worker, but you will be able to pursue other interests, as your work quota will be reduced." Harry raised an eyebrow. "Oh, I am sure this is quite the loss, seeing as my quota was already… What, four times the average for a Goblin?" Ragnar chuckled. "Well, we had fully intended to develop your skills to make sure you were at your best and you certainly have exceeded our expectations. The fact that even with a lower amount of work hours you would be mining more stone than a Goblin is just a happy circumstance. Still… take my warnings to heart, Challenger Potter. Every other challenge from this one forward will test your capabilities to their limits and beyond. There is a reason we Viceroys only ever test our own skills so far." Harry took the file and nodded. "I will, sir. By your leave." Getting a gesture of dismissal from Ragnar, Harry made his way back to the Library before opening the file, his eyes widening in size as the picture of the beast in his next task came into focus. He sighed, lifting his glasses to rub his face. "I can understand why you decided to give me the warning now, Ragnar. Bloody hell." Searching the shelves for all appropriate texts on the creature, Harry returned to his seat, his brow growing ever more furrowed as he read up on its capabilities, the three other entities in his mind being oddly quiet, as if they understood the danger that Harry would soon be facing.

Present Day

Feeling the warm waters of the Peverell communal bath wrapping around her body, Elysia leaned her head back against the edge, the towel she had placed there making it a bit more comfortable, though she knew a few spells that would do the same. Opening her eyes, the ceiling of the chamber came into view. When she had been working on renovating the Estate, the communal bath hadn't really been a priority. She had made do with a shower through her entire life as Harry and she could have done the same as Elysia, but had elected to refurbish this section of the underground after a while, particularly after she uncovered some interesting enchantments had been built into it. With help from the Goblins who refurbished her home to be more comfortable, the enchanted ceiling of the chamber had been successfully re-activated. Like many of the interior enchantments that the Peverells had created for the Estate, the one for the communal bath wasn't perfect. Unlike Rowena's masterful creation of the enchanted ceiling of the Hogwarts Great Hall, the one in the chamber couldn't replicate the outside sky. Instead it had two settings depending on the time of day, with the daylight hours having the chamber's roof and walls covered in mist to obfuscate the distance and scale to make the area seem larger than it was, while at night a starry sky was presented, though it neither shifted with the rotation of the earth nor did it have a moon, though at least the stars still shifted in intensity. As it was night time, it was those same stars that Elysia was currently looking at as the mist rose up from the warm waters, covering the vicinity of the massive tub.

In the last two weeks, she had gotten the chance to get to know Gabrielle Delacour and while the interactions were brief, they were enough for Elysia to get a good understanding of her character. She was in some way very much like her, being naturally reserved and kind, though because of her encounters with people and her lack of experience outside of the magical world, she was also somewhat naive. Gabrielle had a kindness to her that shined through when she encountered animals, as was seen when the squirrels in the hiking trail came out of their dens as she took a breather, breaking off some of her trail mix snack and sprinkling it on the ground for the furry animal to enjoy, even though that incident was overshadowed by how quickly she froze when the other hiker was hurt by her Allure distracting him. Elysia was pretty certain that the event from Beauxbatons might have given her some issues regarding how her Allure was used to justify the causing of harm, though it could have also been the fact that the hiker was a non-magical and she, like most witches and wizards, had very little understanding on how best to handle an injured civilian without running afoul of the Statute of Secrecy. Elysia had elected to learn how best to handle first aid kits because she understood that even though she would primarily interact with mages, there was always the chance that something could happen when she was out buying groceries at the local convenience store or the further away grocery supermarkets. If Gabrielle was going to stay at the Estate, perhaps she coul-

Elysia grunted, again assuming that she would let Gabrielle into her home. Why was it seemingly so easy to just let the thought of Gabrielle living in her home take root? And why… did it make Elysia feel… happy? Sure, Gabrielle was beautiful in both appearance and personality, her only deficiencies coming from her having been sequestered up in Beauxbatons for seven years. It really made Elysia dislike the whole idea of Magical Educational Institutes being so isolated from the rest of the world. Sure, you learned about magic, when the professors weren't being intentionally or unintentionally incompetent instructors, but the lessons were always in secure, safe environments hidden from the eyes of the modern world. They were never taught how to lend assistance to the non-magicals, nor how to blend in with them in a modern setting, nor what was the best way to use magic without drawing attention to yourself or what you were doing. Every lesson seemed to be completely divorced from the reality that the world isn't just about magic. This seemed even more evident when Elysia and Gabrielle had been halfway through their hike and Gabrielle had wanted to stop. The raven haired woman was in better shape, this she knew even before Gabrielle showed up in leggings and running shoes, but she had been surprised by how quickly she had gotten tired. Rather than simply apparating them back as she had done on the previous date, Elysia had given her sore legs and calves a thorough massage, that was definitely not to feel someone else's body under her fingers, but to help push Gabrielle out of her comfort zone. It had worked well enough, though Gabrielle had asked if she knew muscle relaxant spells, and if she did, why didn't she use them.

The last of the Peverells explained that it was for the same reason as to why she changed her clothes to fit the season, and why she used other common objects like ballpoint pens and regular paper: to not stand out. Out in the open, in an area where magic wasn't common or even acceptable to be used, she would always revert back to using tools and behaviour that was more acceptable to the wider world, while she would use magic only when it was convenient. During their first day getting to know each other, Elysia had apparated them away from an open site because she had already made sure no one was looking, neglecting to add that her magic had also concealed them from sight before the apparition regardless. She certainly could have used muscle relaxant spells, but after five years facing some of the most dangerous beasts in the world, Elysia knew the importance of being aware of the body's capabilities and how to check if one was close to exceeding them. Finding that Gabrielle's muscles had been only marginally stressed, she was able to understand that the young Veela wouldn't be able complete the rest of the hike and instead had her turn around to make the return trip back to the magical section of the town, getting her to push a bit more past her comfort zone, but in an environment she would be more comfortable in, though her attention would be back to being divided by her need to control the Allure. Still, Elysia had really enjoyed the jog with Gabrielle and it was clear that the young Veela witch had enjoyed it as well. The fact that she could be in the Estate without a single concern over the use of her Allure was probably also going to help her out greatly.

And that was part of the problem. Elysia knew that her home could just as easily serve as a Sanctuary for Gabrielle as it could for her. Not only would she be close enough to get the notifications that her attention was needed by owl, which meant that Elysia would have to alter the wards to allow mail to arrive at the Estate, which certainly didn't appeal to her at all, but Gabrielle would also be far enough away from anyone else that her nature as a Veela wouldn't be a worry. She could take the time to heal from her traumatic experience while also learning to come out of her shell, experiencing everything Elysia could introduce her to concerning the non-magical world. But that would mean opening up her home to not just Gabrielle. Letting her in was easy… letting everyone else in was harder still. Sure, she could keep the house just as isolated, but could she really deny Gabrielle the right of having her parents visit her? Or her friends? Could she really let Gabrielle enter the house without first inviting Jeanne and Adeline to view it, since they too were Elysia's friends? This is what was the hardest thing for Elysia to do. For seven years she had lived a life almost completely isolated from the outside world, and ever since Gabrielle… no, that wasn't fair. Ever since Elysia made the new Wolfsbane potion, she had been steadily getting drawn out of her isolation and back into a more social and public life. Gabrielle's arrival and request was simply the culmination of everything that had already been set in motion. Meaning that the choice she had to make was less about letting Gabrielle into her home and more about what sort of life Elysia wanted for herself.

She could live the life of a hermit, isolated from the world but for her contacts with Gringotts, but that would mean undoing all that she had already done in building herself a relationship with the nearby village and its inhabitants. It would mean not publishing her work and just signing the rights of her potions away in exchange for royalties that would keep her well funded for decades if not centuries to come. Keeping Gabrielle out and closing herself off would mean giving up on everything she had worked for these last seven years, the very thing that drove her for all of Harry and Elysia's existences; living a normal life. Sighing to herself, Elysia righted herself in the water, before making her way out of the tub, carrying the towel with her to the rows of shower heads that lined one side of the chamber. Taking a moment to let some cool water run down over her body, washing away some of the oils and herbs that had remained on her skin from the bath, Elysia would then wrap the towel over her naked form, drying herself up in the small locker room that she had added just outside the communal bath so that, if it was ever used for its initial purpose in a century or two, it would have a safe place where people could keep their clothes. "Ida." The Peverell family elf appeared with a soft pop as Elysia dried her legs on the bench in the locker room. "Yes, my lady?" Shaking her head as she could never get the elf to not give her a title to use, she decided to ignore it. "On Tuesday I intend to have guests over. Can you come up with a few lunch plans with a variety of meals? I will need to check with everyone if there are any allergies or dislikes in taste, but I intend to have at least three people over. Also… did you get the consort suite prepared as you stated when I suggested we may have someone staying over?"

Ida's face lit up. "Yes, Mistress, the Consort Suite is fully prepared though… we could use a few more pieces of furniture if you wish for the young woman to be comfortable." Elysia leaned back, after having finished drying her feet. "I will go up and take a look to decide what else needs to be acquired and then go purchase it before her arrival. Get me a list of any food items we may be low on or that we will need to entertain guests so that I can do all the purchases in a day." Ida shifted on her feet excitedly. "Will do, Lady Peverell. You will have the list ready by morning." As Ida apparated away to get started, Elysia pulled on her bathrobe and made her way up from the communal bath chamber, rising up to the ground floor of the Estate, her hand resting on the guardrails of the stairs as she had been about to walk up to the next floor when she took a moment to look at the reception hall, with its disconnected Floo Terminal, empty chimney and wide open space. She sighed, knowing she would have to do more to make the Estate more inline with a proper home, though she was hesitant to connect her home to the wider Floo Network. She would have to check with the Goblins to see just how expensive and legal it was to establish a private network divorced from the national system and what it would take to connect existing terminals to it. As she made her way up the stairs and into the corridors of the second floor, she noticed the door that led to the consort suite, her face flushing at the thought that Gabrielle would be in it. Elysia hadn't intended it, but she had continued to like spending time with the young blonde, her attitude and nature proving to be just as appealing to her as her appearance. Perhaps… letting her and her world into the Estate would lead to the things that Elysia had always wanted out of life. Perhaps… this was the right choice for her to make for herself more than it was for Gabrielle, after all.

Chapter 12: Opened Doors

Londinium Arena, December 1999

Harry could feel blood dripping down his right hand and onto the Elder Wand as his vision blurred slightly. Despite Ragnar's warnings, he had kept to his word about facing the Sixth Task in December, taking every free moment he had to prepare for what he knew was the most dangerous moment of his life so far. Sure, he may have faced Snatchers, Death Eaters and even Voldemort himself, but at every step there had been a path forward to victory that he could see. The Arena Trial had started the same way. He had researched the creature exhaustively, recognizing its higher magical resistance than the Wyverns and its extreme focus on close ranged attacks. There was no opening to strike with a curse or a hex, no means of pinning the creature down solely with magical barriers or transfigurations, as the magic maintaining the barrier would weaken as soon as it came in contact with the creature. Even though it presented a bigger target than the smaller Wyverns, it had no vital weaknesses that could be exploited. Harry had realized that his only options were his potions based toxins and piercing through the protective layer of the outer feathers and skin, and even these options presented their own risks. He could plainly see why the creature was a favorite of the nobility in many countries, as it was less dangerous than the dragons and more regal, while still being nearly unkillable. There were even a few tales of the creature being downright noble, but Harry wasn't that lucky. Not only was the creature in front of him unwilling to cease attacking him, he had the unfortunate situation of having to deal with two of them. Because Griffins were often found in mated pairs.

The possibility that the Goblins would have Harry face two Griffins at the same time had occurred to him but it had felt excessive. He had reasoned that they would have selected a lone creature, like the Nundu, which had already been scheduled for extermination as it had killed its handlers. But no, whatever source of Griffins the Goblins had didn't seem too concerned about sending them two creatures. Harry had devised a plan to successfully take down a Griffin, using a combination of magic and the potions he had brewed. It had taken him a while to find a potion that had a fast acting effect that was also capable of becoming a gas in regular temperatures, though like the one he had used against the Lavellans and their rat kin, it needed to be released in a contained environment. The Arena this time around was a less inclined rockface compared to the Wyverns, with a section of trees along the borders, meaning there were fewer jagged rocks he could use for cover from the winged creature. It might have been slower than the Wyverns and the dragon he had faced in the Triwizard Tournament, but the Griffin was far more agile and aware, meaning entrapping one was already difficult. To get them in an enclosed place would require a mastery of either conjuration or transfiguration, skills that despite Harry's best attempts, he just could not match. He could replicate small objects just fine, but the moment he had to imagine something that did not exist that was strong enough to contain a Griffin long enough for the gas to knock it down, he just couldn't manage it. That just left him two options, neither of which was made with the reality of tacking down two Griffins at once.

Getting started on one of his options, he had been casting cutters into the ground to gouge out a massive recess that he could use as a container, but the Griffins had refused to leave him alone. A few fireballs thrown at the trees in the perimeter lit them on fire before Harry sliced through a few dense branches, which he then banished into the Griffins. While they were resistant to magical fire, real fire still could set them ablaze and cause them harm. Unfortunately, despite his best attempts, the Griffins had been drawing closer, their claws whooshing past his face. Taking advantage of one of their passes, Harry lifted up the pyramid shaped plug that he had cut out of the ground and launched it at one of the Griffins, seemingly knocking it out of the fight as it crashed into the barrier, the display causing the Goblins to cheer from the stands, but even as one Griffin was temporarily out of commision, the other swooped in, sharp claws slicing through Harry's upper arm deep enough that he could feel the grip on his wand waning. Blasting holes all around him to kick up a dust cloud, Harry managed to uncork a healing potion and slather it across his tattered upper arm, the fresh shot of pain making him wince, before the dust cloud in front of him was pushed back by the Griffin's beating wings. Dodging another swipe, Harry managed to slide right into the indentation he had carved into the ground before slicing a few horizontal recesses on the other side, as he waited for the beast to follow him. His view of the Goblins watching in the stands of the Arena was momentarily blocked by the brown feathered head of the Griffin as it cawed at him. Swallowing the lump that suddenly appeared in his throat, Harry kept his wand ready, his other hand raising the scarf over his face, waiting for the creature to move. And move it did.

As the creature entered the recess, Harry avoided getting torn to shreds by the claws and beak thanks to the barrier he raised between himself and the Griffin. Momentarily blinding the creature with a Lumos Solem spell, Harry rapidly climbed his way out of the recess and tossed in several of the potion glass spheres he had prepared, before casting a barrier over the pit, trapping the creature inside. Keeping the barrier from breaking was harder than he had hoped as the creature's resistance to magic kept stressing out the barrier every time it tried to escape the rising gas cloud, though the smaller surface area of a single flat ward made the spell more effective than a sphere against said creature's resistance. Knowing he needed to anchor the ward down, Harry was about to start carving the seals along the perimeter of the recess when he suddenly felt cold. He managed to avoid getting hit head on by the other Griffin, but the creature's claws had managed to cut across his back and wand arm, leaving Harry in serious pain as he tried to get up, blood spilling over the Elder Wand. He eyed the Griffin that had just attacked him before briefly looking at the other still in the recess, the beast still trying desperately to escape. He clenched the wand in his hands as his clothes began to feel unusually wet and heavy, his vision going blurry for a moment, which the Griffin that was free to move noticed and took advantage of. The creature charged at him again, though this time Harry only just managed to parry the claws with his sword on his off hand, the blade shattering from the impact of the claw against it. As the creature again charged towards him, Harry managed to injure it further by levitating and launching the sword fragments right into the creature's eyes, blinding it severely as he caught his breath.

The break, however, only made him stumble to the ground, his knee hitting it hard, giving him a brief moment of lucidity as the two Griffins cawed, the noises they made filled with rage. Harry knew that he was running out of time. The only way he could succeed was to take both the Griffins down, but the creatures were too well protected against spells, with even the barriers struggling against them. He would have to use the Elder Wand to carve another recess but doing that would split what remained of his concentration, which would cause the already active barrier to collapse. At this point, the only way forward was to get both creatures into the same recess together, but aside from using himself as bait again, he wasn't seeing how he could get the Griffin to charge at him, or if it would even fall for the ruse that got its partner trapped in the first place. At the same time he was running out of time. Seeing no other option but to try and get the Griffin to rush towards him into the pit, Harry ran around the barrier, the creature aware of his movements through other means as it charged at him. As Harry tried to rush underneath the beast, he found that it was better aware of his position than he had thought as the claws carved deep gashed across his stomach as he tumbled and landed right next to the barrier over the pit, blood beginning to seep out of him and onto the ground. Taking a mixture of healing and blood replenisher, Harry smashed the vial onto his chest, the glass sinking into his open wounds as they began to heal, the clicking of claws on stone making Harry aware of how close the Griffin was. As he stared into the golden eyes of the beast, he momentarily thought that this was the end, as the creature's claw rose over his head as Harry desperately tried to draw on any amount of magic that wasn't keeping the barrier intact.

Then… catching him entirely by surprise, three distinct loud howls in his mind filled his consciousness as two shadowy figures attacked the Griffin whilst a third, a raven, stood on his body, magic cascading over his form in calming waves as his body was slowly mended back together. Harry wasn't sure what was happening between the Griffin and its attackers but the moment he felt the creature land on top of the barrier that kept it separated from its mate, he was able to disable it, causing the two Griffins to crash into each other, before he raised it up again, trapping both of them together. As he struggled to keep the barrier from failing, Harry managed to see two figures walk up to him, before both leaned their heads down, licking at his bloodied and bruised cheek with their tongues as time ticked on by. Harry released another mixed potion into his opened chest cavity, feeling the magical effect as a burning sensation somewhere in his abdomen became more prevalent as the Arena remained deathly silent. A few minutes later, the last of the Griffins ceased attacking the barrier, succumbing to the gas as its mate had done moment's before. Still, even as the Healers approached under the careful and even zealous guard of the three magical creatures, there was no declaration of victory or success by Ragnar or anyone else. As his consciousness began to waver again, he decided to drop the control over the ward barrier, before blacking out, the three other essensences in his mind whispering to him before he lost consciousness that he would be alright. They would keep him safe.

Present Day

"So you do look good in other colors that are not Beauxbatons blue." Gabrielle blushed as she stood up from the seat at the village's coffee shop, when Adeline approached her, hugging her back and kissing her cheek, before looking over her friend's choice of clothes. Her dark skinned friend had elected to wear a white blouse with a dark blue set of pants, while Gabrielle had elected to wear something a bit more casual for her next meeting with Elysia, wearing a red wrap shirt with faded jeans, though she had elected to slip on a pair of comfortable walking shoes, just in case Elysia had her walking again. As Adeline joined her on the table and shook her head at the waiter, she gave Gabrielle a soft shove with her shoulder. "So, are you here to see Elysia's place, or are you two going out on another date?" Gabrielle blushed, pulling a loose lock of hair behind her ear. "We are not dating, Adeline." Her friend raised an eyebrow, a knowing smile on her face. "Girl, everyone in the village has been talking about you two. From your tour of the town to the hiking trail. You were blushing the entire time you were with Elysia and no one could remember Elysia smiling so much. If you two weren't out on dates, you might as well have been and if the hikers hadn't seen you two all day on the trail jogging, the town would have sworn you had been up to something a bit more intimate with how flushed and sweaty you were when you left for home last week." Gabrielle went bright red, with Adeline's smile widening at the sight. "Oh, so that's the color. Damn, no wonder they thought you had just been to paradise and back." Gabrielle almost shoved her friend out of her chair as Adeline laughed at her friend's unusually flustered state.

"Still, you never told me you were into girls, though trust me, even I can see why you have the hots for Elysia. Hell, there are quite a few people in the village who would have pursued her if they weren't worried that a bad break up might have made Elysia leave and never come back." Gabrielle sighed as she sipped from her coffee mug. "I wasn't into girls… until Elysia. There is just something about her that… hits different. But still, nothing has been going on between us. Elysia has just been interviewing me and I have been getting to know her as my potential future landlady." Adeline shook her head. "Just try not to get into too much trouble. The village has made a pact to protect our resident guardian angel." Gabrielle chuckled. "I can't believe that she earned that reputation in less than two years." Adeline smiled at Gabrielle. "Neither can I, but people believe it. Of course, she can't physically be in the village all the time, but whenever she is, people say that she always seems to be… aware of anything that could be going on. Monsieur Chauvin is one good example. Not only did she cover the expenses for the old man, but she checked on him through my mother whenever she returned. Then, one day, when she was walking by the Chauvin family, she stopped next to them and offered them her condolences and any help they might need for the funeral. They had literally just arrived and had told no one as they were on their way to see a relation of theirs to give them the bad news, but she just… knew. And she did end up helping with the funeral, giving the Chauvin family the financial breathing room they needed to pay off some serious debts. And it doesn't stop there. Whenever someone's hurt in the village, she will often appear nearby and get them the attention they need before they go off to see an actual Healer. She really is like an actual guardian angel."

A frustrated voice sighed, surprising the two young women. "I really wish you all would stop calling me that." Turning, the two saw Elysia standing beside Adeline's mother, a pained expression on the former's face, her clothes her usual typical wear of dark jeans and a black shirt underneath her brown jacket. "I am no angel and no seer. I cannot prevent bad things from happening, whether they are accidents, illnesses or worse. All I can do is the same as anyone else: be there for those who need help the most." Jeanne walked over to Adeline and kissed her hair before taking the seat next to her, with Elysia taking the last open seat at the outdoor table. "I hope I didn't leave you waiting too long." Gabrielle smiled at her, shaking her head. "No, not at all. I actually enjoy hearing about the things that you probably won't get into due to modesty." Jeanne laughed softly. "Trust me, that's just who she is. Modest to a fault." Elysia pouted at her. "And pride is overrated." Turning her attention to Adeline, Elysia leaned back onto the chair. "So, while we let your friend's nerves go up a bit, let's talk business. How are the sketches going?" After digging into her shoulder bag, Adeline produced her sketch pad and started flipping through some of the work she did back at Beauxbatons. "Since I had some free time back at school, I asked Professor Belnades if I could do some sketches of her potion making equipment, since I have a feeling that the book will be more educational than simply a list. Using the equipment that is the educational standard for reference seemed like a good idea."

Elysia smiled as she flipped through the pages, seeing all the basic tools that all Potion Masters used drawn in beautiful detail, with her particularly loving the lighting and shading that Adeline does with her work. "These are wonderful and you are quite right in that standard equipment serves as a better illustration. My setups… are not very standard but these will be more than perfect. I could provide you with my old equipment pieces that should still be up to standards if you would like to make group sketches, something that could be posted on the edges of individual potions to highlight what is needed for each one without having a clutter of images, and then we can have these individual images in the introduction to the book, where we highlight how they should be used and cleaned before and after the brewing process. That would then just leave the individual ingredients sketches." Adeline nodded as she pulled the sketch book back to her side of the table. "I would love to try my hand at something a bit more artistic, almost like the fruit bowl portraits. Still, where would you like me to do the ingredient sketches?" Elysia hummed to herself. "I imagine it will take some time to get the sketches done, so there is a bit of a question whether you would like me to keep the plants fully in stasis or have you take care of them yourself. I will be leaving the choice up to you after you take a look at them when we all go back to my place." Gabrielle froze as soon as Elysia's words registered, before she looked over at the raven haired witch, her attention having been on her friend's sketchbook and the illustrations. "Wait… does that mean…?" Elysia gave Gabrielle a big smile. "Yes, Mademoiselle Delacour. I am agreeing to have you rent a room at my place whilst you complete your internship. We will have to have a contract drawn up to satisfy your parents and my business partners, but it should be done in a few days. So, care to see where you will be staying for the duration of your internship?"

As the three figures gained their bearings after Elysia activated her portkey, which was in the form of a literal set of keys and a keyring, they soon found themselves in an odd location, with Adeline speaking first. "Where… are we?" Elysia hummed to herself as she neared a gate composed of tall iron bars, it being the only thing visible as the surroundings were covered in a thick white fog, behind which there could be seen tall evergreen trees in the distance, but nothing else. "This is the entrance to my home, some distance from the village. There aren't any roads and the structure is heavily warded to prevent people from even being able to see past the property's fence line, though there are wards stretching even further out sustaining an unbroken tree cover for the vicinity. Only neighbors nearby are creatures and wild fairies." As the key turned in the fence's lock, Elysia pulled the gate aside, gesturing for the others to walk through. Even inside, the fog persisted, until the head of Peverell family closed the gate behind her, the lock snapping into place with the key, before she turned around. "The wards are a bit more secure in that they don't let you in if the perimeter security isn't back up. Essentially, anyone breaking through the gate would still have to lock themselves in to move further into the property, otherwise they would be stuck outside. Either result would be… unpleasant, for the poor souls. You can see the fog dissipating now." On queue, what had been hidden by the fog and illusions began to appear before them, as a three or four stories tall grey stone edifice began to appear, with a small cobblestone path leading up to the large wooden and metal door that reminded Gabrielle of the one from Hogwarts, though smaller.

Adeline looked at either side of the space between the Estate's main building and the gate. "You have some nice space out here for some great decorative plants and shrubs." Elysia nodded as Jeanne joined her at the door. "True… I just haven't bothered too much on the outside of the house beyond expanding the size of the windows. The place was designed as a fortress first and foremost so the windows on the lower floors had been quite small. Everything on the inside, however, is all new." Opening the door with the second key, Elysia felt a bit of pride as the three women gasped as they entered the house, closing the door behind them as they looked around. Gabrielle could instantly feel just how much of the structure was like Elysia, as the outer structure was this imposing stone building that made anyone think twice about attacking, but on the inside… on the inside things were different. Every wall was covered in wood paneling that evoked the sensation of being in a forest, the massive chandelier up above producing a soft and warm light that made the wood look almost golden in color. At the center of the reception hall there was a small grouping of sofas and loveseats around a coffee table, with a fireplace nearby. Gabrielle looked at Elysia as she pointed at the fireplace. "Is that connected to the Floo Network?" Elysia shook her head. "No. Back in Britain, the Death Eaters had people in the Ministry that used their control of the Floo Network to entrap victims while under attack." She gestured at a seperate, and taller, fireplace that was empty and away from any of the furniture. "I had that one installed as an actual Floo Terminal but I am checking to see how difficult it would be to have a private Floo Network and how it could be connected to existing Floo terminals like the ones in your family homes, but for now though it's just an empty chimney."

Jeanne ran her hand over the sofa as she looked around. "Still, it's all beautiful. I can see why you didn't want to have anyone over too. It feels like you but at the same time… it's a bit… grand?" Elysia chuckled. "I lived five years in a house smaller than yours. Believe me, Jeanne, I get what you mean. I had planned to buy a smaller place but at the same time… I had given up so much of my family's history, what had been my homeland and everything that was my birthright. This was all I had left and I just… couldn't let it go. I have been taking my time refurbishing the Estate, trying to make it as secure as possible, building this up for future generations. Aside from my potions lab, I had an exercise room installed and I am hoping to build a few chambers suited for homeschooling magic to children, since there is always a chance that my descendants don't want to send students to any of the major schools. The greenhouses out back would hopefully provide the basic potion ingredients and some food supplies, but I don't see the place being truly self-sustaining. Still, as someone who has gotten so little legacy left over from her family… I wanted to leave something behind to make up for everything that was lost. Sure, I was fortunate to have some money my family had left in their vaults but what good is gold when you don't have a place to call home or people to call family? This place is what my legacy will be, even if at times it feels rather empty. Hopefully… it will be a little less empty now." Gabrielle blushed as she looked around, with Jeanne going over to offer some support to Elysia, before a soft pop echoed in the room.

"Lunch will be ready in a few minutes, Lady Peverell." Elysia nodded. "Thank you Ida. Jeanne, Adeline, Gabrielle, meet Ida, the house elf that elected to join my family. I was delayed in meeting you, Gabrielle, because Jeanne and I were discussing lunch plans. Ida can get very… carried away in her meal preparations. We will be at the table soon enough, Ida, I just want to show Adeline the materials I want her to draw for the book." Ida nodded before apparating away, as Elysia led them to the side of the stairs that lead up to the second story, with Gabrielle noticing that the guardrails looked like branches twisted into form, her fingers touching the wooden panels, feeling how comfortable the polished wood felt on her skin, before following after the others down a set of stairs into the lower level. Whilst the walls had also been covered in wooden paneling, the floor itself seemed to be mostly stone or concrete as they approached a properly secured door, with Adeline noticing the jumpsuit and gas mask hanging from a hook next to it. "Uhm, will we be needing that?" Elysia looked at where Adeline was pointing to before unlocking the air tight door. "Not today. The reason I had to delay inviting you all over for a week was to get the lab cleaned up and to have the majority of the cauldrons empty. Only one is running and it's for a potion that is quite safe." As they walked into the Potion's Lab, Elysia explained how she had the individual rooms arranged, as they could handle both individual small research cauldrons as well as the sets of three large cauldrons that she used for larger orders.

Adeline shook her head, reading the notes attached to the outside of each rooms' doors and on the individual desks, as these usually contained timetables, brewing stage identifications and active ingredient notices. "This is all incredible. It looks less like a potion's lab and more like a clinical research laboratory." Elysia shrugged as she reached the far wall of the lab. "I think that the equivalent of clinical and pharmaceutical research in magical society requires its professionals to be held at a higher standard, hence the jumpsuit you saw outside the room. All my work is fully intended to be as professional and hygienic as humanly possible. Now, the living plant samples are in the greenhouses up stairs if you want to take a look at them, but I do have the processed and preprocessed materials right here." Slipping the large door that stood at the far back of the chamber to the side, the three women entered, looking at the shelves that lined the three walls of the massive store room, all the ingredients individually sealed, labeled with their dates of collection, expected expiration date and identification, with Jeanne pulling out a few. "I imagine that if we had more Potions Masters in town, the resale of these would be quite good." Elysia nodded before guiding Adeline to the table in the middle of the room, a few rolling tables stationed next to the main one, where a suitcase rested. Lifting the lid, Elysia showed Adeline the raw ingredients, a few being plants that had been sealed in plexiglass for display purposes, a few others contained in stasis bags for detailed observation out of a sealed environment, and the last ones being the processed result in small ingredient vials. The young witch looked between them all. "I think I can make plenty of sketches from these as a start, but I would like to see the living plants first."

After Adeline packed up the suitcase and took it with her, the group walked up a set of stairs leading up from beside the large ingredient cupboard, before eventually finding themselves exiting into the Potions Material greenhouse, which did feel like it was very similar to the one at Beauxbatons. There Elysia had several individual glass cases with the living plant samples in pots that had been shipped from all over the world by the groweries associated with Gringotts, all currently held in stasis with the care instructions attached to the side of the boxes. Jeanne smiled as she watched her daughter pull out the files on each box, looking over the plants and discussing the best sketch angles with Elysia, as well as highlighting instructions that would need to be followed to get the most out of the individual materials, like the roots, leaves and flowers, where applicable. Gabrielle walked over to Adeline's mother. "She's like an entirely different person, isn't she? She is very jovial and fun loving most of the time, but whenever she steps into the greenhouse and sees a new plant, she instantly drops everything and just focuses on learning all she can about them." Jeanne sighed in relief. "I am glad that she seems to be recovering from the assault more each day. Having this commission with Elysia has given her something to focus on and reignite her love of plants." She then turned to Gabrielle. "And your time with Elysia seems to have helped you out as well. It's why we call her an angel, even if she hates it. Because even when she isn't setting out to help people, she does it by simply being herself." Gabrielle looked back at her best friend and future landlady, and perhaps so much more, and smiled, a childish part of her beyond delighted that the person that Harry chose to become was no less noble and generous, despite everything that had happened to her. She was really looking forward to seeing what a few years as her housemate would be like.

"Easy. Here." Giving Gabrielle a Pepper Up potion, Elysia waited for the young Veela to recover from her Apparition. The two of them had enjoyed a lovely lunch with the Charbonneau women, with Adeline having agreed to meet with Elysia and Gabrielle during her usual weekend outings so that she could go to the Peverell Greenhouses to continue sketching and studying the plants. She had been especially excited as these were plants that Beaubaxtons didn't study and that meant that she could get some decent practice in observing their natural behaviour in a more controlled environment. For the moment she was keeping the living samples in their stasis containers at Elysia's place until she was able to contact Professor Persaud and see if she would be interested in guiding her through the internship with the plants that Elysia had acquired as her focus in the next six months, as it would be something she could do from the comfort of her own home while continuing her sketches for the planned Potions book. After everyone gave Ida her much deserved praise for her excellent lunch, with Gabrielle even having seconds from dessert, the women had been portkeyed back to Saint-Cirq-Lapopie, before Gabrielle insisted on Elysia accompanying her back to her home in Reims, so that she could meet the family and help sooth her father's paranoia. Elysia wasn't sure, as she knew that François Delacour had already looked into her background, but agreed that if Gabrielle was to be staying with her, easing her parents' concerns over their youngest daughter's safety would be a priority. So, as Gabrielle recovered from a two person Apparition to the front of her family's home in Reims, Elysia held out a few keychains in her hands, using a special brush to write down some sigils on the incomplete ones before charging the runes.

Stowing the brush kit and keychains into her jacket pocket, she gave a cursory look around, finding the size of the house more comfortable than the Peverell Estate. She could also see where Gabrielle's love of the outdoors came from as the house had quite a large front patio and she could imagine that the back of the property was more extensive. Gabrielle, fully recovered, handed Elysia the unfinished potion, but Elysia shook her head. "You keep it. The potion is good for a week now that it has been opened." Thanking her, Gabrielle stored the recorked vial back into her purse, before looking at her home, suddenly feeling nervous. She reached over and grazed Elysia's dragonhide covered arm. "Before we go in, I have to tell you a few things. You told me to keep quiet about who you were, but I had already told my mother that I could feel when Harry Potter was close by. When I came back and was preparing for my first meeting… she guessed correctly that I was meeting you, though I had to correct her that you were no longer Harry. I… also ended up having to tell Fleur because of how integral this bond we have is to Veela culture and she wouldn't understand why I was so… dead set on rooming with you if I didn't tell her. So… sorry that I wasn't able to keep my word exactly. We did keep my father in the dark though, since his work as Director of the MSF can make his investigations into people get out of hand." Elysia stared at Gabrielle for a moment, who flinched under the gaze, when she suddenly felt the bond between open up momentarily. Recognizing that Elysia was probably trying to determine her truthfulness and motivation without invading her mind, Gabrielle allowed the bond to sit wide open, before the link between them snapped back into a closed state.

A deep sigh left the raven haired woman. "I am not unreasonable and I can definitely see why you had to inform your mother. Your motivation for informing Fleur seemed more of a personal choice but I will let it slide for now, so long as the three of you understand that I don't want this information leaking to more people. I will, however, warn you to be careful. I don't trust easily, not anymore." The coldness of Elysia's final words sent shivers down Gabrielle's back. "I will do my best. That said… What do we do about my father?" Elysia clicked her tongue. "We will play it by ear and I will leave some of the choice up to your mother, as she has a better understanding regarding Veela matters and your husband's responses. If he is told, I just want it to stop with him. I don't need my history to be added to the French or ICW databases." Gabrielle nodded, squeezing Elysia's arm gently. "Thank you. So… shall we?" Elysia gestured with her hand towards the house. "After you, Mademoiselle." Blushing, Gabrielle walked up to her family's home, unlocking the door with her key before letting Elysia enter. The raven haired witch frowned as she passed under the house's wards, catching Gabrielle's attention. "What is it?" Elysia shook her head. "Nothing I can be sure of currently." Trusting Elysia to keep an eye on what was bothering her, she called out to her family as her guest removed her shoes, setting them out of the way of the door, before a high pitch screech filled the air. A strawberry blonde little girl rushed down the stairs and into Gabrielle's arms, with the young Veela laughing at her niece's antics. "Bon après-midi, Victoire. How was your day?"

The girl smiled at her aunt. "It was fun! Grand-père had the pool open in the back and Maman and Grand-mère were teaching me how to swim!" A voice from upstairs elaborated. "Father and mother are out back relaxing in the jacuzzi… At least, I hope that's all they are doing, after Victoire was getting sleepy from all the exercise she did." As Fleur walked along the upper floor landing that led to the stairs, she paused for a moment as her eyes landed on the figure behind Gabrielle. Descending the stairs as safely as she could while moving quickly, Fleur walked up to Elysia, seeing a familiar looking pair of green eyes, before pulling the witch into a hug. "You have no idea how good it is to see and hear that you have been well, after all this time. You left a few people worried back across the channel. Hermione…" Elysia nodded as she pulled away from the excited Veela. "I know. After reading the latest news about Britain, I made sure to send her a letter, urging her to take the threats seriously and leave, with enough funds to help her and her parents along." Fleur smiled as she stepped back. "I see you haven't changed, even if you go by a different name and have to shop for a different variety of clothes." Elysia's face went bright red. "Don't remind me. My first visits to the women's clothing section after everything were very awkward experiences." Fleur looked her up and down, a smirk on her face. "Still, they suit you. Please, come inside while Gabrielle checks to see if our parents are decent." Gabrielle shuddered and uttered a "I sincerely hope so" before heading towards the backyard.

Taking Victoire by her hand, Fleur led her and Elysia to the reception room, with the little girl staring at Elysia, who just smiled at her, before she said "You feel weird." Looking up at the girl's mother, Fleur found herself blushing. "Young Veela have an odd sense of the world around them because of our magical heritage. Eventually, so much of that awareness degrades, though a few of our most gifted are able to train themselves in it. They have a way of… seeing past the superficial." Elysia leaned back. "I see. My magic behaves a bit differently right now, so I imagine that is what your daughter is sensing. I also imagine that this sensitivity is how Gabrielle discovered the bond between us." Fleur shrugged. "I wouldn't know. My sister was too worried about me being a good mother to Victoire, choosing to inform me about it just recently." Elysia turned her eyes back to the little girl. "I would say she was right. I don't… have very positive experiences with parental figures but I personally believe that your children need you more than you ever realize." Fleur nodded as she pulled the squealing girl into a hug. "I know. It's why I had to leave William behind. I couldn't let him continue to disappoint Victoire." Elysia smiled as she recalled her meeting with the Weasleys. "Well, I can say that I at least added some much needed humiliation to him after he and his mother were making a ruckus in Gringotts Paris." Fleur blinked before she looked up at Elysia. "That was you?" Spinning a keychain in her hand, Elysia just shrugged. "They were insulting the local Goblins. It was either to humiliate them or sit back and watch the guards debate which body part on Molly Weasley needed a new impromptu piercing and, frankly, I wasn't going to let them get into trouble over Weasleys being unreasonable."

Their conversation ended as Apolline entered the reception room wearing a thick bathrobe to cover herself. "My husband is a bit more reserved so he is upstairs getting dressed. So, Gabrielle tells me you have agreed to let her rent out a room at your home?" Elysia nodded as Gabrielle took a seat next to her sister, with Victoire wishing to play with her. The sight did stir some strong feelings in Elysia's heart, strong enough that Gabrielle seemed to react to them before Elysia could regain control over her emotions, returning her attention to a curious Apolline and her question. "I am." The Delacour Matriarch raised an eyebrow. "And? What security measures are in place at your house for it to be safe?" Elysia leaned back into the sofa. "Everything Gringotts could legally put on a property and what my family had already installed from before the Hundred Years War. Your daughter can confirm that the Floo Network is disconnected for the moment, though I hope to install a private network that could be connected to your home, as well as to Gringotts and other locations I deem safe or important to me at the moment." Apolline was quiet for a second. "My husband did some digging into you, though he did so without realizing who you were or what you currently are to Gabrielle. The files mention you are a citizen of Gringotts." Elysia's eyes narrowed on her. "I am. Is that a problem?" Apolline stared at Elysia thoughtfully, but seeing her reaction, she decided to restrain her curiosity for the moment. "No, no I don't believe it is."

Seeing her husband descending the stairs, Apolline decided to just add a few final words, words that she was certain her husband wouldn't appreciate. "If Gabrielle is to live at your home, do I have your word that you will protect her to the best of your abilities?" As Gabrielle was about to raise her voice, Elysia gave Apolline a wry grin. "Whilst under my roof, she will know no threat nor harm. You have my word as the Head of the Peverell family." Apolline nodded, before turning to look at her husband, who was clearly surprised to see Elysia seated in his family's reception room. The Gringotts Potions Master waved her fingers at him. "Good afternoon, Director Delacour. I hope my potion isn't giving your Ministry any more issues at the moment as you try to get a sufficient supply for the packs of France." François grunted. "There are those still fighting over the new potion, but all Weres are aware that the it will be made available to all of then as soon as the supply is secured." Elysia hummed as she stood up, holding out her hand. "Well, it's the best possible outcome, though I feel sorry for all the groweries who had stocked up on wolfsbane seed for the next season. Allow me to properly greet you, as I wasn't… really interested in being social after the brewing demonstration and the license signing at Gringotts. Elysia Peverell, last of my family and citizen of Gringotts." François raised an eyebrow, as he had known that she was a citizen of the Goblin Nation but was unsure if she would address herself as such. "François Delacour. My daughter had been spending these last few weeks speaking about securing a location close to Beauxbatons. I assume that you are the homeowner and my daughter's new host?"

Elysia nodded as they shook hands, taking some pleasure in squeezing a bit harder than François could manage. "Your wife has already asked me about the safety measures installed at my home. We have wards designed to survive sieges, the Floo Network will be updated in the coming months, mail is currently blocked but will be made accessible to her after the letters are screened for foreign magic and I have the largest supply of Medicinal Potions outside of an Apothecary stored in my basement. Are there any other concerns or measures you wish me to take into account?" François spared a look at his wife, with Apolline giving him a reassuring smile, before the head of the family looked back at the woman before him. "Our family is quite close and we intend to continue to have family outings and gatherings. The distance from Pyrenees to Reims is quite far and I have seen the effect it has had on Gabrielle these last few days via Apparition. Do you have a way to facilitate her ability to reach us even without the Floo Network?" Digging into her jacket pocket, Elysia held out a keychain with a set of keys to Gabrielle. "While you were busy recovering from that Apparition, I completed the creation of this. It's a portkey. Just press your finger into the runes to charge them with magic and call the name of the registered locations. I set the phrases on this one to be Peverell and Delacour. They should make travel much easier and I can provide more portkeys to specific locations at your request. The keys themselves are duplicates of mine meaning they will let you into the gate and the house. Oh, and you need not worry, Director Delacour, I do have a license to make portkeys. It's a goblin one, as are the designs, but I believe it's still valid."

Gabrielle took the keys and nodded, feeling the way it connected to her magic before putting them away. Elysia held out another set, before handing them to Apolline. "These are yours in case you wish to visit or are in need of shelter. Should your daughter and I go our separate ways, I will need them back." She then turned to François as Apolline looked them over. "Other than that, all that would be left would be to get your family owl registered into ths wards, as well as the one Gabrielle finds for herself. No owls will be able to find me directly so make sure you address your letters to your daughter. I can also give her access to other portkeys I have back home that make travel to the Place Cachée and other locations easier and I intend to make one for her to use to travel to Beauxbatons. While at my Estate, she will have access to my family's library, meals will be provided and you will be able to confirm everything in person if you wish. Anything else?" Francois pursed his lips. "I would like to get all this in writing." Elysia nodded, taking out a stack of papers from her jacket pocket. "This is just a template so we can fill out the empty spaces and agree on the rent payments. We can then go to Gringotts to have them draft a proper contract and officiate it." François gestured at the dining room table and Elysia joined him as the two began to discuss payment and terms, as Apolline approached her youngest daughter, whilst Fleur went to get her daughter a snack. "Are you sure this is what you want?" Gabrielle looked over at her and smiled. "I am, Maman. Regardless of how things turn out… I want to get to know her and for her to know me. I want to give this bond between us the chance to grow." Apolline gave her daughter a sideways hug. "Very well. Just try and take things slow. No matter how hard that might be." Gabrielle looked back at Elysia, feeling her body warming up. "Yeah, I have a feeling… that it won't be easy at all."

"When walking up the stairs, you can just ignore the first floor. It has the least of the refurbishing work done in the individual rooms and, because it was made for guests spending an evening between travels from the various other castles and estates of the region, they were simply not made to be as comfortable as the rooms upstairs." Gabrielle nodded after having taken a look down the first floor corridor, before following Elysia up the stairs to the second floor. Whilst the stairs leading down and up from the basement level were more of the type that was common in many houses in that they were straight inclines, the stairs that lead up from the ground floor to the first and second floors had been clearly made to match the new decor that Elysia had going, as these were more circular, wrapping upwards from the reception hall into a causeway that lead to the first floor rooms, though it also lead to a small viewing area on the first floor that overlooked the ballroom, before the stairs at the far back led back to the center of the Estate, where one could look out over the reception hall from the second floor. The view was certainly something out of a fairytale, making Gabrielle feel glad that she had returned to the Peverell Estate with Elysia after their meeting with her family. The contract that had been written up was yet to be formally reviewed by Gringotts, but Gabrielle had suggested that it would be better if she spent a night and a day at the Estate, to see if she actually liked the experience. Her mother had given her a knowing look, but her father had agreed, as whether or not she wanted to sign the contract depended on how comfortable she felt around Elysia. Right now, standing three stories above the ground, she could say that the experience was certainly exciting.

Elysia drew Gabrielle's attention away from the view and to the door behind her. "This here is my room. Because it's a suite, I would suggest you just call Ida if you need anything, particularly since the walls have all been warded to reduce sounds emanating from locked rooms. Anything that requires my input you can just ask her to reach me. Now follow me. I will show you the Owlery before I drop you off at your room." Walking through the dimly lit corridors, Gabrielle could see that Elysia had certainly gone with a theme for the interior decor of the Peverell Estate. Every wall had beautifully carved wood posts that made one think of trees, with the space between them being a lighter, almost golden colored wood that reminded her of a forest bathed in the light of the setting sun. The roof of the corridor over her head looked almost black but she had a feeling that during the day it would be closer to a forest green, with small flecks of light making one think of starlight piercing through the canopy of trees, the curtains next to the windows being thick and green in coloration as well. While Beauxbatons had been designed to evoke the imagery of the Pyrenees mountains indoors, with its bright white and soft blue colors highlighted with golden reliefs, the Peverell Estate felt almost like one was walking in a forest. Even the carpet was an amorphous hodgepodge of natural colors, with various shades of greens, yellows and browns making one think of the foliage covered ground of woodlands, though these carpets would end just before each door, as these had their own standard green carpets with golden outlines around them. While Gabrielle didn't feel like she suffered from claustrophobia, she could honestly say that at least this place feels like it wouldn't make her feel penned in either.

Reaching the far end of the corridor after taking a left hand turn, Elysia reached out and opened the door, before allowing Gabrielle in. Inside the Owlery, the young Veela could feel how much warmer it was than in the corridor. Unlike standard Owleries where the ceiling of the structure tended to have bars where the birds would rest before being called down, the bars here were lower along the walls, each one separated into an alcove. Looking inside one, Gabrielle smiled, seeing small nests made of twigs covering the base, meaning that the owls could not only remain perched, but they could rest up, even incubate eggs if they had elected to breed in the Owlery. "Each of the alcoves can have a mesh between the nest and the base, with the latter being removable so that we can clean the excess excrement and still leave the nest as clean and undisturbed as possible. We also have water and food troughs before each alcove so that the owls don't have to be fighting each other for food. Lastly, you probably noticed the temperature. We keep it this warm as it is the recommended temperature for owl's when nesting, as well as the best one for those that come in from a cold winter night to warm up quickly and comfortably. Any owls you bring will be the first to use this place, as I don't have an owl and none have permission to enter the wards as of right now." Gabrielle blinked in surprise before turning to look at Elysia. "You don't have one?" Elysia winced, though it was clear she restrained her facial reaction as much as possible. "After Hedwig died… it just didn't feel right. And after the Battle of Hogwarts and the Ministry and Wizengamot ignoring me, I decided to just ward myself against owls. Less of a hassle, really."

Gabrielle lowered her eyes. She distinctly remembered seeing Harry's owl, Hedwig, whilst she had been at the Triwizard Tournament, as snowy owls were quite rare among the Wizarding community, since they tended to be temperamental and territorial. When she had next seen Harry, she remembered how… solemn he had looked. She had heard that Mad Eye Moody had been killed prior to the wedding, as well as Harry's owl. She could see how much that loss had affected him then as it affected Elysia now. "I am sorry. I didn't mean to dredge up any unpleasant memories." Elysia shook her head. "It's alright. Recently I have been able to find some solace from Hedwig's passing. After the contract is signed, or even if you don't sign it, just bring over your family's owl so I can add it to the wards for this place." Gabrielle nodded. "I will as soon as I can. Also, would you mind accompanying me the next time I go looking for an owl or a bird for deliveries? I tried with my family but none of the animals seemed to like me. We could also see my Professor back at Beauxbatons and you could meet his owl to register it." Elysia was quiet for a second. "Sure. I can ask Gringotts if they have any recommendations too. They need a steady supply of Eagle owls for their customer's vault balance statements, letters and everything else. They should know some decent places where one can obtain messenger birds." Exiting the Owlery, the two young women walked back down the corridor before turning right, where Elysia approached a door and opened it, revealing a surprising sight for Gabrielle. "Is this… a gym?" Elysia blushed. "I would say it's a bit smaller than a gym, but it is a private exercise room with most of the current equipment available on the market, those that were originally electric having been modified to run on the user's magic."

The raven haired woman pointed out each of the exercise equipment and the locker that contained the smaller gear like jump ropes, tension cables and even the tools to repair the larger equipment pieces. "You will usually find me here in the mornings before breakfast and I do another workout in the afternoon before dinner outside when the weather permits. You are free to join me in the mornings if you need a spotter or someone to help you exercise, or whenever you feel like getting a workout. The room can't be locked unless I alter the wards or the entire Estate is on lock down, so you shouldn't have a problem getting in when you need to." Once they were done there, Elysia led her across the hallway and pulled out a seperate set of keys, using one to unlock the door. "I would tell you that I can't open the door if you lock it but it would be a lie. The wards give me full access to every room in the Estate and even if they were to collapse, there is a security measure that activates instantly that opens the doors automatically to prevent people from being held in a building that may soon be covered in flames or worse. Should the wards collapse, however, the portkeys become usable within the property so make sure you have them with you." Pushing the door open, Elysia stood to the side with her hand held out. "Après vous, Mademoiselle." Gabrielle felt her cheeks flare up red as she entered the room before the place took her breath away. Whilst the room maintained the same style and colors as the rest of the house, the sitting room itself had a desk on the far corner with a small bookshelf attached to it, as well as several drawers with a rolling chair that just screamed comfortable even when it was made from wood.

"Your room is a suite so it has its own sitting room, meaning you can entertain guests as long as you run them by me first. The bathroom is directly connected to your bedroom, though you can access it through either chamber. In said bathroom there is a laundry basket where you can put the dirty clothes and towels, after which Ida will replace the towels in the cupboards and your clean clothes will be left in a basket within your bedroom. The sheets are cleaned weekly, though you can toss them in the laundry basket in the morning and Ida will have them changed by the afternoon if you feel the need to replace them. The bed has a canopy with curtains that you can open or close at your leisure and the closet has extra pillows and blankets. Oh, and there is an alarm clock on the bedside table that you are free to set. If you would like anything more, like adjusting the temperature of the room, you can just let me or Ida know." Gabrielle peered into the bedroom, finding the large canopy bed very comfortable looking, though it also made some not so innocent thoughts race across her mind. Shaking those thoughts away, Gabrielle turned to Elysia. "This is all perfect, though I feel like my father is underpaying you for all this." Elysis shrugged. "My finances are not perfect but I would feel uncomfortable charging you four or five star hotel room rates. You are here as a guest more than as a customer, so I feel the agreed amount is just fine. Since it's growing late and I am sure you want to get settled in, I will bid you goodnight. See you in the morning, Gabrielle." The young Veela watched as Elysia left through the door of the bedroom, before sighing. After setting her newly expanded trunk to the foot of the bed, she tossed herself onto the mattress, instantly groaning on how soft and comfortable it was.

If anything, that was the feel of the entire suite. There were no sharp angles anywhere to be found, not on the desk, chairs, tables or the bedframe. Gabrielle briefly considered peering into the shower but felt too emotionally drained from the day to get up from the bed, deciding instead to pull off her clothes and toss them onto her trunk before slipping in underneath the covers. The sensation of the sheets on her naked form did nothing to quash her wandering mind. She was in Elysia's home, sleeping in one of her beds and the woman was her bonded. Her body seemed to be surging with desire even as she restrained all of it. Her mother was right, after all. Gabrielle had barely known Harry and if anything knew only so much more of Elysia. Her nature as a Veela may be screaming at her to do more to secure what felt like an ideal mate, but Gabrielle knew she needed to do things the right way. Tomorrow she would ask Elysia if they could go to Beauxbatons so that a portkey could be set between the destinations. From there the real work would begin, as she would be studying how to become a Magical Creature Healer, all the while living alongside someone who could at the very least become a dear friend and at most… could be the love of her life. A smile broke out across Gabrielle's face, one that wasn't shadowed by the recent incident back at Beauxbatons. Like before, she had her whole life ahead of her and a lot of work to do. Only now she had the feeling that she could see what path her life could take and, as far as she was concerned, it looked wonderful beyond description.

Chapter 13: A Fresh Start

A beam of light landed on Gabrielle's face as soon as she turned over on the bed, causing her to stir. Wincing from the light, the young Veela blocked it with her hand, before yawning, a brief glimpse at the unset alarm clock on the bedside table telling her that she had woken up quite early, especially for her during the summer holidays, though considering what she had been up to the night before, she could see why she not only fell asleep early but had also woken up just as early. Turning over onto her back to see if she might get back to sleep, her eyes were instantly drawn to a sharp looking black beak with two bright green eyes behind it staring down at her. While she was not really fearing for her life at the moment, the situation did, however, chase away any grogginess from her mind. "Morning." The raven cawed, as if responding to her. Curious about her apparent saviour from the incident at Beauxbatons, Gabrielle sat up, pulling the covers over her naked form, even though the bird seemed to have given her some privacy as it flew from its position at the headboard of the bed to the top of a nearby dresser. Gabrielle was about to ask it a question when a knock came to her bedroom door. "Miss Delacour, this is Ida, the house elf. May I come in?" Wrapping the covers of the bed more securely to her body, Gabrielle called out "enter," becoming aware that Ida must have closed the door some time during the night. As soon as the elf, whom Gabrielle had met yesterday entered the room, the small creature's eyes instantly found the raven perched up on the dresser. "Badb, the Mistress will not be pleased if you continue to disrupt her guest's privacy." The raven cawed before it flew through the open door, leaving Gabrielle alone with Ida.

"Badb? Is that the raven's name?" The female elf nodded. "That is her name, yes. My apologies, but she has magic of her own that allows her to disregard things such as locked doors." Gabrielle frowned. "Is she Elysia's familiar?" Ida went quiet, clearly determining what was safe for her to reveal. "To some, perhaps. What she is to Mistress Peverell only she can answer. Now then, my apologies for disturbing you but I sensed you had awakened and wished to know what you would like for breakfast. Also, when you have the chance, it would be best if you could provide me with a list of meals you would like to see prepared, as well as a list of food you do not wish to eat and any allergies you may suffer." Gabrielle smiled. "You take being Elysia's house elf quite seriously." Ida gave her a big smile in return. "Mistress has been kind to Ida and her family, letting me become a part of hers, even if she is overly concerned about Ida's eating habits. Ida wishes to repay her in turn for breathing life into the forest and seeks to learn to perform Ida's duties better." Gabrielle filled Ida's comment about the forest for later, choosing instead to not waste any more of the elf's time. "Can you make omelets?" After Ida confirmed the ingredients that Gabrielle wanted with her omelets and any sides and drinks, the elf just apparated away, leaving Gabrielle to shower and then dress herself. The shower itself was more modern in appearance, with large tiled walls and floors, separated from the rest of the bathroom by an opaque glass divider. Still, the warm water felt heavenly on Gabrielle's skin and it helped get her woken up fully.

Once dressed, she stepped out of her room, unsure whether she was to eat her breakfast in the dining hall, when the sight of the slightly ajar door to the exercise room drew her attention. Peering inside, she felt her cheeks turn bright red, as the sight of Elysia wearing nothing but a sports bra and shorts left a lot less to her imagination, the sight of her bare, muscular skin only partly as interesting to her as Elysia's well developed chest. Feeling her jealousy and discomfort over her own body's condition, Gabrielle was about to pull away from the door when a voice called out to her. "You can come in if you like. Though if my clothes are too indecent, I can go get a hoodie or a t-shirt if you would prefer." Gabrielle swallowed her nerves as she pushed open the door, watching as Elysia practiced lifting a large weight with both her hands from her knees up to her chest. "No, it's alright. This is your home and I wouldn't dream of telling you what to wear. I just… didn't wish to disturb you." Elysia brough the barbell down to the floor, the sound telling Gabrielle that it was quite heavy, as Elysia took a few big gulps of water from her bottle. "You are not disturbing me. I was just surprised to see you up so early. Were it the weekend, you wouldn't see me up at this time either." Taking the towel off the nearby bench, Elysia wiped her face clean of sweat, as Gabrielle looked over the equipement, trying to decide if any were worth her time, feeling that she was better suited for something more geared towards increasing her stamina rather than her strength. "Ida came by and asked about what I wanted for breakfast, though I neglected to think where I was supposed to eat it."

Elysia chuckled. "I am not surprised. Her focus is more on getting onto cooking, which she really loves doing. Would you like to join me in my suite? You can start eating while I wash up." Nodding in agreement, Gabrielle followed after Elysia, finding a similarly large reception room as compared to hers, though rather than the smaller windows along the walls, this one had a massive panned window that overlooked the back of the Peverell Estate, the two wings of the house ending at the greenhouses while penning in a large central garden space, all of which opened up into a small patch of grass before the scenery was dominated by tall evergreen pines. Elysia left through a door to the right of the chamber as Gabrielle looked around. The suite seemed to be similarly adorned, though, unlike hers, this one had picture frames. Some she recognized as being from Hogwarts, with Hermione Granger being a common sight amongst them, while others were just pictures of the Castle. She did recognize a photograph of Sirius Black, the man looking far more refined when compared to his mug shot, a teasing, roguish smile always threatening to break out on his face. One, oddly, was a picture of Harry, probably in either his second or third year, with his beautiful owl Hedwig resting on the small boy's arm, before it flew out of sight of the frame, only to appear later. Mounted on top of a small display was a broom that had clearly been poorly mended and was likely to be unusable, the end having an inscription that read Nimbus 2000. "Any interest in taking up flying again?" Gabrielle almost jumped out of her skin as she was looking at the broom, turning around to find Elysia wearing a black bathrobe as she was drying her hair with a white bath towel. Gabrielle took a moment to calm her beating heart. "I would but I don't have a broom of my own." Elysia hummed to herself as she took her seat. "I can lend you my Firebolt but it takes a while to get used to its speed."

Gabrielle smiled as she joined Elysia at the table. "I think a Firebolt would definitely be too much for me to handle." Nodding, Elysia looked over at the broom on her display case. "Sadly, that piece there is merely for show. I could have gotten a new one but it was a gift I was unwilling to part with." As Ida began to apparate the food onto the table, the raven haired witch stretched out her arms. "So, it's up to you where you would like your daily meals, but I tend to have my breakfast here before enjoying lunch and dinner downstairs. Though…" Looking out the window, Elysia felt an idea popping into her mind. "... We could have our lunches outside when the weather permits, if you prefer the outdoors. We could even invite Adeline and Jeanne over a few times, though I am sure Adeline will be more focused on getting the bland looking gardens into shape." Gabrielle chuckled happily. "That she would. The Gardens at Beauxbatons were a favorite of hers and I am sure she would love the chance of sprucing yours up. Still, I wouldn't mind having breakfast and lunch with you, though I would like to have dinner with my family back at Reims as much as possible." Elysia nodded after taking a sip from a glass of orange juice. "That's fine with me. Oh!" Turning her head to look into her bedroom, Elysia raised her voice. "Oi, are you two planning to sleep all day? Breakfast is here!" At her insistence, two black figures walked out of the bedroom door, the small one jumping onto the table as the third went straight to the plate that Ida apparated next to Elysia's feet. Gabrielle stared at the dog and cat for a moment. "What are their names?" Elysia petted a clearly responsive cat. "This is Macha. She is a bit of a trouble maker so make sure you don't lower your guard around her." Leaning down to scruff the dog's back, Elysia continued. "This is Anand. You will usually see her lazing around unless Macha decides to incite a chase, which is often."

Gesturing to a spot next to the Veela, Elysia finished with… "and that's Badb, whom I believe you have met a few times. She's more of an observer, but she does get involved when she feels a need to, or when Macha and Anand are getting too rambunctious. You will see them scattered throughout the Estate from time to time, though they prefer my company." Gabrielle reached over and touched Badb gently, enjoying the feel of her soft feathers. "This one here sneaked into my room somehow." Elysia sighed. "Trust me, there is no lock on this world that can keep them contained. Best you can do is just leave them be. They are pranksters and can be a bit meanspirited but they aren't malicious." Macha meowed, with Elysia rubbing her back as she chuckled, before looking at Gabrielle. "Up to you if you would like me to order them to stay out of your bedroom at the very least. Macha here likes to sneak into people's beds." Gabrielle looked at the cat, noticing it had the same green eyes as the bird. In fact, looking at all three of the animals next to Elysia, she noticed they all seemed to share her same hair color for fur or feathers, not to mention the eyes, as their owner. "I wouldn't mind that, though I have to ask… are they your familiars?" Elysia stopped for a moment. "Yes and no. I can't go into more detail on them, but they are capable of things ordinary animals could never do." Gabrielle took the hint and dropped the subject, enjoying her meal as they discussed their plans for the next few days. Elysia didn't seem bothered by Gabrielle's request to accompany her to Beauxbatons, though she had been reticent about checking out the animal shops or sanctuaries for an owl to be delivering letters to the Estate for Gabrielle.

After the meal, Elysia went down to her potions lab to set up several cauldrons, having a good idea how long they would be out for the day, leaving Gabrielle in the Peverell Estate's Library. Before taking the stairs down to the lower level, Elysia had let her know that all the more dangerous or private books had been stored away elsewhere so she was free to look through the collection, pointing out a registry book where the titles, locations and subjects of each text were kept. Gabrielle smiled as she found a section detailing books specifically for healing of creatures, both magical and non-magical, and quickly found them in the upper bookshelves, as the Library filled out two levels. She had been surprised that an old Estate like this one had more books than parchment scrolls or folios, but she suspected that the books were acquired by Elysia at some point. They weren't recent books, as the pages of parchment had definitely been yellowed by age, but they were dust free and in decent condition. Taking a book that dealt with the care and treatment of a wide variety of owls, as well as a few others that were focused on cats, toads and dogs, Gabrielle took a moment to sit down in one of the Library's desks, feeling unusually comfortable here. The Library shared the same aesthetic as the rest of the Estate, with the desk lamps having a similar design to the guardrails with the look of twisting roots or branches. As she was opening the book on owls and seeing the vast variety of species known, she heard the flapping of wings before finding Badb perched on one of the desk lamps next to her, the bird's head twisting back and forward for a moment before she began grooming her feathers, leaving Gabrielle feeling safe and accompanied. The young woman found that even if these companions of Elysia weren't human, they were still pleasant to be around, though it was odd how much they felt like it was Elysia who was next to her. Not knowing much about familiars, she decided to just focus on her studies, sure that, in time, not only would Elysia feel comfortable enough to tell her, but she would also read on how familiars and their owners were interconnected.

Finding herself at the Apparition point just outside the Beauxbatons Academy's gates, Gabrielle took a moment to feel how much the jump from the Peverell Estate to the school had affected her. To her delight, the short jump had barely drained her magic at all, even with her pulling someone else through. For her part, Elysia was as composed as ever, having already pulled out two keychains that had already been anchored at the Peverell Estate entrance, adding the Runes that would complete them by anchoring them to the Beauxbatons endpoint as well. Elysia had shown her young Veela tenent the inside of her Estate's entry closet, where aside from being the place where Gabrielle could store her heavy winter coats, shoes and boots, it also contained a lockbox that, according to Elysia, was a common sight in automobile dealerships, as it had over a dozen keychain hooks inside of it, many of them already having keyrings and portkeys attached to them. Gabrielle could see the efficiency in having them all in such portable yet easily distinguishable items, since most had keychains with their destination names proudly displayed on them, all neatly organized to allow for easy travel to any of the major cities in France, as well as a few select locations. Elysia also had a larger keyring where she could attach multiple portkeys to if there was ever a reason to travel to multiple locations in a given day, though she admitted that she hardly used them, as she preferred to apparate. She mainly had the portkeys on hand because she felt she was more than forgetful enough that she could cause serious issues for herself if she strictly relied on Apparition through memories alone. While Elysia was fine apparating, Gabrielle herself felt that, for her career, having as much of her magic available to her was very important, so she would be using those portkeys more often than not. Elysia had already promised to give her a few duplicates as soon as she needed them.

Approaching the gates to the Academy, Gabrielle pulled out her internship identification and presented it to the gatekeeper, a position that became very important after Beauxbatons' fall into Grindelwald's hands over half a century earlier. The gatekeeper looked at the small booklet, before looking over Gabrielle's shoulder. "Your ID doesn't include visitor privileges." Gabrielle took the ID back and stuffed it into her jacket pocket, having decided to wear a warmer jacket as they would be in the high mountains of the Pyrinees. The wards kept the school warm during the colder days, but not the grounds, even in summer, were cold due the high altitude and strong winds. Even Elysia was dressed for the temperature, wearing an open black overcoat with her usual black and red scarf hanging loosely over her neck. Gabrielle found that she enjoyed seeing this more conservative side of Elysia, even if her traitorous mind still wanted to wander into her memories of her landlady wearing her exercise clothes. Keeping her attention on the gatekeeper, Gabrielle acknowledged the fact that as an intern she didn't have the ability to invite people into the campus. "Could you see if the Headmistress is available to grant her temporary access? If not, I will need to go fetch Professor d'Este and bring him back here with his owl." The Gatekeeper nodded and entered his small shack by the gate to call the Headmistress via a communication Floo terminal. He stepped out for a moment. "Please wait here, Mademoiselle Delacour. Madame Maxime will be by shortly." Turning, Gabrielle found Lilith looking over the site where the village was due to be constructed.

"When it's done, it's supposed to be a more accessible version of Hogsmeade. We are even getting a small Gringotts branch." Elysia smiled at that. "I know. I was called up here to help the workers out with a bit of a problem." Gabrielle blinked at her. "That was that time early in the year right? I thought I sensed you but no one came by the school. What were you doing up at the construction site anyways? Did you have to deliver some potions?" Elysia shrugged. "I dropped off a few vials but they were less for treating injuries and more for eliminating a certain pest that needed to be dealt with quickly. You would be surprised what nasty things were hiding just a few kilometers away, buried under snow and rock. That was fast." Looking back towards the school building, the tall figure of Madame Maxime could be seen approaching the gate through the gardens. She gave Gabrielle a bittersweet smile. "I am glad to see you back here, my dear. Jacques tells me you would like me to give access to a guest of yours?" Gabrielle gave a sideways glance to Elysia, who softly nodded her head, before replying. "My apologies for disturbing your time, Madame Maxime. Professor d'Este requested that I be reachable by owl but my current residence has heavy security wards that prevents all owls from sending mail. The owner, Mademoiselle Peverell, has come with me to meet with Professor d'Este to make an exception in the wards for his owl so that it can deliver messages to me quickly. Would you be willing to let her pass?" Sparing a look at Elysia, the half-giantess frowned for a moment, before nodding. "Knowing your parents, I doubt they would let you room with someone who wasn't safe. Jacques, give her one of the day passes that disintegrates as soon as it leaves the wards. I will escort them on my way to the office."

Giving a cursory inspection of the pass she received, Elysia stored it into her coat pocket before following Gabrielle through the small opening in the gate. As they walked through the Gardens, Gabrielle pointed out where her room had been during her stay, as well as the section of the Academy from the outside. As they walked along the edge of the palace structure, Maxime spared a look at Elysia. "I was trying to recall where I heard the name Peverell recently. You are the Potions Master that developed the new Wolfsbane variant? Professor Belnades has been raving about it from the moment the ICW memo arrived in the mail. She said it was one of the most well detailed Potions recipes she had ever read, as she was able to replicate it on the first try thanks to Professor Persaud having acquired a few extra samples of Yellow Monkshood before the Ministry started requesting the plant be produced en masse. Sypha won't stop raving about it and is awaiting any new recipes quite eagerly. Should I inform her you are on campus?" Elysia's face went bright red. "Not today. I do have a few other potions recipes that will hopefully be published soon but I intend to have these properly published in a book… You can tell her we met and that I may eventually be willing to discuss potions with her, but for now I am just here to help Gabrielle along with her studies." Maxime chuckled. "She will be devastated, but the mention of the book will definately be enough to restrain her eagerness for now. By your accent, I believe you studied at Hogwarts?" Elysia nodded. "I was there during your visit, though I was under a different name and I had zero interest in participating in the Tournament, so I doubt you would remember me."

Hearing Elysia's words made Gabrielle realize that Elysia didn't seem to lie. She obfuscated the truth, refused to answer and even made clever wordplay like she just did, but at no point had she caught her telling anyone any lies that she could discern. Trying to understand how that could relate to the young raven haired witch, she was brought out of her musings after reaching the edge of the palace complex, with the Abraxas stables and Professor d'Este's personal quarters being nearby. "Well, I will certainly hope to see you visit our fine institution again, Potions Master Peverell. Until then, a good day to both of you. I will see you around campus, Mademoiselle Delacour." Waving goodbye to the Headmistress as she entered the building, the two of them crossed over the small footpath leading to the stables, with Gabrielle pointing out that many of the Abraxas were out on the field. She pointed to the small foal. "The Professor and I helped deliver that one. It looks like his mother is trying to teach him how to fly." Turning the corner with a bale of hay levitated behind him, the Professor smiled when he caught sight of Gabrielle. "I thought I sensed a familiar bit of magic in the air. A pleasure to see you again, Gabrielle. As you can see, little Biaggio is already making great progress. Should be flying by Autumn if not next spring. And this is?" After introducing Elysia to her Professor and her reason for being there, the man gave a sharp whistle. While it drew the attention of his owl in the owlery as seen by the shape taking flight towards them, it also had the young foal rushing to his side, its mother not far behind, her eyes looking from Estous to Gabrielle, before landing on Elysia.

The professor grew concerned as the Abraxas came closer to the raven haired witch, but Elysia didn't budge from her position. Bianca reared its legs up as if to kick Elysia, with the professor dropping the levitation spell on the hay to cast a banisher on the witch to save her, but the spell was just canceled out with the briefest of waves by the Peverell Matriarch. The Abraxas landed its two front feet mere inches from Elysia before it flared its nostril right up in her face, a soft whine escaping the beast's throat. Hearing it, Elysia's passive face turned into a soft smile, before she rubbed Bianca's jaw. "I imagine that my magic was frightening to a young mother like yourself, but your foal is safe from me." Taking one last whiff, the Abraxas neighed before stepping away, gesturing at its child with her head movements, before the two took off once more at a gallop. The professor initially had his eyes following the Abraxas before turning to look at Elysia. "Anyone else would have gotten kicked. How did you manage that?" Elysia shrugged. "Most magical creatures fall into a spectrum of three categories; Near sentients, passive awareness enhanced by magic or predatory instinct. Abraxas would fall heavily between near sentients and passive awareness. Her instincts initially told her I was a danger and her foal was near so she reacted accordingly. When she realized that I was not really a threat unless attacked, she restrained herself." The Care Professor frowned, and Elysia decided to elaborate further. "Magical creatures and certain sensitives can sense the way magic feels to other people, even without the magic having a passive effect like an allure. I was told by the elf in charge of my family's home that my magic feels oddly dangerous at first before it feels comforting. Even Gabrielle's niece said I felt odd to her."

D'Este rubbed his chin before shrugging. "I know I have heard those theories before but I have never seen it with my own eyes. I take it you have some experience with magical creatures?" Elysia looked over towards the Abraxas grazing on the field. "Some, though I am afraid my experience is more with what are often qualified as pests. I was less interested in caring or studying them than I was in making sure I survived to see another day." Estous sighed, rubbing the back of his head. "Yeah, there are quite a few like that that are still around. Still, if you ever feel like you want to become an expert in Care, let me know. I would love to see how the regular magical creatures react to your presence over time. Speaking of which. Roland!" A decently sized Tawny Owl landed on d'Este's arm, with the professor introducing him to Gabrielle so that he could get a trace on her magic, whilst Elysia waited patiently. After a few nervous clicks, Elysia held a crystal to the owl's head until the clear white stone turned into a color matching the owl's black eyes. "That should do it. Have the letters addressed to Gabrielle and as soon as the registry stone is added to the wards, he should be able to fly to the owlery just fine." Gabrielle chuckled as she caressed the owls feathers gently. "You should have seen the place. Roland here might just decide to stay there indefinitely." Estous shrugged. "He frequently stays at other houses despite my instructions. The only reason Roland sticks around here is because he gets to meet more female owls. He's every bit a Casanova." As the two women smiled when said bird hissed at his owner, they shared a few minutes before the Professor had to get back to his duties. As they walked past a few windows, Gabrielle looked up at the window right next where she was attacked, the fear suddenly welling up in her heart again, until Elysia's soft hand on her back chased it away. Those green eyes that had saved her numerous times in her dreams looked at her with concern, but Gabrielle was able to just smile and shake off the feeling. They would return home soon afterwards, the owner of the Estate left in deep thought as to what she had seen in Gabrielle's eyes.

"Maman, look at the pretty owls! Can we get one today?!" Fleur smiled at her daughter. "Let's see if any of the owls want to be with us first, Victoire. The best owls are those that want to be with the family, like Papa's Marrat." Victoire scrunched her nose. "Grand-Père's Marrat is too noisy!" Gabrielle chuckled as she watched her sister and niece look amongst the owls who were eagerly perched on display stands as they walked through a store in the magical side of Lyon. Her parents had intended to be there with them but an emergency session of the Magical Convention had been called after budget negotiations had stalled during the regularly scheduled assemblies. To Gabrielle's delight, Elysia had been free to join them, which seemed to at least appease her mother's concerns. The attacks on Veelas who weren't escorted by their families had grown considerably in the last few years, despite the MSF's best efforts. While a few were the standard attacks carried out by jilted lovers and their relations, there was a growing concern that the human trafficking circles were particularly targeting Veela's due to their desirable physical traits and their habit of producing more female children with the same features. The Veelas had long endured centuries as prized "slaves" of the wealthy magicals and non-magicals, their ability to transform and fight back inhibited by slave collars and other, more brutal tools designed to cause excess of pain if not death to those attempting to transform into their more powerful avian forms. Because of the threats to the safety of Veelas, areas with low Veela populations were regarded as especially vulnerable and Lyon, a city infamous for once harboring strong anti-magical sentiment during its tenure as the seat of power for the Roman Catholic Church, and a current hub of anti-Veela attacks, was high among the places that Apolline did not want to bring her family to without a proper escort.

When she had heard that Elysia was available, Apolline had allowed her daughters to make for the small magical section of the city's owl and magical bird Emporium. Wearing her usual Dragonhide jacket, with a black shirt, jeans and boots, Elysia's presence did have the expected effect of keeping the locals from trying anything, most probably thinking she was either an Auror or a Hit Witch. At the same time, however, Gabrielle was certain that something else was helping the three Veelas from being bothered by the locals who wouldn't be too kind to them otherwise, as she had felt a shift to how Elysia's magic felt around her from the moment they arrived at the city, the air feeling oddly charged with magic and her Allure and Fleur's feeling oddly absent, despite what they both knew of the limitations of their own controls. Still, Gabrielle had decided to ask Elysia about it later after they toured the store, seeing the usual mix of Eurasian Eagle Owls, as well as Barn Owls, with a small selection of pygmy owls that were more for pets than anything, which Victoire certainly took an interest in. As Victoire rubbed the feathers of the small owlings whilst her mother asked the clerk as to their natural behaviour around magicals, how big they got and what their diet was, Gabrielle searched the back of the store, spotting a few ravens and eagles of a variety of colors and shapes, with a vulture making her pause for a moment. One of the other clerks, an older man, stepped up to her. "While we specialize in owls and other birds, we do at times take in some of the former familiars of customers, as these simply can't live without a magical owner any more. This vulture here is one such specimen."

Elysia, who was keeping a close watch on Victoire and her mother, heard the conversation. "What others do you have that were former Familiars?" Letting Fleur know to be careful on her own, Elysia and Gabrielle followed the owner to the back of the store, unlocking a gate made from bars of steel, before stepping inside, Elysia keeping herself between the man and the gate just in case as Gabrielle looked around. This section of the store was more like a giant cage with separate areas for the wide range of creatures living inside of it, most of them owls and ravens. Gabrielle noticed that Elysia's face grew more somber the more she looked around the room, her eyes having momentarily appeared to glow. "A lot of these birds are nearing the end of their lives." The clerk looked at her for a moment but the old man nodded, his voice filled with sadness. "You have a sharp eye. Sadly, many magical families do not wish to care for ailing family birds that have grown too old to endure for long without their former masters. They bring them here and we make sure they have the most comfortable environment we can provide for them until their time comes." Gabrielle found the whole thing rather sad, and while she would have prefered that the birds were in a more open environment, many of these would simply die either from predation or the inability to hunt for food on their own. For many of them, this cage where they had free access to food and water was the best they could hope for, until the end. Looking for the healthier looking birds, she found her eyes drawn to a bird seated at the far back of the enclosure, its eyes half closed and its expression looking mournful.

Its plumage made her think it was from a more arid region as it had a brown coat with flecks of white or cream, looking like grains of sand over some desert rock. It had the same brownish and white feathers over its head, which seemed to have elements of both an owl and a hawk, as it had a longer beak and bigger eyes set on a wider, elongated face, a few feathers sticking out the back of its head like a headdress. "What's that?" The old clerk stepped closer, squinting a bit before he recognized the creature. "Oh! Well, frankly we are not sure ourselves. It was brought in by a family friend of my father almost fifty years ago… or was it sixty? It was right after the end of the war, that's for certain. It barely eats or drinks but it hasn't seemed to age a day, not that it seems very active regardless. We have tried getting it sold but the bird never takes to anyone and it refuses to budge from its perch." Gabrielle frowned, unable to place the bird either, but after seeing it wasn't interested in her, she left it be. The older clerk pointed out a few other birds, but none drew Gabrielle's eyes, until she heard Elysia raise her voice. "You don't have to be afraid, not from me." Turning around she was surprised to see Elysia holding out her hand to the bird from earlier. The creature turned its head to identify the source of the noise, its blackish eyes locking with Elysia's for a moment, before it gave a soft whistle. The raven haired witch gave the bird a mournful smile. "I know you have lost so much, suffered even more but perhaps… perhaps it's time to make new friends. We can be that for you, if you are willing." The bird looked between her and Gabrielle before scooting closer to Elysia, finally flying into her hand, shrieking or chirping softly at her, with the elderly clerk looking stunned. "Well, I'll be…"

Calling Gabrielle over, Elysia spoke to her. "As a Magical Creature Healer in training, you need to be open to helping animals that have given up on life, to be compassionate and understanding. You gave up on this poor soul too easily." Gabrielle felt some shame creep up in her mind. Reaching over with her hand, she allowed the odd creature to sense her magic before carressing its feathers, finding the texture odd as she rubbed her fingers together, a substance akin to sand lingering on her skin. Seeing that, Elysia turned to the clerk. "Keeping this one back here was probably a bad idea. Long lived creatures tend to grieve the loss of their loved ones for longer. In this one's case, it probably saw its whole family killed. Being surrounded by other ailing animals would have only prolonged its misery." The clerk looked at Elysia. "Do you know what the creature is?" Elysia shook her head. "Not exactly, but I can imagine she's a rare bird from the Middle East if not the African continent. She must have been a magical familiar attached to the family for generations." The old man frowned. "Then why did they turn her in?" Elysia rubbed the creature on her arm gently. "Because it wasn't theirs. They must have been neighbors. Without the original bloodline, there was no chance the bird would just agree to be with another family so quickly after the tragedy of losing everyone that knew her." Gabrielle looked up from the bird. "What tragedy?" Elysia sighed. "The Holocaust. I think this poor soul was tied to a family of Kabbalists. When they were captured or slaughtered, she had nowhere left to go. Shhh."

Hearing the bird's possible story, and watching its reaction as it began to shake, made Gabrielle realize that she would need to pay attention to more than just the physical well being of animals. Even if a creature was uninjured, or even if they were injured and healed, the scars of the injuries and what caused them would remain. While she couldn't help other animals recover from that, she could learn to notice the symptoms and let the carers of the creatures know so they could look after their own charges. Choosing to help this bird heal and find a sense of belonging again, she negotiated with the clerk a fair price, finding that Fleur had bought one of the small owls for Victoire, the tiny bird jumping delightfully in the cage, whilst Gabrielle had gotten the odd bird onto her shoulder after letting her magic interact with it. She could feel the bird's sadness, though there was an undercurrent of hope and a desire to belong. While it responded well to Elysia's voice, it was responding more to Gabrielle's touch, something that made the raven-haired witch give her a bittersweet smile. "The worst thing for a survivor of a tragedy… is to be left alone to stew in their own misery. Especially when the tragedy was losing everyone you loved. This girl will need to know you will be there for her in the years to come and for you to prove it, but in time… the pain will recede as new memories, new experiences, take the forefront. But the scars will never really go away. Make sure you remember that." Gabrielle nodded, her eyes still fixed on Elysia as she and Fleur discussed where they would be going next, feeling that those words were not only born from experience, but also might mean that Elysia, for all her strength, was still struggling with the scars from Harry's past. They might have also been a reference to Gabrielle's own recent trauma. Maybe her staying with Elysia could be more than just enjoying the last Peverell's generosity. Maybe she could be there to help her too… and maybe help herself in the process.

Londinium District, December 1999

Usually when regaining consciousness, the first thing Harry did was to get a good measure of how his body was doing. It was a habit he had picked up from his days at the Dursley home in Surrey, particularly after Vernon had decided to punish him for whatever reason, either by the use of a belt or his fists. There had been quite a few mornings when the pain in his ribs and back hadn't receded completely by the time he had woken up, but most days his injuries from Dudley and his pack of bullies would usually be fixed by the next morning, something Harry now knew was due to his magic instinctively healing the damage. When he began his Trials in the Arena, he had actually read up on the sort of magic that he had been practicing unknowingly, a subconscious type of Healing Magic that would slowly repair non-cursed damage over the course of an evening. The night after many of his Tasks, Harry had used this magic to enhance the speed by which he could heal his body after taking bone repair and healing potions. On the night after his run in with the Nundu, the damage had been too severe and Harry had passed out beforehand, so he hadn't been able to recover quickly, with the days afterwards requiring several of these nightly trances to even begin to dull the pain from the damage he had suffered. He had a feeling he would be going through another long week, if not longer, as he woke up, feeling pain covering most of his front torso, arms and back with only the barest of stiffness covering his thighs. The pain, however, did help Harry break out of what he was certain was dreamless potion induced sleep as his memories from the Sixth Task came flooding back to him.

Trying to prop himself up, Harry felt the bandages covering his body press into his skin tightly, making him grunt in pain, which drew the attention of the Chief Healer of the Goblin Infirmary for Gringotts London. While the Goblin District of Londinium had its own hospital, the potions they had available were those refined for use by Goblins and the Healers were not as well versed in healing humans. So, whenever Harry needed an overnight stay, he usually found himself in the Bank's Infirmary under the care of their more experienced Healers. The female Goblin Healer he had met a few times approached his side, pressing him down gently onto the bed. "Please restrain yourself, Challenger Potter. The injuries you have suffered during your last match have yet to fully heal." Harry grunted slightly as he felt the wounds reassert themselves in his mind. Taking a few deep breaths to get better control over himself, he looked around, frowning as his eyes landed on a black ball of fur curled up next to his head on the edge of the bed. Feeling something looking at him, he turned around, finding a raven perched on the metal bars of the medical bed, its green eyes staring at him for a moment before she cawed, feeling a sense of relief from his mind. "Where… did you all… come from?" A familiar voice responded to his query. "That is what we would like to know as well, Challenger Potter." Seeing Ragnar and Golstrud approach him, Harry did his best to restrain the instinct to stand up and bow his head. However, the sight of the third Goblin coming in behind them with several fully armoured guards made him ignore the pain and try it anyways, causing his body to be momentarily overwhelmed.

As the Healer pushed him back down, the Goblin wearing golden accessories, including a heavy looking golden chain that hung from one shoulder to the other, reminiscent of ancient portraits Harry had seen of human nobility, gestured with his hands towards him to remain in his place but otherwise stayed silent. Giving Ragnar a nod, the Viceroy of the Londinium District continued. "You certainly found yourself in quite the predicament yesterday facing the Griffins. I had initially feared that your familiarity with Godric Gryffindor might make you hesitate in harming the beasts associated with him, but your use of fire and the broken sword fragments made it clear that you were fighting with everything you had. Your solution to the threat was exceptionally clever, but it seemed as if you underestimated the power, ferocity and speed of a mated pair of Griffins." Harry winced in pain as the Healer pulled off some of the bandages that had grown red from blood as she began to reapply the healing salves directly to the skin. "I know. I didn't… think I would be facing two… at the same time." Ragnar gave him a bittersweet smile. "Few who have never been witnesses to the Tasks ever do. Unfortunately, most encounters with wild Griffins involve mated pairs protecting their young, hence why the trial was orchestrated as it was. Be glad there were no fledglings, otherwise you would have likely not have had the chance to even become aware of their presence. Now then, Challenger Potter, there is the question as to how the Trial is to be declared. Both of the Griffins did eventually collapse from exposure to the aerosolized potions you used and you were conscious before they passed out. Both of the creatures are also alive, as I am sure you wanted to know. The issue that is making the declaration contested are these three creatures that interfered in the Task. Can you explain what they are to us?"

Seeing Harry frowning as he tried to look around for the third, the Healer, who was tightening the new bandages on his arm, spoke up. "Aside from the cat and the raven, there is a black dog resting at the feet of your bed. The three of them have been very vocal about not allowing anyone to cause you any harm, though they were aware enough to understand that I needed to remove glass fragments from your chest that had been caught in between the healing tissues." Seeing the face her patient made, the female goblin gave him her version of an understanding smile. "Your decision to smash a vial into your wounds was quite extreme but, based on your injuries, it was the right call. Better to pull glass shards out of your body than to have died before we could have reached you." Three loud voices in Harry's mind screamed that they would have never allowed him to die like that, with the raven cawing aggressively as the cat hissed from Harry's side, the dog at the foot of the bed growling. Harry turned his attention to the raven as it focused its attention on him, as things clicked into place in his mind. "You… are the Hallows, aren't you?" All three voiced their agreement to his words, with the Goblins looking at them with curious expressions. "The Hallows? As in the Peverell family Heirlooms?" As Harry explained that he had acquired the allegiance of all three of the objects before his battle with Voldemort and how they seemed to have a will of their own. The regal looking Goblin rubbed his chin. "Fascinating. Healer Helstrud, could you compare the readings between the creatures and your patient?" When the Healer used a diagnostic spell, she frowned. "They read as… identical. Their magic, their essence, are all the same."

The regal goblin looked towards Ragnar. "It would seem they are not familiars, but extensions of Challenger Potter's own essence. I had heard that the Peverell Heirlooms were uniquely suited to be owned by their own bloodline. It would seem this was no exaggeration." Ragnar nodded. "Indeed. Very well, as the creatures are an extension of your being, we will consider their… involvement an acceptable event within the task. Congratulations on completing your sixth trial, Challenger Potter, if just barely." Harry rested his head back on the pillow. "I appreciate that, Viceroy, but would you do me the favor of holding off on scheduling any other trials for a while." Seeing the curious look on the goblins, Harry elaborated. "It was clear that I went into this trial less prepared than I should have. I didn't take the threat seriously and it almost cost me my life. I… I think I need to take a few steps back and just… think things through a bit more." Ragnar looked towards the regal Goblin, who gave Harry a toothy smile. "A wise decision, Challenger Potter. I believe that my Viceroy has informed you that this task's conclusion would have you relieved of certain restrictions. Take these new liberties to heart and figure out what it is you truly wish to accomplish here. Whether you choose to continue the Tasks or to complete the rest of your sentence peacefully, the choice is yours." Harry did his best to bow his head. "Thank you, for the kind words, Your Majesty, King Gringott the Twelfth." The lord of the Goblin Nation nodded. "Your studies into our culture serve you well, Challenger Potter. I know not what your future may hold, but know that you have my respect and my attention. Take care of yourself well, Challenger Potter. Until we meet again."

As the Goblins left Harry alone in the infirmary, the young man turned his head over to look at the cat, with the dog propping up its head next to the now awake feline as the raven moved itself on the metal bar to be closer to them. He stared at them for a few moments as tears filled his eyes. "I am so sorry. I knew… I knew I wasn't ready… I knew that I could have taken more precautions… I just…" The three consciousnesses offered their feelings of comfort through their mental link to Harry and the young man couldn't help but continue apologizing. While he had never truly believed himself to be someone special, someone worthy of being the so-called Boy-Who-Lived or Man-Who-Conquered, his victories in the Arena had gone to his head. He had felt that he could keep coasting on his intellect, his power and his instincts. But now he understood why the Arena was so dangerous, even for Wizards and Witches. No, it was dangerous precisely because they were magical beings and relied too heavily on Magic. Even though Harry had known the danger and had mitigated it somewhat, he had still thought that he could solve the problem easily. His near death against the Nundu had shocked him but it hadn't snapped him out of his mindset. It had taken the three Hallows defying all convention by taking animal forms to intervene on his behalf for him to realize… that he needed to take things slower. He needed to find within himself the reason to keep fighting… or a reason to stop and just pay what years he had left. For now… he would slow down and focus on what was in front of him, the three beings who manifested to save his life, and what it all meant for him as their companion, because as much as they might beg him to call him Master, Harry would never accept it. They meant more to him now that he was on his own than anyone else. The joy that radiated from them made Harry close his eyes as tears slipped down his face and onto the pillow. He needed to be better for them… and for himself.

Present Day

Throwing herself on her bed face first, Gabrielle could still feel the soreness in her arm. She had taken up Elysia's suggestion of trying out a few workouts just before breakfast and was really getting into it almost a week in until she felt her arm cramp up, which almost had the barbell fall onto her chest. Elysia was quick to use her own strength to prevent the weights from doing any further damage and had given her a brief massage on the arm and shoulder whilst Gabrielle drank water that Ida had provided to her. While her arm had seemingly improved, the tense sensation had remained throughout the entire day. Since she was primarily reading, having a stiff arm hadn't been too much of an issue for Gabrielle, but now that she was back in her room, ready to sleep after a long day, the pain that kept lingering in her fingers and the tension in her upper arm were a very real distraction. While trying to decide whether to sleep on her side or not, she heard a knock on the suite's door, something that was only possible from the slight knockers that each door had, these being the only means for the resident to hear something from outside their room. Gabrielle had initially found the silence in her room to be somewhat creepy, but after a few days in the Estate, she could see why it was necessary. Within the building, the most common source of noise were Anand and Macha, Elysia's two companions, who seemed to delight in causing mischief, though it seemed mostly aimed at each other. While Elysia instructed them to leave Gabrielle alone whilst in her room, the two of them seemed to at times seek her out due to being bored, before the two would eventually seek to entertain each other by starting a chase that, according to Ida, could sometimes span the majority of the Estate.

Badb was a more common companion to her, being quiet and respectful while she read, though the raven had started to spend more of her time flying now that Seraphina was with Gabrielle. After going through several texts in the library, both Elysia and Gabrielle had concluded that Sera was possibly a Chol, an ancient and seldom understood magical creature that had some relation to the phoenixes. However, where Phoenixes were creatures of fire, Chols were of the earth, being able to turn into sand and reconstitute themselves in time. As the shopkeeper had never observed that behaviour with the Chol, Elysia suggested that it might have been attacked repeatedly during the death of it's family, being revived over and over again until the very act of resurrection from the sand had become something that she dreaded, hence why she has refrained from doing it ever since. Over the last few days, Gabrielle had spent much of her time with the beautiful creature, giving it as much love and attention as she could. Elysia's three companions had all seemed unhappy about the Chol being brought into their house, but when Elysia explained it was Gabrielle's, they all took their own approaches to it, with Macha and Anand mostly ignoring it, though it was clear that Macha kept its eye on it more often than not when they were close to each other, with only Badb taking a deeper interest. The two creatures seemed to have found an understanding and were often seen perched on branches together on the trees of the gardens. While Sera had yet to demonstrate any of its magical abilities, Gabrielle could feel that creature was growing closer to her and it made her heart sing with joy. She was also documenting everything about Seraphina's treatment, as both a Magical Creature Healer and for posterity's sake.

Flinching as she turned around slightly, Gabrielle got up from the bed and walked up to the door, where she was surprised to find Elysia on the other side, particularly as she seemed to be wearing a chemise. It wasn't see through and it did seem long enough to reach halfway down her thighs, but the choice of clothes certainly made Gabrielle's skin run hot. "Evening Elysia, did you need anything?" The raven haired witch raised an eyebrow at Gabrielle. "The person in need of anything would be you. You have been doing a decent job at hiding your pain but it was enough that Ida reached out to me. Now, take off your pajama top and lie face down on the bed." Gabrielle felt her face burn red but the look in Elysia's eyes wasn't in any way playful or seductive, so any traitorous thoughts were quickly chased out of her mind as she returned to her room, stripping off her top before lying down. She felt Elysia's fingers running down her back, pressing into her muscles almost painfully, until she redirected her movements, evidently finding what she was looking farther along Gabrielle's shoulder. "The muscle cramps from earlier didn't do this. If anything, this has been here for longer and the cramp just made you more aware of it." Gabrielle felt those calloused hands retreat for a moment, before they returned covered in a cool liquid. "This is apricot oil. It's not the most common but it's safer to have around the house and it does the job fine. Now this will feel painful but as soon as I get it untangled, you will be able to rest and recover better. Bite the blankets if you have to." Gabrielle almost did just that as Elysia's hands began to move back and forward along her shoulder, massaging the knotted muscle repeatedly as slivers of pain and numbness kept shooting down her hand.

As the ministrations continued, Elysia began to speak to her in a very soft voice. "Gabrielle, I know you want to feel like you can keep up with me. You joining my morning exercises was fine and all and I have been giving you the lighter exercises to help you build stamina and a rhythm, but for the rest of the day, you seem to be pushing yourself ridiculously hard." Gabrielle bit out a response. "I haven't been doing anything you don't already do in a day." The raven haired witch sighed. "True, but my routine didn't start like this on day one. I took things very slow, getting a feel for what I could do and what I couldn't. Before I moved here… I had actually worked for the Goblins in their mines. It's magically intensive and physically exhausting work and that's without considering the effects the atmosphere and the depth of the mine have on the human body. On my first few days I was beyond tired and drained. It took me weeks to figure out a rhythm of work, rest and study that left me feeling fine every day. After that, the work and study loads were increased, slowly but steadily, so that I could get used to the changes naturally and without issue. My current daily schedules are based on what I learned in the mines and even then it took me a while to get the potion timings right so that I could have multiple cauldrons running at the same time without worry." Feeling the muscle finally loosen up, Elysia turned her attention elsewhere, surprising Gabrielle as she began to receive a full back massage.

As Elysia rubbed Gabrielle's back, she thought about how best to help Gabrielle with her current predicament, knowing that she would only hurt herself more if she kept trying too hard. "Look, I understand. You want to prove yourself to me. Everyday since you have been here, you have joined me in the gym doing exercises, you spend hours reading up on spells, anatomy and potions that are safe to use on animals, you go home and see your family for dinner and you come back to do a bit more studying before dropping off to sleep. You have been very impressive and I am very flattered by your interest and applaud your work ethic, but you need to slow down." Feeling Gabrielle's body tense underneath her fingers, Elysia waited for a moment for a rebuttal or any reaction but got nothing. She sighed, trying to think of a way to get through to her. "Look, during the time I spent away from Britain and the wider world, I was… trying to prove something to myself too… I was desperate to discover that I hadn't just been a lucky fool who had lived his entire life as a puppet who had been dancing at someone else's tune on strings he couldn't see for seven long years. I wanted to prove to myself that there was more to me than what the British Community had labeled me as. So I took on a few risky tasks for the goblins and, for a while, I found myself coasting through them. Not all of them were easy and quite a few were seriously dangerous, but my initial successes had made me… complacent. I was doing everything that I wanted, I had my future right before my eyes and I believed that if I just worked hard, pushed forward no matter what, despite the warnings, I would still come out on top. I genuinely believed that… and it almost cost me everything, including my life."

Gabrielle turned her head over to peer at Elysia's face, seeing the echoes of what she struggled with plainly on her face, traces of the pain and self reproach leaking through their bond. Those strong, calloused hands began to massage the young Veela's back again. "When I woke up one day, having survived by the skin of my teeth but not of my own will… seeing how close I came to dying… I realized then that I had been pushing myself too hard. I had been moving too quickly through everything, not taking the time to truly settle in, to know what it was that I wanted or what I was struggling for. So I took a step back, relaxed and just stopped worrying about what I wanted years down the line, and I instead focused on tomorrow, and the days afterwards. I decided to finish my NEWTs to get them out of the way, to put more effort into discovering if what I had discovered about my aptitude for potions would translate well into a career. I had some soul searching to do that eventually… resulted in my becoming the person you see here today. I never gave up on my grander dreams and made sure to never do anything that would impede them, but I decided it was better to take things slow for a while, to take my time and find a routine that I could be happy with. You need to do the same. Rather than trying to match me moment by moment, rather than trying to cram as much as you wish to do every single day, try and find your own habits, ones that leave you more fulfilled rather than exhausted. That way you can enjoy this life that is yours rather than burn through it, like I almost did with mine. If it seems that I am doing so much in a day it's because I found my balance, between living every moment to the fullest, and enjoying every day of my life."

Thinking on Elysia's words, Gabrielle found her face growing flushed as Elysia pressed the young Veela into the bed with her own body, her lips right next Gabrielle's ear, which started to grow warm quickly as well. "I am not going anywhere, Gabrielle. I know you want something more from me and I am inclined to indulge you, but I think that what we both want is something far more intimate that what we are likely to enjoy currently. So, take a breath, relax, discover yourself and enjoy every moment of every day. And, if it just so happens that what we feel for each other grows deeper… Then we can see what sort of relationship we could both be satisfied by. Until then…" Elysia ran her finger over Gabrielle's bare shoulder gently, a feather light touch, the sensation spreading warmth along Gabrielle's body faster than the oil covered hands did during the entire massage. "Your back should be better by the morning. If your arms are still stiff, let me know and I will work on them tomorrow. For now rest up and sleep well, Mademoiselle." As the Peverell witch reached the bedroom door, Gabrielle, who had pulled up her blankets over her chest, called out to her. "Elysia." Turning around she found Gabrielle with her gaze lowered. "Thank you. … You are right. I have been trying to keep up with you and it has been exhausting. Thank you for noticing and… for making me understand." Elysia smiled at her as she turned the room's light off. "You are very welcome. Now try to get some rest. Tomorrow we can see about getting you a productive but less stressful daily routine. Bonne nuit." Gabrielle smiled back at her. "Toi aussi."

Hearing her suite door close, Gabrielle simply allowed herself to fall onto her back, feeling her shoulder out and recognizing it was still sore though it certainly felt better now. Not as bothered by the pain anymore, Gabrielle was able to just let her mind wander, replaying the last few moments in her mind. The fact that Elysia recognized that Gabrielle was pushing herself too hard hadn't surprised her, but her willingness to open up about her past certainly did. Hearing that Harry had spent time with the Goblins certainly explained her unusual accent and her more work oriented ethic, but even under all that there was still the same deeply caring person. A person that had admitted to Gabrielle that she was attracted to her too. That brief but exceedingly gentle touch on her shoulder and the sight of Elysia in a chemise that, while restrained, still showed her physique quite well, made Gabrielle's cheeks turn red as she bit her lip, her legs shifting slightly before she pulled her blankets evenly across her whole body. Knowing that Elysia was interested might have lit a fire in her mind and skin, but it certainly helped to ease the anxiety in her heart. Having the bond between them almost completely closed off made getting an inkling into Elysia's mind and emotions very difficult for Gabrielle and it had partly led to her trying harder to impress her host. Knowing that Elysia was interested in her made all of her anxieties regarding their future relationship settle down for the moment. For now, she could wait and take things easy, knowing that she wasn't going to miss out her chance with the woman she was only just now getting to really know.

Chapter 14: Walking Down the Path

Taking a deep breath of the warm and humid air of the Peverell family greenhouse, Adeline sighed pleasantly. "Any chances that I can get a deal like Gabrielle's?" Elysia raised an eyebrow at the young witch sitting across the Greenhouse table from her. "That would depend on where you would intend to live. I am not overly fond of the idea of someone setting up a wizard's tent in my greenhouse." Adeline pouted. "But it's just so nice here. The air smells like flourishing plants and blooming flowers, well tilled earth and flowing water. Being here would make good practice for my trip in January." Elysia smiled at that. "Tell you what… talk to Gabrielle and to you Professor at Beauxbatons and see what plants would make good practice for you to study ahead of time and I may be convinced to let you stay a week." Seeing the surprise on Adeline's face, Elysia couldn't help but add…"However, your mother will be invited to have dinner with us every day that you happen to be here after she closes shop." Adeline pouted and uttered a "Spoilsport" before her attention returned to the plant in front of her as she took up her pencil and began to sketch the image, whilst Elysia looked over the sketches Adeline had already produced while at home. Using a template she had been provided by the Gringotts' associated publishing company, Elysia began to place the sketches on the corresponding pages, using paper clips to hold them together, while also making a few notes regarding any alterations, though these mostly consisted of either altering the size of the sketches to better fit the pages, or flipping them via the y axis. Once she was satisfied with each page, she would just move to the next and, if she found any pages were too devoid of imagery, she would examine the stage of the brewing process in her mind to see if there was anything that would be ideal as an illustration, writing these thoughts down as notes.

Looking up from her sketch of the Oceanian Goat's Foot, a plant that Elysia had apparently used to develop a more refined healing potion than the one the Aboriginal population had originally prepared, after having tinkered with the doses of it and other local materials like Emu Bush and Kangaroo Apple extract, Adeline spared a few glances at the quiet Potions Master. Apparently, she was having Gringotts negotiate with their Australian counterparts so that the production and sale of this particular healing potion would see some of the royalties that Elysia was going to collect transferred over to the local Aboriginal Magical Communities, as Elysia wasn't a fan of taking credit for their people's collective wisdom. They would retain the rights over their own poltices and potions, while she would retain the license for her improved variant, while the earnings would be divided. It was something that Adeline found quite thoughtful of the Head of the Peverell family. Where most Potions Masters would seek to have their name plastered on every potions recipe they could claim and profit from, Elysia was always thinking about those who came before her, particularly those who developed similar potions without having the ability to secure their rights to them. Since she had the opportunity to use Gringotts' extensive resources, Elysia was making sure that any community that could lay claim to any of her experimental potions had their rights respected and credit given where it was due. Whilst her book would primarily focus on her own variants, she would also be including the original recipes made by the local communities with proper documentation provided so that there was no doubt as to who had rights to what.

"You know, once this potions book gets published, your name will be on the shelves of every Apothecary Potions reference book cabinet from here to New Zealand. You sure you want that much exposure?" Elysia grumbled. "Not really, but my Wolfsbane potion has already gotten me on the radar of every Potions faculty in the world. Fueruk had quite a few stacks of letters to go over with me for my last visit." Adeline shook her head. "One potion is one thing, but this book you're planning? From all the sketches I have made so far, it will likely be the single most comprehensive book on Medicinal Potions written in the last two hundred years, at the very least." Elysia sighed as she pulled a few stray locks of hair out of her eyes. "Yeah, so I have been told. The ICW even took notice as Gringotts kept making new patents every other week and, after discussing the matter with Fueruk, they have already pre-ordered hundreds of copies to have them shipped out to all of their internationally certified Healers and Potioneers, who in turn told their local Apothecaries, Potion Institutes, Schools and Hospitals. Gringotts is trying to see if they will even manage to actually have it displayed on shelves for sale at all on release day, or if all the copies will just be shipped out to their new owners." Adeline froze for a moment. "Wait… the book hasn't even gone on sale and it's selling out?!" Elysia sighed. "Indeed. Because of the attention, it will probably have to be submitted after January of next year and before the end of the then academic term, so that the book can be evaluated as a possible addition to school curriculums, particularly the Healer and Potions courses."

The young Charbonneau woman stared at Elysia and how nonchalant she was about the discussion. She knew kids that would boast about their parents' successful business ventures that wouldn't have anywhere near as far reaching effects as this book was already having, and the author of said book was just looking through the drawings she had made, seemingly more frustrated than proud about her soon to be accomplishment. "Elysia… out of curiosity, is this going to be the only book you are looking to publish?" The question did manage to break the raven haired witch's concentration from her work as she tapped her pencil against her lips. "I… don't know. The intention was just to spread a wide variety of Healing Potion recipes into the market to cause the current inflated prices to drop sharply as new sources of supplies meet the worldwide demand. The book was just a way that I could get more of a return out of my research than just putting out the licenses to cash in on the royalties from the potion sales. I… suppose I could make a more utilitarian potions book, something that all good apothecaries could have so as to standardize the products already on the market with more detailed instructions and better materials. I could actually have the Wolfsbane potion be a part of that book as it fits better with the theme. Other than something like that, not really." Adeline just stared at her mother's friend, the witch not even realizing that her "other" book could have just as much of an impact on the International Magical Community as her current project, and it still seemed to be just a curiosity to her, when most Potions Masters would kill to even get the renown that her Wolfsbane Potion had achieved all on its own, nevermind the rest that will eventually get published.

Adeline sighed, rubbing her eyes. "I swear, you and Gabrielle are made for each other." Elysia blinked in surprise. "What do you mean?" The dark skinned witch shrugged. "I mean you both seem oblivious to the effect you have on people… if you don't actively see it as a hindrance. Back at Beauxbatons, Gabrielle was essentially one of the most attractive girls at school and she could have used that to her advantage. I heard that some of her cousins did the same whilst her sister had been at school, keeping the boys and girls in line just by reputation and magnetism alone, but Gabrielle never did that. She disliked her Allure to the point that she missed out on a lot of the social events that our school has been running for centuries. As her roomate, I never minded. I actually liked that she was more honest and less manipulative than some of the other witches and wizards from similarly wealthy families, but I could never understand why she never used her talents to her advantage." Elysia hummed to herself. "Maybe because to her, that was probably just as bad as warping a person by the full impact of her Allure. Rather than as an advantage, she saw it more as a burden she didn't want to deal with. Besides, she doesn't strike me as the prideful type." Adeline pointed at Elysia. "That's what I mean. She takes no real pride in who she is and for that matter, neither do you. Here you are, creating potion recipes that will impact the economy and academics of the world, and at no point do you seem to actually bask in the limelight. With Gabrielle, I can get it. She has been the unwilling center of attention at school for years. What's your excuse?"

Elysia was quiet for a moment, long enough that Adeline wondered if she had said something wrong. "Because I made the mistake before of letting my pride get the better of me." Badb, who hadn't been in the Greenhouse when they entered, suddenly landed on Elysia's shoulder, bringing a smile to the witch as she rubbed her raven's chest feathers. "Back in my previous life, I had seen the effects attention had on other people, how it made some people cruel beyond reason whilst others were held to impossible standards. When I was… paying off my debts to the Goblins, I was involved in some very dangerous activities. After a few victories, I let the situation get the best of me and the next thing I knew… I almost died." Turning away from Badb, she looked at the young witch across from her. "From that day onward, I learned to suppress any sense of pride I could have. That's not to say I don't feel accomplished." Holding up the manuscript of her books, she smiled. "I am personally very happy about how well received all of my ideas have been and I do look forward to seeing what becomes of them. I… just don't see a reason to dwell on those emotions at all, when I could be focusing on more constructive things." Adeline was quiet for a second. "And where does Gabrielle fit into all this?" Elysia blinked, surprised about the question, but the seriousness in Adeline's tone and the sharp look in her eyes made it clear that this was an important matter to her. "Right now? I don't know. We are just acquaintances." Adeline rolled her eyes. "Please, I saw the way you look when you are close to her. You always seem to have a smile on your face, particularly when she blushes, which she can't help but do around you."

Sighing, the raven haired witch rubbed her face in a show of emotion that Adeline had never seen before on her. "Gabrielle… brings up complicated emotions in me. She knew of me when I was at Hogwarts, so when we met again it was less… of getting to know a stranger and more along the lines of catching up with an old friend. The more I am near her… I don't know, I just feel more at ease. Like I don't have to think about what I am saying or doing as much. I can just be myself. It feels… nice. The fact that she is also so kind and observant, particularly towards her family, just makes her stand out to me." Adeline raised an eyebrow. "I think you're the first person to talk about her without bringing up her heritage." Elysia shrugged. "Because it doesn't matter to me. She could be Veela, Vampire, Were or even a Hag. While her upbringing as a Veela clearly helped to shape who she is, as the circumstances of our births do for things like our skin color, gender, magical affinity or bloodlines affect our own formative years, they are merely a part of who we are, not the whole nor the most important aspects. Gabrielle may be a Veela, but it's up to her to determine just how much being a Veela means to her. All I care… is that she is happy with who she is." Adeline smiled at Elysia. "And if what makes her happy happens to be getting to be more than just a roommate with you?" The last of the Peverells sighed. "Then we will have to see… if what we have is something mutual… and what pursuing this relationship could mean for the both of us. Satisfied?"

Adeline chuckled as she raised her pencil. "I am now. And I stand by what I said. You and Gabrielle seem to be made for each other. If you can make her happy then you have my support." Elysia shook her head. "How about you spend less time as a matchmaker and more time with your work?" Getting up from her bench, Elysia stretched out her arms. "I am going to drop by your mother's place and see what she thinks about you spending a few days with us, while you should get to penning those queries about what the trip will be like to your professor. I won't mind you setting up a tent for a week or so but that doesn't mean you get off easy. I am sure there will be cooking rotations out there so you will be practicing cooking with me and Ida in the kitchens." Despite the added responsibilities, Adeline's face lit up. "I will get started on the letter for Professor Persaud then." Getting Badb's silent nod that she would stay to watch over the girl, Elysia walked back into the house, pulling open the foyer closet to fetch her boots. Seeing the smaller shoes of Gabrielle in the shoe rack made the young witch think of Adeline's words and her interactions with the young Veela so far. She could definitely feel her attraction to Gabrielle growing and it had nothing to do with the blonde's appearance or Elysia's exposure to the Allure. Now that she was taking her time to relax more around her, Gabrielle's softer side was shining through and it was making the last of the Peverell's yearn for something more than just friendship. Even so, she needed to take things slow, as there was still a lot that Gabrielle didn't know about her, and she had no intention of drawing the young woman into anything that might leave her disappointed in the end. She deserved better than that.

As the last bandage was fastened gently into place before a sticking charm with a time limit took effect, Gabrielle finally managed to exhale in relief. Using her wand, she dispelled the gentler medical stunning spell that was taught in the Healing course, as it allowed for patients, even animals, to slip into a relaxed, sleep-like state, whilst the Healers could focus on their jobs. It also had the benefit of having an anesthetic effect, meaning that most patients didn't feel any pain from either their injuries or the treatment. In this case, it allowed Gabrielle to clean the wound on the owl's wings and legs without the bird being disturbed, before she could give it one final inspection prior to beginning the healing process. As she had expected, the healing of animals and magical creatures was a far more complicated and restrictive practice compared to the treatment of humans or near humans. A great deal of study had been done towards improving the medical treatment of witches and wizards, particularly after Grindelwald's War, shen the advances in non-magical medicine surpassed that of magic for a brief period of time. As many civilians, including Magicals, were caught in the conflict and suffered injuries or even death from more advanced weapons of destruction than those they had encountered during the Napoleonic Wars, the ICW had ordered studies to be done to improve the medical field. Thanks to the work the non-magical world had done regarding bacteriological research, studies on infections, viruses and physical trauma, the Healers who took the initiative to research Medical Sciences applied their new knowledge and developed techniques, spells and potions that were more specifically designed to improve the health and care of magicals. Sadly, it didn't seem the same had been done for the animals that all magicals tended to have by their side.

Instead of using spells to repair the damaged musculature and bones of the injured owl, Gabrielle had to rely on using potions. Having a Potions Master as a roommate did help out greatly in that regard, since Elysia had a stockpile of a variety of potions for Gabrielle to pick from and any that wasn't readily made was soon brewed in a relatively short period of time. Much of her time at the Estate had been focused on reading up on how these potions were to be applied to get quicker and safer results, as animals didn't have the same tolerance to ingredients as humans did. Using a pair of sterilized retractors to keep the wound open, she had checked to see if there was any lingering debris before taking a surgical swab and applying small doses of the potion to the wound. Seeing the knicks on the bones healing quickly after applying Bone Repair had really surprised Gabrielle, as was the way that the muscles recovered as she applied the standard healing potion to them. By the time she was done, much of the injury itself was healed, though she wanted to be careful, hence why she applied a bandage with muscle relaxant salve applied to it as soon as the wounds on the surface of the owl's skin were sealed back up. Waking the owl up via the counter spell to the stunner, she smiled as the owl got back on its feet, though it was clearly taking it gently. When it went to pry the bandage off, she reached for the bird. "Don't! If you wait it will fall off on its own and there will be no chance of further injury. Just be patient." The owl stared at her for a moment before screeching softly, something Gabrielle took as a confirmation, before the bird jumped onto her offered forearm. When she left the small room that Professor d'Este had set apart from her in the Care Department, she watched as the owner of the owl stood up from her chair. "He will be just fine by tomorrow, we just need to keep the wound absorbing traces of the potion for the muscles to recover fully. The bandages on the wings and legs will come off on their own by the time they aren't needed anymore."

As the staffer rubbed the owl's head gently, Gabrielle took a small vial out of her bag and handed it to the owner, a middle aged witch with long flowing brown robes. "Once the bandages are off, you can feed this to your boy here with a full dose of the provided pipet every four hours, which will speed up the feather regrowing process. Make sure you have him finish the bottle in the proper amount of time and four hours later he will be able to fly just as he did before he got hurt." The witch took the vial and nodded. "I will make sure he takes it. Thank you so much for your help. How much do I owe you?" Gabrielle shook her head. "Nothing for the moment. Until I get my certification, I can't charge you for my services. Check in with the Professor so he can verify my work and just take good care of your friend here." The witch thanked her again before Gabrielle turned back to her little room, disposing of the medical gloves she had been using during the treatment, before washing her hands and disinfecting her tools. As she was finishing up, she felt the door to the classroom open as Professor d'Este stepped in. "I saw Madame Bierley's owl. Excellent work treating him. Better than I usually do on a rush job." Gabrielle blushed as she finished filling up her medical report. "Thank you for the opportunity." As she finished writing down her recommendations to the owner and the medication and instructions she provided, she noticed the professor inspecting the surgical tools that were drying out on the table. "Where did you get these?"

Gabrielle hummed to herself. "Elysia Peverell owned a set and lent them to me until my own set could arrive in a few days. Apparently, testing new potions on mice is a very important part of her job, seeing as she was testing Healing, Bone Repair and Blood Replenishing potions. I didn't much like the fact that she was experimenting on the poor vermin, but I can't deny that they make good practice and that it allowed me to get some much needed experience. It also helped me get over the shock factor of it all. Since she was simply restocking older potion orders and replicating some of her new potions, Elysia didn't need the surgical kit with her for today and allowed me to bring it along." Estous chuckled as he turned around. "That friend of yours is really something else. When Sypha heard she had just missed an opportunity to speak to the developer of the new wolfsbane potion, she took out her frustrations on me and Maxime. I haven't been verbally berated like that since my last girlfriend left me. As for the mice, it's just how society works. A few people can manage to avoid anything that could relate to animals being killed or used for some purpose, but you can't escape the fact that the world is intricately linked with other lifeforms. Mice for medical research, livestock for food and leather, magical creatures for their materials, especially as some can't be collected until their lifespans run out naturally. Even our owls feed on mice, bugs, reptiles and other creatures while left to their own devices. We live in a world where life and death are never too far away from each other. The best we can do is just make sure that these creatures live decent lives before their end." The young Veela sighed. "I know. That's part of why I want to follow this career. I may not be able to give every living creature a better life… but I can try and help the ones I can."

The professor nooded. "That's all any Healer can do, for animals or others." Once she was done with her report, she duplicated the paper and handed two copies to the professor. "Here, for your records and for the file you are filling up for the ICW regarding my studies." Taking the two copies, he glanced over them, smiling at the level of detail she went into. "Like I said, good work." As the two exited the Academy into the grounds, with Gabrielle carrying the surgical kit strap over her shoulder, a sharp screech filled the air as Seraphina landed on Gabrielle's free shoulder, the bird rubbing her head against the Veela's cheek lovingly. Estous smiled at the sight. "When you sent me the letter about your friend here, I could honestly say I was surprised. Chols are quite rare and to hear that this one had suffered such a devastating emotional loss… Still, you are doing the right thing, looking after this one, giving it the life she deserves." Gabrielle smiled as she tickled the bird's headfeathers. "Did you… find anything else of concern on her?" The professor shook his head. "No curse residue, no foreign magics, nothing. Seraphina is as clean as a bird can be. The fact she refuses to draw on her own magic has to be a psychological issue, not a physical or magical one. Sadly, there is nothing anyone can do for the girl other than just give her the care and love she needs and maybe one day she will surprise you." Gabrielle nodded, kissing the bird, despite the bits of sand that were now attached to her lips. Walking through the Academy grounds, she waved at the guard as she stepped into the Apparition and Portkey departure point, before taking the portkey in her hand, whispering "Peverell", the magic whisking her away back to a place that was feeling more like a second home every day.

Londinium District, Spring 2000

"Good afternoon, Nolgrin. What can I get you for today? I hope the wandwavers haven't been irritating you too much." The recent client to the Londinium District's Apothecary walked up to the counter of the store, grunting in response. "Afternoon, Revner. The wandwavers are as disrespectful as ever. How much for the standard Healing Potion Kits?" After the shop owner offered the prices of the kits that contained goblin quality healing, blood replenishing and bone restoring potions, the customer ordered several, with the shop owner calling out in English to Harry. "Mr Potter, if you would collect the vials from the stock shelves in the back. The boxes for the kits are the ones next to the batches of Fever Reducing Potions." Harry, who had been restocking the store after a recent purchase, placed the last remaining vials on the shelf before taking the tray with him. "Right away, Master Revner." The two Goblins watched as the young man entered the back before resuming their conversation in Goblin Speech. "How has the Challenger behaved himself since beginning to work at your store?" Revner waved his hand. "Exemplary, actually. He doesn't complain like the fledglings tend to do when coming here during their initial exposure to labour and he has even done well learning how to brew Goblin quality potions." Nolgrin frowned. "You trust him to make potions for Goblins?" Revner raised a curious eye at his customer. "I trust nothing. I test all the potions myself, and they all are as established by our quality controls. If anything, his products are far cleaner than my usual stock. I half considered raising the prices on the vials he produced, considering how effective they are. Now, you're not the first Goblin to be requesting the Healing Kits and while it's expected from the miners, the latest have been from tellers and bank staff members like yourself. Is there trouble with the wandwavers again?"

Nolgrin looked past Revner's shoulder for a moment as he saw Harry selecting the various vials that were part of the kits, before placing them in their assigned recesses within the boxes. "Yes and no. There are whispers that the Death Eaters aren't as dead as the Ministry would like us to believe, though the Viceroy claims there is no reason for us to be concerned." Nolgrin spat, before apologizing to a glaring Revner as he cleaned his mess with a rag. "If things are safe, why the kits?" Nolgrin lowered his voice as he drew closer to the Potions Master. "Because we do not trust Ragnar's words. Last time he assured us of our safety, those filthy wandwavers stormed into the bank and stole our positions, killing a few who raised their voices in opposition. Ragnar did nothing to avenge their deaths and merely had us all retrieve our files and secure them in the vaults. He gave the same assurances then as he is doing now." Revner stared at Nolgrin. "I can understand your anger, but Ragnar was judged by the Viceroy Council and His Majesty to have acted within his prerogative and his response, while unpleasant, was the best he could manage, to avoid a full scale war against the wandwavers. His Majesty does not want us interfering in the internal conflicts of our host nations. It would cause too many diplomatic re-assessments across the world." Nolgrin resisted the urge to spit. "Then perhaps it would be better if we followed our American brethren and went independent. Without the Nation's restrictions, we could secure our own borders and rights better than what Ragnar has accomplished since his ascension."

Revner stared at Nolgrin until Harry came from the back with the boxes in his arms, placing them on the counter top, which sat some feet further down than most human sized ones. "Here you are, Master Revner." Nodding, Revner sent Harry back to fetch the other vials needed to restock the front of the apothecary's shelves, before turning to his customer as the goblin counted the coins. "I don't want to hear any more of this. I too lost family to the Death Eaters, but I have no interest in spilling Goblin blood because of blood spilled by wandwavers. You and those with you leave me out of this and I won't get involved either." Nolgrin grumbled but paid Revner with a bit more than what was requested. "It was inaction that got our family members killed." The Potions Master took the coins from the counter and deposited them into his register. "Perhaps, but that inaction may have saved more lives than those that were lost. Now off you go, before a Guard drops by." As soon as the goblin was out of the store, Revner went into the back, watching as Harry inspected the vials and compared them to the ones in the box on the table. The young man turned to look at his employer. "What was the dating convention again for these?" Pointing out the lines of runes that identified the dates, Harry stored the most recently produced batches in the back of the shelves as Revner transferred the older ones to the shelves in the actual Apothecary, all the while Harry did his best to feign ignorance.

While he in fact couldn't read Goblin Runes all that well, having not taken Runes at Hogwarts at all, Dredhook had been teaching him how to understand the language as spoken, enough that he no longer needed the translation charm to listen to Goblins talking to each other, though he wasn't able to reproduce the language himself just yet. When he had heard the Goblins talking about the resurgence of Death Eaters, he had the Raven, with its heightened senses and awareness, increase his ability to hear, only to end up getting more information than he had ever hoped to get. Now, he found himself in a conundrum. Wizards and witches were supposed to stay out of Goblin matters and the same was in vice versa. That said… he owed Golstrud and Ragnar a great deal. While they had been the ones in charge of his sentencing, they were understanding enough to not only offer him more opportunities, such as the fact he had been studying to take his NEWTs since the moment he took a break from the Arena, but they had also been kind enough to not treat him as a prisoner, letting him pursue his interest in Potions enough to get him a job here, in the Londinium Artisan's District Apothecary. He could understand why people were mad at Ragnar for the lives that were lost in the war, but the failures all started before Ragnar's decision, with the inaction of the Ministry of Magic and the Wizengamot in both wars. That a third wave of violence could resurface again was one thing, but that the Goblins would wage an uprising against their Viceroy and the Goblin King's Authority… even Harry knew that was extreme. Which left him with the question of what he should do, if anything at all.

Keeping to his working hours, Harry never let slip anything to Revner regarding what he had heard, leaving for Dredhook's home as the bells called the end of his shift. As soon as he entered the house he had been living in, seeing Dredhook preparing his own meal, he hesitated. If he revealed what he heard, there was a chance that Goblins could get killed. It might save the leadership, but it would still result in Goblins killing Goblins. If he stayed quiet, as was expected of him, the uprising would take place. Even if they somehow planned everything perfectly, there would be goblins dying all the same, including Ragnar and, considering his past as a guard, Dredhook. That said, if he told Dredhook and word got out he was the leak to the Viceroy, his life, his future, would be in danger regardless of who wins. In the end, it didn't matter. Harry didn't want to see Goblins killing Goblins. They might not be human, they may not be the most kind or understanding people in the world, but they were capable of honorable actions and showing empathy, even for beings that weren't their kin. Even humans, who claim to be paragons of humility, kindness and respect, were still unable to treat magical races fairly, let alone those of different beliefs from their own world. Dredhook looked over from his simmer pot. "Is there something I can help you with, Challenger Potter." Swallowing the lump in his throat, Harry shook his head. "No… not really. I… I will probably be back past curfew, so please keep the candles burning. I will be under guard escort, I am sure, so you needn't worry about me." Dredhook narrowed his eyes at him but Harry's eyes remained clear of doubt, as the Goblin saw only honesty… and resignation. He sighed. "Very well. be safe out there." Harry stepped out, making his way towards the central chamber and the elevator that would lead him up to the Bank. If anyone's life would be at risk for the knowledge he carried, it would be Harry's alone. He had sworn he would take responsibility for his own actions, no matter what the consequences could be. He was tired of letting innocents die, while he did nothing. Never again.

Present Day

"You should have seen them! They were so small that you could hold three of them in your hand and they were all so warm… Victoire wouldn't have parted with them at all if she had been there." Apolline couldn't help but smile as Gabrielle described her latest assignment, where she went to assist a kneezel breeder. While most licensed breeders could handle the pregnancies of their charges just fine, Professor d'Este had used his contacts within Magical France to give Gabrielle as much experience as she could get. Apparently, a lot of the caretakers and handlers didn't mind at all. While they were experts in helping, though they mostly observed, during the majority of their specific creatures' lives, they weren't able to handle anything more serious than ingrown nails, slivers in the animals' paws or the occasional play fighting scars. The knowledge that Gabrielle was training to be a Magical Creature Healer and that they could eventually get access to her services was more than enough to motivate them to contact Professor d'Este whenever they had a situation that would benefit the MCH in training. So far, it was mostly the anticipated calls: owls or cats getting injured during their time away from their owners, a toad that had ingested something toxic, a few dogs that had been attacked by doxies and other magical pests, and the occasional birth, like with the recent litter of kneezels. "I am glad to see that you are enjoying this profession you picked." Gabrielle was quiet for a moment. "I suppose I am enjoying it, despite the… less than pleasant parts when I need to break out the surgical kit. Still… it's worth it in the end when I get to see the very creatures that were hurt living their lives again as if it was all a bad dream."

Apolline nodded as she stood up from the sofa to serve herself and her daughter some more tea, the two of them taking a much needed break after Victoire kept them busy until her mother returned from work. "Still, I find it odd that Mademoiselle Peverell was able to give you some instruction when it came to the application of potions to animals. So very few Potions Masters ever decide to experiment on living organisms, hence why most take years to come up with a single new potion. That Elysia has been registering several all over a couple of months is unheard of as a Potioneer." Gabrielle recalled the discussions they had whilst Elysia took her into her live specimen room. Apparently, because she always ran tests using leaves prior to testing on mice, the mortality rates on the mice from the actual experiments was quite low. It had taken Gabrielle watching Elysia carrying out the incisions before applying the healing potions to the creatures several times all on her own, before she decided to attempt it herself. The way it was setup was quite safe though, with an isolation hood and thick gloves to use to handle the mice safely. Elysia had been forced to do the incisions herself because it just felt wrong for Gabrielle to do them before healing the creatures, though she was able to handle the rest easily enough. "I think she said that she was mostly self taught when it came to potions, though she did mention getting some tutoring at the Goblin Apothecary she had served under for a bit. Both Adeline and I found it weird that she studied under the Goblins but Elysia says it was the fate she had been handed." Gabrielle noticed the look on her mother's face when she mentioned the Goblins.

"What?" Apolline sighed. "Has Elysia told you anything as to why she was with the Goblins after Harry vanished? Or anything about… you know…" Gabrielle shook her head. "Nothing about why she became Elysia, though she did tell Adeline and her mother that the reason she was with the Goblins was because she had a debt to repay." Apolline sat quietly in thought, worrying her youngest daughter. "Do you know something about how Elysia became so well acquainted with the Goblins?" Apolline sighed, setting her tea cup onto the saucer she was holding on her lap. "As I told you and your sister, a requirement to be the Representative of our Conclave in the Convention is that I am to know all about our people's history, at least that which survived the many wars and sieges. Because Gringotts is a sovereign nation, I had to do plenty of research into the treaties between our peoples, and the general truth is that no magical races can immigrate into the Goblin Nation. From your father's research into the last of the Peverells, however, it was clear that Elysia is a citizen of the Goblin Nation, just as she stated to us." Gabrielle frowned. "Then that means there is a path to citizenship." Apolline nodded. "There is and it's probably the reason why Elysia is far less bothered about inflicting harm on creatures than you are. According to the old treaties, the Goblins would only recognize someone as worthy of joining their nation if they underwent a series of Tasks or Trials in one of their Arenas." Gabrielle frowned deeply. "Arenas? Was she forced to fight in one like a Gladiator?"

Apolline shook her head. "The Goblins wouldn't have forced her, meaning that Harry must have requested it. Why I cannot say, but there are tales about Challengers paying off their debts to the Goblins depending on how well they performed, with a few rare souls rumoured to have successfully completed the Trials. When your father mentioned the way the Goblins treated Elysia with great respect, I did some research and confirmed that the only other registered wizard to have ever gotten that honour, as far as we know, was Hogwarts' own Godric Gryffindor. Considering he was a renowned Battle Mage during the height of Britain's early Medieval period, he would have to have been a powerful Wizard to have even gotten that title, let alone what he accomplished with the Goblins. That Harry Potter somehow succeeded in his footsteps says a lot about Elysia's capabilities." Gabrielle blushed. "She is pretty amazing, doing a great deal of physical exercise every day even though it doesn't benefit her magical abilities. The only thing that bothers me is that I hardly ever see her use magic, even at home. Other than the typical summoning and banishing charms, and a few levitation spells, she just doesn't seem to practice magic when I'm around and most of it is wandless. She was even using a scalpel on the mice." Apolline shrugged. "It's possible that she deems it necessary to maintain a higher physical condition." She then gave Gabrielle a brief sweep with her eyes. "Though it would seem you have been exercising too. Your legs seem to be far more defined than I remember. And they are beginning to stretch out your long, narrow pant legs." Gabrielle looked down at her feet.

"I suppose I will have to do some clothes shopping. After I tried to match Elysia's work ethic, she had me go through all of her equipment in order to pick out which ones I wanted to do. I decided to focus on my feet, since you and dad always say it's better to run in a fight than to risk getting hurt or worse." Apolline smiled softly. "Good. While your father and I had our own, more extensive training, neither you nor Fleur were willing to pursue the development of more advanced Defence courses. Fleeing from a fight is better if your presence alone could bring harm to those whose duty it is to keep you safe. That you are making sure you can physically run is the right choice, though if my theory about Elysia's true accomplishments is correct, I think the safest place for you will be at her side. Well, safe for you from everyone but her, at the very least." Gabrielle's face went red. "I am safe with her in every sense of the word, Maman. You should have seen us in Lyon. It was like there was something… interacting with the Allure from me and Fleur, preventing it from affecting the people around us. I am pretty sure no one would have thought of us as Veela were it not for Fleur's telltale hair color." Apolline hummed to herself. "Yes, Fleur mentioned something to that regard, though as she and Elysia don't interact much, it probably didn't mean much to her. Has that always happened when you are around her?" Gabrielle thought back. "Not at first. I think it started happening during our visit to Beauxbatons. I was feeling… upset recalling the incident at the school and she touched my back in comfort. As we walked away, I could… feel her magic surrounding me, like a protective barrier. I don't know how she does it but it seems to keep the Allure from affecting others around me."

Apolline ran that information over her knowledge of Veela history. "I can't recall if something like this has happened before. I may have to ask the Elders. Still, it is an impressive skill to have… maybe… Do you believe she would be willing to escort Fleur and Victoire during the Weasley visitation in Calais? You know how flustered Fleur gets when angry and neither she nor Victoire may be in their right mental state to keep control over themselves. Victoire specifically may react poorly to the animosity between her parents and grandparents, which could make Fleur even more dangerous." Gabrielle took a sip from her tea. "I believe she might be willing, though I need to bring it up soon so she can adjust her brewing timelines." Apolline sighed in relief, before eyeing her daughter. "And? Has anything progressed further since the massage?" Gabrielle's face went bright red. "Nooo… but it doesn't feel like it has to either. I mean… my nature is screaming at me to do more but when she and I are in the same room… other than having the urge to kiss her, I feel quite content." Apolline smiled. "Sounds to me like the one enduring the effects of an Allure is you." Gabrielle grumbled. "Yeah. It's very frustrating, though I can see her… relaxing more around me, and even with Adeline and Jeanne, opening up more about her past and herself. After the night she massaged my shoulder… I guess I just don't need to be in a rush." Apolline, who had set her cup on the coffee table, joined her daughter on the two person sofa and hugged her. "No, there isn't a reason to rush things when it comes to love. You will know whe the right time comes along… and you will enjoy every moment of it. You will see, my ange."

"Here you are, Lady Peverell. The contract that you requested with all the stipulations falling under the Gringotts and France treaties." Elysia smiled at Fueruk's attendant. "Thank you, Maeruk. A productive day to you, as always." The young goblin bowed her head before stepping out of the office, with Fueruk smirking to himself. "You keep stroking her ego, she will get out of hand for any of the goblins who wish to pursue her." Elysia raised an eyebrow at the Viceroy. "Please, as if you wont be hanging them over hot coals the moment they seek to court your cousin. They are all terrified of approaching her. Better for her to feel confident in herself rather than live under the illusion that she is undesired." Fueruk grumbled. "Let's leave my cousin's love life out of this and focus on business, shall we?" Elysia chuckled. "By all means. What do you have to report?" Fueruk handed her a stack of papers. "Thanks to our affiliates and the initiative of the ICW member nations, the Yellow Monkshood supply should reach sustainable levels by October, meaning the potion will see worldwide production and distribution either by mid October or November. The clinical trials that have been carried out by each of the nations have matched your results and they all have approved the emergency production and distribution of the potion to the native Were populations. Of course, they will be reviewing the long term effects of the potion, but we are certain they will match the observations Gringotts have been making for the past two years."

Looking over the report made Elysia smile. "Aside from a few holdout extremists, the werewolf population of the world could see a fundamental change in their treatment. For the first time in centuries, they will be treated as they should always have been, a magical population with a condition, not a plague on two legs." Fueruk sighed. "Of course, said changes will take time, even with ICW sponsored legislation. Britain isn't the only country that is still discriminating against the Weres and other races. Those in positions of power will be opposed to any changes in the status quo." Elysia looked up from the paper. "What is it?" Fueruk tapped his fingers together. "When you requested the transfer of funds to your old acquaintance, we kept an eye on the account as requested. Funds were indeed withdrawn, though it was a paltry amount. The odd thing was that Miss Granger had withdrawn the funds from the London branch of our non-magical associates." Elysia pursed her lips. "She's that worried about entering Diagon Alley?" Fueruk nodded. "Ragnar has reported a surge in assaults within the economic artery of Magical Britain. While most occur in the morning and afternoon hours, there have been a few standouts during the day. Muggle parents had been placed under the Imperius Curse and were sent into Gringotts with the compulsion to empty out their accounts and leave. Fortunately, Londinium's security was able to identify the curse and disable it. In reprisal, members of Old and Noble families have been confounded and robbed of any valuables on their persons, including a few Vault keys, all of which were disabled, though no one was foolish enough to attempt to use them to steal the contents of said vaults. Of course, those assaults committed outside of the sight of the general population are nowhere near as restrained."

The Viceroy watched as his associate contemplated his words, before sighing. "See if Ragnar is willing to provide some assistance to the non-magical parents caught in the crossfire. I am sure there is some profit you can make from helping a few people relocate to safer territories, not to mention growing their respect for Gringotts and its affiliates." Fueruk eyed her curiously. "I will ask him during the next Viceroy meeting. I am surprised you aren't volunteering for more." Elysia shrugged. "I have no further responsibility for the British Magicals and, even if I did, I know that even if I had a more substantial amount of liquid wealth, it wouldn't be enough to help them all, as the problem isn't that the Purebloods retain a great deal of wealth, but that the system remains in place where they can continue harassing the general population at no personal cost. Unless Wizarding Britain sees a fundamental shift in its society, any amount of money I throw at the problem will only benefit the very people responsible for the re-emerging violence." Fueruk gave her a bittersweet smile. "An accurate assessment, my Lady Peverell. Even here, in a nation with more egalitarian principles, the shadows of the old system remain in place, if one but takes the time to look for them." The last comment stayed with Elysia as the rest of the meeting continued, before she excused herself, wondering if Fueruk was referencing the treatment of Veelas as a shadow of the former system. Despite the advances in their representation and protections, it was clear that there was a lingering resentment and prejudice towards them, particularly from the Old Families who might have once participated in the enslavement of the race. With Gabrielle staying at her place, Elysia would have to look into that, for her safety.

As she neared the Magical Object Identification Division of Gringotts Paris, the head of the Peverell family sensed a familiar aura. It was odd that the longer she was around the youngest of the Delacour sisters, the more she was becoming attuned to the subtle differences in their Allures. Rather than a blanket and homogenous magical effect, each Veela seemed to have aspects of their nature reflected in the way the Allure felt. Where Gabrielle's was a softer, almost gentle sense of comfort and desire, Fleur's felt a bit more aggressive, tugging at a person's attention more forcefully, despite her control over it, though whenever Victoire was near her it did seem to soften up. Knocking at the division's door, she gave the surprised Goblin manager a smile. "Good afternoon. May I speak with Fleur Delacour for a moment?" The female goblin bade her to enter and quickly guided her to Fleur's workbench, where the tools of her trade were scattered about, a combination of what one would see at the equivalent of a pawn shop, such as equipment designed to determine the purity of the metals in enchanted jewelry or objects, a massive magnifying glass to identify any damages to the surface of said objects, as well as to observe any runic inscriptions, with several containment boxes stacked to the side of her desk, their contents waiting to be examined. As Elysia approached, Fleur looked up from the magnification lens, her face shifting into clear surprise. "Oh, Elysia! What are you doing here?" The raven haired witch smiled at Fleur. "It's my weekly meeting with my business partner. Working weekends now?"

Fleur shook her head. "No, just filling in for a colleague who will be covering my shift when I have to go escort Victoire to see my ex-husband." She then looked at the other members of her department as the goblins instantly started whispering at each other. "Do they always do that when you are around?" Following Fleur's line of sight, Elysia sighed. "Depends on how much time they have spent around me. The weekend staff in the lobby have already gotten used to my presence, but since this is the first time I have stepped in here, it was bound to happen." Fleur stared at Elysia, trying to come to terms with how different she was from Harry. Sure, they had a few meetings together, particularly that day they spent with Gabrielle and Victoire in Lyon that ended up being a very pleasant day trip out of their usual haunts in Paris or Reims, Victoire having found her new friend, an Eurasian pygmy owl she had called Poleon, a shortened version of Napoleon, as Marrat was not happy about the small little bird stealing, if not monopolizing, the young girl's attention. Still, the bird's presence was already having a positive influence on her daughter, giving her a first taste of responsibility as she tended to be the one to provide it with food and water, not to mention that it was her constant companion now. Whilst they had been at Lyon, however, Elysia seemed to be exactly as Gabrielle described her; confident, gentle and very kind, though it was clear she didn't know how to interact with Victoire, though the girl had certainly grown to like her aunt's "shadow" as she called her. It had seemed to Fleur that Elysia tended to blend into the background easily during their day trip, though it was clear that only occured when she wasn't around Goblins.

She watched as Elysia, with a glove covered hand, picked up one of the necklaces that had been left with the bank for evaluation. "I heard from Gabrielle that you specialized in enchantment. Do you prefer to discern existing enchantments or do you dabble with your own work?" Fleur waited for Elysia to set the necklace down, which she did with the same care as when she picked it up. "I am hoping to eventually do actual enchantment work myself, but identifying existing enchantments is a pleasant career, with the only exceptions being when I run into cursed artefacts, hence the level of care we take here with isolating the objects brought into the bank." Elysia eyed the stack of boxes. "Third box from the top feels dangerous to me." Fleur looked at the box for a moment. "But… how? It's in an isolation box." Elysia shrugged. "I spent several years dealing with the consequences of cursed objects and even persons. Trust me, I made sure never to be in that position again. As for how I can tell despite the isolation wards on the boxes, you can know it has a cursed object in them by how the box behaves. Cursed objects put a greater strain on the box's enchantments, while typical enchantments have little to no interaction with the wards at all." Taking the warning to heart, Fleur used her thicker gloves to place the third box on the cursed objects workbench, before returning to her station. "Thanks for the heads up. So, what can I help you with?" Elysia pulled out the contract that had been brought to her by Maeruk, and handed it to Fleur. "I was thinking of having your mother sign this but I wanted you to look it over first."

Fleur was initially worried, but as she read the contract's stipulation, a smile crept across her face. "This is… thank you. Thank you so much." Elysia shook her head. "It's nothing really, just a bit of insurance that I am sure will satisfy your mother more than your father, but everything remains within the proper laws and treaties. And, as you can imagine, your sister has made sure that she will be by my side during much of the trip." Fleur chuckled. "Yes, Gabrielle wouldn't miss the chance to spend the day with all of us together in one place." She looked up at Elysia, passing the documents back to her. "It would indeed be better if mother signed this instead of me, but as far as I can tell, everything is in order." Slipping the contract back into her coat pocket, Elysia was about to head out when Fleur called out to her. "Again, thank you. It must not be easy, having to make the choices you are making, considering who it is we will likely be meeting at Calais." Elysia looked back at her. "It's not about it being hard or easy. Most of my life has never been easy. I am just doing a service here for which I will be remunerated. Nothing more." Fleur watched her leave through the door, shaking her head. "A service, perhaps, but you still can't help yourself, can you, Elysia? You still have that kindness in you that Hermione so poignantly described. It's why Gabrielle can't help but fall deeper in love with you." Fleur returned to her work, the smile never leaving her face, her mood lighter than it had been in a long time.

Chapter 15: The Price of Complacency

"Was it really necessary for you to hire a bodyguard?" Fleur huffed at her former husband. "It was you who requested that my father not be here, since you fear he can't be impartial towards you and your family as the Director of the Magical Security Forces, so we made other arrangements. If you and your family can behave yourselves, I am sure she won't be a bother." Molly, who stood next to William, glared at Elysia, but the raven haired witch ignored her, keeping her senses focused on the moment. Wearing one of her black coats, and a deep green turtle neck that matched her eyes, she was sure she looked like a Dark Witch to them and, to some degree, that had been her intention. The Weasleys might have been members of the Order of the Phoenix and, all in all, had managed to take down several Death Eaters, but their instincts would always be geared towards protecting themselves first and foremost, just as Dumbledore had trained most of his subordinates. Harry had been taught the same way, but after facing the many trials of the Arena, Elysia had a better grasp of offensive magic than most Aurors would ever have in a single lifetime. They would be more wary of her being a threat than actually bothering to get a good look at her and think about who she reminded them of. She had debated wearing sunglasses but, as she hadn't concealed her eyes during their first encounter, she figured that hiding her eyes now would draw attention to them, so instead she opted to just blend in as much as possible, creating the image of what they feared most, so as to conceal anything they could perceive as belonging to someone they actually cared for.

She especially doubted William Weasley would be able to recognize her, as he hardly ever interacted with Harry outside of his brief stay at the Shell Cottage. The other two people who accompanied him, however, were a different matter. Arthur Weasley looked as if he had aged fifteen years instead of a measly seven, even by magical standards, his hair taking on grey flecks amidst the red, his eyes almost devoid of any life to them except when he interacted with Victoire. Molly Weasley looked about the same as she did the last Harry saw of her, only with her brow lines being more prominent now as if she had been scowling constantly. The way Victoire recoiled from her touch made Elysia far more focused on her rather than on William, which wasn't a problem, as Fleur had her focused entirely on him. Gabrielle and Adeline were also close by, inspecting brooms at the local Quidditch supply store, though Elysia made sure to keep her magic extended enough that it covered much of the nearby area, tamping down on the effects of the Allure from the three Veelas, though Victoire's was barely there. After Arthur suggested they get some ice cream, Victoire chased after him happily, with Elysia keeping her distance but being close enough to intervene should something occur. Fortunately, Magical Calais wasn't exactly as large as Place Cachée or Diagon Alley, and that had to do with its history. Hidden behind the door of a restaurant called "Lionheart's Folly", stood the entirety of Le Débarquement Enchanté, an ancient section of the former port of Calais that was the jumping off point for witches and wizards traveling across the channel in the days before portkeys and apparition. Aside from this place and the nearby watchtower, there was little that survived of old Calais after the Second World War. What might have survived the conventional bombings and artillery shells was soon swept away by Grindelwald's forces.

So, rather than the Medieval storefronts or Renaissance attractions, Magical Calais looked like much of the non-magical city, with large window displays allowing for everyone to see what was on sale, whether it was food, clothes, brooms or books. Due to its position, the small hub catered to both British and French sensibilities, hence why it was chosen as the place where Victoire would get to spend time with her father and his parents. After paying for the meal, Arthur handed his grandchild an ice cream bowl from the vendor, the shop barely a small opening in the wall of the building it was in, with the other openings to its right being food stalls where the other patrons took their pick, before taking seats in the open terrace filled with chairs and tables. As Victoire ate her way through the ice cream voraciously, Arthur asked her how she was doing and if she was making friends, with her describing Poleon and the other girls she had met at the Dumont Conclave. After having finished her heated discussion with William, Fleur came up to her daughter's side, though it was Arthur who was the first to speak up. "You should let the girl make friends outside of the Veelas." Fleur stared at him. "Who she makes friends with is up to her, though being too precipitous about it can cause her great harm once the Allure matures. We are raising her just as any other child of her nature has been raised." Molly, who had come up with William after the two had been talking with each other some distance away, scoffed. "The child is only six years old. You have no way of knowing how this magic of yours will manifest in her."

Fleur glared at the woman. "We do and I refuse to discuss the matter any further with you." The two women glared at each other for a moment, making Victoire, who was seated before them, nervous. To Elysia's surprise, the little girl left her finished ice cream bowl on the table and rushed straight at her, wrapping her arms around the raven haired witch's waist. At this range there was no mistaking the Allure coming off from the little girl, the immature magic pulsing off of her like an irregular drum beat, the magic reacting to her heightened stress. The moment Elysia ran her hand over the little girl's head, however, she watched as her blue eyes looked up at her, the frown that had been on her face slowly turning into a sheepish smile, before she buried her head in Elysia's coat, her magic regaining some composure. Fleur looked to be restraining a measure of guilt at having caused her daughter to flee from her, but that was quickly being overtaken by amusement as she watched Elysia interact with the child. The Weasleys all had different degrees of disapproval on their faces, with Molly speaking up first. "And that right there is what Arthur was getting at. First you only let her associate with Veelas and now a Dark Witch?" Fleur turned to refute Molly's words but Victoria's squeal of delight drew everyone's attention, with Fleur hiding a smile with her hand as she watched Elysia place the young Veela on her shoulders, the little girl resting her hands on the witch's forehead. Leaving a furious Molly behind, Fleur approached them both. "If it becomes too much of a hassle, you can lower her down. Father used to do that for her but she just got too heavy for him." Elysia shook her head. "It's not a problem. No offense to your old man, but I am in better physical shape. She can stay up there as long as she wishes for the day… so long as she doesn't pull my hair any harder."

Victoire offered a soft "Je suis désolée," followed by Elysia's "ça va," before the two made their way towards the center of the street, where the little girl pointed out that her aunt was exiting the store. The sight of Victoire on Elysia's shoulders seemed to have some effect on Gabrielle as Elysia briefly sensed the bond surge with emotions, but she ignored them as the two witches approached. "Did you find a broom you liked, tante?" Gabrielle chuckled, knowing the reason behind the question. "Yes, Victoire. Don't worry, I will let you get on it with me as soon as we get a chance back home." Victoire raised her hands off of Elysia's head in celebration and briefly looked like she was going to fall, but Elysia quickly lowered her head down, with Gabrielle pulling the squealing and laughing girl into her arms, before setting her down and taking her hand to lead her back to the group, where Molly was once again arguing with Fleur. "I can't believe that you are willing to put your daughter's life in the hands of a complete stranger rather than with her own flesh and blood. We would never do anything that could cause her harm." Elysia hummed to herself as she drew close enough to be heard. "That's funny, considering I am the only person here bound by a magical contract regarding young Victoire's wellbeing. You may not be willing to trust me, Madame Weasley, but Mademoiselle Delacour and her mother have no reason to doubt my intentions." The redheaded woman glared at Elysia.

"As if I would be a danger to my own granddaughter. All we want is the best for her, we just disagree with the way the Delacours are raising her. She should be allowed to play with other children her own age, not surrounded by Veela who are far older and instilling her with who knows what values. I highly doubt they know how to raise a young witch like her right. She might as well be raised by Goblins!" Elysia felt the Allures from Gabrielle and Fleur surge at the insult to their kin, with Victoire clearly sensing it as well. Rather than letting her charges start the fight, Elysia decided to intervene herself, especially as she tried to figure out what it was that was putting her on edge around Molly. "While I can't begin 6o describe how ignorant your words are, Madame Weasley, I am also unable to express what the rearing of children is like amongst the conclaves. I am no Veela and as such am not about to jsge, though those who I have met so far are exceptional women who understand the value of family, something they share in common with Goblins, for whom I am more familiar with. Anyone raised by a Goblin would understand that a child's needs must be met and that if the parents are unable to take care of their own, a more capable family is quickly found. Blood and legacy mean a great deal to Goblins, but they are willing to put that aside if it benefits a child. They would never conceive of taking a child from a family well suited to giving a child everything, whether it's a physical or emotional need. They… would certainly never consider feeding a child any behavioural potions just to keep them in line with their own concept of a well off family."

Molly's face seemed to shift from the choice of Elysia's words, confirming everything the raven haired witch needed to know. "How dare you! As if I would even consider such an act!" Elysia raised an eyebrow at her. "Really? Never? Funny, I have been taught to listen for lies amongst Goblins and those words certainly didn't ring true. Even more so when you are carrying what I am certain is a highly illegal behavioural potion with one of your robe's pockets. Though how you have it in your possession does present quite a few serious security questions that I am sure the French MSF would certainly like to have answered." The elder woman's face went from white to red in just a few seconds, her voice making Elysia miss her days at the Arena, as at the very least those beasts had a legitimate reason to roar at her with such ferocity and rage. "How dare you! I have no such potion on me and even suggest-" Her words were quickly silenced as a corked vial was summoned out of her robes and into Elysia's opened hand, just as an Auror on Patrol reached them, having been summoned by other passerbys witnessing the altercation. "What's happening here?" The young man heard Elysia's explanations and, while Molly tried to dismiss the claims, the Auror inspected both the vial and Elysia's credentials, as well as referring to the other witnesses nearby, all of whom confirmed Elysia's testimony. He then turned his gaze on the Weasley Matriarch, any sign of the practiced cordiality leaving his face, his English words dripping with poorly veiled disgust.

"I'm afraid you will be coming with me to the nearest station, ma'am. Carrying this controlled substance on your person without the appropriate paperwork and authorization is a felony. We will very much like to know how you came to have it on your person in the first place. Be aware that anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law." A clearly exhausted Arthur followed after the Auror as he escorted a silenced Molly past the crowd of onlookers towards the MSF station down the street, with William sighing as he rubbed his long red curly hair, before he turned to a barely restrained Fleur. He shook his head. "I guess we will leave this visitation here. I hope you believe me when I say that I had no idea she had that on her, nor that she would have ever considered using it, but I doubt there is enough good will left for you to believe me." As he knelt down to see eye to eye with Victoire, he frowned as she quickly hid behind Elysia's leg, though Gabrielle's hand on her head made her brave enough to poke her head out enough for William to bid her a good day, before he followed after his parents. As Victoire rushed to her mother's embrace, Gabrielle leaned over to whisper to Elysia. "How did you know she had that potion on her?" Elysia stared at the retreating forms in the distance, memories of a different life flashing before her eyes. "Unfortunately… I have a long history with those types of potions. As a Potions Master, I learned to sense the inherent magic in all of my work and I made sure… that I would never let myself be exposed to potions without my consent ever again."

Gabrielle pulled the towel off her head before taking up her hairbrush, as the events of the day played out over in her mind as she looked in the mirror. On face value, it had been a good day. She and Adeline had been in the quidditch supply store in Calais and had looked over the brooms they had for sale there. Because it was Calais, the store had Quidditch memorabilia from both French and British League teams, meaning the place was packed full of jerseys, robes and scarves from both countries, including the Hogwarts school teams. The store owner, a British expatriate, explained that there was now a huge market for British Quidditch goods in France as many people had left the country in the years since the Troubles began, particularly amongst the first and second generation magicals. A lot of those people, however, still looked fondly on their time at Hogwarts and still followed some of the matches that were played across the channel with the League teams, even though they themselves were unwilling to cross the border to watch the games live, let alone to buy merchandise, hence why the store had become a hotbed for the other expatriates. Gabrielle had held the Gryffindor scarf in her hand, the House emblem embroidered at the ends, but ultimately decided against buying it for Elysia. While she was sure that her landlady had some fond memories of her time at the castle, the fact she had yet to see any memorabilia in the house or on her person made her feel that she just didn't want to be reminded of her school years all that much. Gabrielle did, however, buy a children's play set with a snitch that wouldn't get too far away from the person who released it, making it a great gift to improve hand eye coordination and for children to practice flying safely in their family's backyards. She decided to ask Fleur and their parents what their thoughts were on getting Victoire a children's broom for Christmas.

Until then, Victoire would be able to fly along with Gabrielle on the broom she got for herself, after having a long discussion with the owner on the various brooms currently available, what their prices were, and how they handled. The man was certainly well versed in the brooms he had on display. "The Cleansweep XIV and the Comet 350 are the most common on the market right now, with the Nimbus 2005 being the broom seen in most local Quidditch games, whilst the teams for next year's Quidditch World Cup will be using the Thunderbolt X, after it took the manufacturer several poor attempts at dethroning the Firebolt. Damn broom was a thing of beauty and rumour has it they are designing a new one but it's still a few years out from entering the market." Seeing the available brooms, she thought about Elysia's. "Which of these would you say could keep up with a Firebolt not being put to its limits? I have a friend who owns a Firebolt and I would like to be able to actually keep up with her when she is just having fun." The man behind the counter chuckled. "Guessing she's a retired player, to own a broom like the Firebolt, if all she uses it is just for fun. Let's see… if you are on a budget, I got an older Nimbus 2003 that could keep up with a casual flier, and it's actually considered one of the more stable models. Most academies and local teams tend to change their brooms to every second or third generation model, so they tend to be built in large quantities, but there was a problem with the 2004s having reliability issues, so the 2003s got a few late production orders made before the 2005s came out. The one I have is such a late production unit, so it didn't get a serious workout before the owner switched to the newer model. Still, since it's pre-owned, two generations back, I could part with it for a reasonable discount."

While it was a bit more expensive than Gabrielle would have liked, the broom was definitely better than the other models, and when she saw it she honestly couldn't say no, as it was made from White Oak that had been colored into a grey finish, with a darker grey metal used for the stand and detailing. When he saw Gabrielle's appreciation of it, the man smiled. "I have had this beauty for a few years now. Glad to see it's going to someone who appreciates it, seeing as most just want the regular wood look or the black finish. The 2001s sold well but they didn't live up to the hype compared to the 2000s. Now, it's already grey so you won't have to worry about it aging, but you do still need to give it some care. Probably fewer times than the brooms used by regular players, but a gentle clean every once in a while with a deeper polish every other year or so would be fine." After he had wrapped the broom up and Gabrielle had stashed it away into her shoulder shopping bag, she and Adeline left the store, with her friend wondering when she could have a go at the broom herself. The sight of Victoire sitting on Elyia's shoulders had, however, completely derailed Gabrielle's line of thought. Elysia had confessed to her before that she didn't know how to behave around younger children, having never been around them as Harry. Still, her short interactions with the young Veela had clearly made an impression on the little strawberry blonde ball of energy as she clearly felt safe around her. Seeing the two of them together… made some of Gabrielle's deeper and less thought about desires rise up in her mind again, though she managed to regain control overself, though the way Elysia looked at her told her that the surge of emotions didn't go unnoticed.

Then the day took a real turn when Molly Weasley was arrested for carrying a controlled substance. With the visitation over, Fleur and Gabrielle took Victoire back home while Elysia and Adeline returned to Saint-Cirq after the former made sure that the girls were safely under the Delacour wards, as was stipulated by the contract she had signed. Her parents, both of whom had been at work in Paris, returned quickly, probably as soon as the Convention was out of session, with an Auror accompanying François home to get everyone else's statements, Gabrielle being given a summons for Elysia for a final witness statement back at the Ministry regarding the incident. As always, François had excused himself from overseeing the case, though he had filed a restraining order against the Weasleys with the government, the local judge approving a temporary one quickly whilst the ICW judge awaited the end of the investigation into the incident to make a more detailed and possibly permanent determination. After having a somewhat awkward dinner with her family, Gabrielle took her portkey back to the Peverell Estate and elected to take a shower after such a long day. With her hair now drier and more tamed, Gabrielle pulled on her bathrobe and thought about going to sleep early, but she could feel something… unusual. Her bond with Elysia felt oddly tense, as if Elysia wasn't well, and even the very air around her felt as if it was pulsing. Putting on a set of pajamas before slipping back into her now dry robes, Gabrielle stepped out of her room and used the knocker on Elysia's door. For a brief moment the air seemed to go perfectly still, as if the source of the tension faded, before a curt "you may enter" came from the door.

Stepping inside, Gabrielle noticed that the sitting room was barely lit, the only light coming from the table's candles. Elysia was seated there, her robes dark, almost vanishing against the shadows, with her bare hand held up to the candles. With barely a flicker one of the unlit candles lit up, before Elysia waved her hand at it, extinguishing it just as quickly. Gabrielle found the sight oddly comforting. Having seen barely a whisper of Elysia using magic, the sight of her actually practicing made her seem more real, though the fact she was doing it without a wand still left her wondering about what she was really capable of. "I imagine that this is a relatively easy trick that most Veelas learn to practice doing as soon as their other nature begins to manifest?" Gabrielle chuckled, before focusing on her hidden nature. The surge of energy came with the usual heightened emotions and desires, with the hardest part being finding the balance that allowed a Veela to retain their human form while drawing on the creature's inherent abilities. A ball of bright orange flames filled out her exposed right hand as she approached Elysia, who seemed oddly focused on it. "We don't usually try to light candles but getting to this level of control over our abilities is a requirement. Veelas who are too temperamental usually stay in the conclaves, for their own safety as well as everyone else's." Gabrielle was surprised as Elysia reached up to the fireball, holding out her hands over the flames as a soft smile grew on her face. "I can see why. It's not as powerful as Wyvern fire but probably more potent with its traces of magic, making for some nasty scars." Gabrielle blinked in surprise. "You've encountered Wyverns?"

Gesturing at Gabrielle's usual seat, Elysia sat back into her high back chair. "I have, but that isn't the part of my history you were curious about when you came to my door, is it?" Gabrielle extinguished the fire in her hand as she sat down. "Actually, I was just worried about you. The magic in the air felt… raw? Troubled? I wasn't sure what it was but I felt like I needed to check in on you. That is… if 6ou want to talk about it." Elysia sighed, closing her eyes and resting her head against her chair's padding. "I don't know if you heard about what Hogwarts was like for me. I know the Prophet released a ridiculous biography of me that inserted quite a few erroneous suppositions as to my motivations behind my actions, and Skeeter's "Tell all" book read more like a teen romance drama than a biography. Though the part where I hated Snape was true enough in both tellings. Hermione's journal… that was closer to the truth, but it was her truth… not mine… and not even the truth I was never supposed to discover about myself." Gabrielle frowned. "What do you mean?" Elysia summoned a small vial with liquid inside of it that she had on the table and held it in her hand, her eyes fixed on the contents inside. "Everyone talks about the Prophecy. The thing that drove Voldemort to kill my parents that Halloween night, the reason why Dumbledore did everything that he could to ensure that it came to pass, that Tom Riddle would see his end at my hands. What no one knew, not even me, was that Dumbledore didn't just leave things to chance. He wanted to make sure that that Boy-Who-Lived fulfilled the role that he wanted of him. So he made sure that my actions didn't contradict that."

Anger slipped into Elysia's words, old but still as intense as ever. "Firstly, he manipulated events to ensure that I wouldn't be raised in the Magical World. He knew that, by keeping me ignorant, he could spoon feed me information in a way that suited his position. I didn't have a stable living environment so I had no attachment to it. I was introduced to magic by Hagrid, who was well meaning, but easily manipulated, and who's skewed vision of Dumbledore was designed for me to attach myself to as a lifeline. Malfoy didn't help matters when I ran into him in the Alley and Ronald… Well, Dumbledore wanted me to see the world through a very narrow field of view. His sycophants, the Weasleys, were just the people he needed for the job. Ron would keep everyone else away so that all the information I got was through them. I never learned about my family, my responsibilities as a Potter, or about the laws that governed the Wizard World. Of course, if I had been in my right state of mind, I might have noticed. If I hadn't lost any hope in school officials by how those in the non-magical world ignored my clearly distressed state, I might have asked more questions, been more attentive to those around me. Of course, I wasn't in my right state of mind. And Dumbledore made sure of that. From the moment I stepped into the school… I was being fed potions like the one Molly Weasley had with her today. Potions designed to restrain the minds of adult witches and wizards who are suffering from mental illnesses too advanced for a Mind Healer to fix."

Elysia could see the dawning horror on Gabrielle's face as she listed the potions the Goblins had detected in her body. "Of course, he knew these potions would inhibit my abilities at the school, but he didn't care. Dumbledore needed his pawn to be on board, dancing to his tune, showing loyalty to him and those who served him alone. And he got that. He got his little soldier, his martyr, all ready to fulfill his plans. The only things he probably didn't count on were that he would die… and that I wouldn't stay dead." Gabrielle frowned but was momentarily distracted as Elysia's companions seemed to materialize out of nowhere, with Badb perched on the top of the chair, whilst Anand looked up at her master's face as she rested her head on Elysia's bare feet. Macha had even managed to appear on Elysia's lap, though the sudden appearance of the three didn't seem to be a surprise for Elysia as she just ran her hand down Macha's back as the cat rested contently on her owner's thighs. "Yes, yes, I know. I am alright now." Gabrielle felt briefly like an intruder in what was clearly a very personal moment, but when Elysia looked up, her eyes seemed softer. "I can't go into specifics on what happened in the forest when I walked out to face Tom alone. I can tell you that I stared him down, resigned to die, as a Killing Curse raced straight towards me, believing that my actions would render Voldemort mortal once more. And it worked, just as Dumbledore had intended. His little martyr, having no personal attachments to speak of, having more connections to the dead rather than the living, went to his death "willingly." Only, I didn't die. Powers greater than Dumbledore ever truly understood interceded on my behalf and I was able to come back, but when I did… I began to realize that so much of my life felt wrong. The people I had been close to, the decisions I had made. Almost everything felt like there was this fog hanging over it. The goblins were able to confirm that this was my perception of the world through the potions in my system, and that something in my moment of death managed to free me from their control."

Placing the vial on the table, she continued to pet a very content Macha. "After I tried to help fix the remnants of the British Magical community, only to be told to just act as a figurehead and to stop mucking up the plans already in motion, I decided that they weren't worth my time. I tried to make a small little corner for myself in the ruins of my life, content to watch the world collapse around me once again. The Goblins, however, sought me out in order to collect a debt that I owed them and I agreed to pay it via a service agreement, and during my time with them I learned what it took to be a Potions Master, to look after my own health amongst a people that have a very different set of biological needs… and to make sure that what was done to me could never be repeated again. That's why, when I was looking after your niece, I was curious about this odd sensation I was getting from Molly. It took me a while to place it but when I narrowed it down to it being in her pocket, the familiar sensation of the potion clicked into place in my head. While I am uncertain how much she knew of Dumbledore's plan, the timeline of doses I received suggested that the last dose I got was sometime after my seventeenth birthday. The only place where that dose could have been administered was the Weasley family homestead, prior to the wedding." Gabrielle, with tears running down her eyes, cursed under her breath. "That's vile! You spent years, YEARS, being dosed with potions not fit for a child let alone a healthy adult, and then that woman tried to do it again, to her granddaughter no less?! You need to report all this to the Aurors! If she is guilty of what she did to you…"

Elysia shook her head. "I can't. The moment I reveal the fact that she may have done this before, they will know that the information came from Harry Potter. People will try and trace it back to me. And that's assuming anyone would believe the story. In Britain, Skeeter's book had an effect in disrupting Dumbledore's image, but its release during the Death Eater occupation threw doubt over its contents. The only people who could corroborate are either dead or tired of being pulled into the spotlight. Dumbledore might not be as well regarded as Harry Potter, but the very idea that he could have manipulated a boy into a deadly confrontation against the Dark Lord Voldemort would seem incredulous to them. And that's just Britain. His defeat of Grindelwald gives him strong support amongst the European magicals and they would be hard pressed to believe he would be capable of such decisions. No… the best I can do is give them my statement regarding what occured in the moment… though I may just suggest that they expand their line of questioning, particularly under Veritaserum. Who knows what they might uncover. If the truth comes to light via them being investigated for similar crimes, no evidence will lead back to me and their involvement in the plot will be made public without the shadow of Dumbledore's influence. It may not be a perfect resolution to the crimes perpetrated against me… but it will be good enough."

Gabrielle, seeing that even the thought of justice being brought upon Molly Weasley didn't seem to lift Elysia's spirits, rose from her chair and walked up to her, before taking her hand and holding it between both of hers against her chest. "Thank you. Thank you for looking after Victoire as you promised you would… and for telling me some of your truth. I know it may take time for you to be more open with me, but I will wait for as long as you need me to." Elysia looked up and into Gabrielle's blue eyes, before she smiled. "You don't have to thank me. I will always do what's right for those that I can help. Not because of some stupid potion, or a silly name that no longer has any meaning to me, but because I choose to." With the three creatures slipping out of the sitting room quietly, Elysia and Gabrielle discussed a few plans for the next few days, with both looking forwards to just having a day to fly around on their brooms over the Estate grounds. Before Gabrielle left the room, however, Elysia wrapped her arms around Gabrielle's waist, sending the young Veela's blood straight into her cheeks, before the raven haired whispered something to her. "Instead, I should thank you for asking me to let you into my life. Your company has really been appreciated here. Also, I wanted you to know. Dumbledore had taken me off the potions for the Triwizard Tournament because he needed me to be capable of surviving it. So when I saved you from the Merfolk that day, it wasn't because I was compelled to do it. I did it because it was the right thing to do and I don't regret what I did. Don't ever doubt that." Gabrielle felt her Veela nature surge in her again as soon as those strong arms pulled away from her and she struggled containing it all the way back to her room.

For her part, Elysia had remained rooted to the spot where she had released Gabrielle. Revealing to Gabrielle what she had discovered of her own past hadn't been part of Elysia's plans for today, but after almost seeing that poor little girl subjected to the same mind altering potions that Harry had been fed during most of his time at Hogwarts, she wanted to give Gabrielle and, by extension, her family everything she knew or suspected about Molly Weasley. Elysia was absolutely certain that Snape and Dumbledore had been behind her doses while at Hogwarts, mostly through Harry's food, but the few times he had been with the Weasleys, the fact that Harry had been targeted to trust them more and, finally, that massive dose at the start of what would have been his seventh year coinciding with his time at the Weasley homestead, made him doubt how genuine their involvement was. That Molly was willing to dose someone she thought of as a son on the orders of Dumbledore made any doubt of her dosing her estranged granddaughter disappear. The fact that Victoire might never be left alone with her father and grandparents ever again was a sad consequence of Molly's actions, but the girl would be looked after. It was that same thought that had made Elysia pull Gabrielle back. Whether it was the bond or her understanding of Gabrielle, she didn't know, but Elysia was certain that if she had allowed Gabrielle to leave believing that her rescue had been precipitated by the potions in Harry's system, it would have soured their relationship going forward. Whatever they would end up being, Elysia didn't want there to be any misunderstandings between them. Not only could misunderstandings undermine their relationship, but they could have far deeper consequences. Elysia, as Harry, had seen how far misunderstandings could go… and the price that those involved were forced to pay.

Londinium District, Spring 2001

"We have another one! Heavy loss of blood from lacerations to his stomach. Damage to internal organs visible. We need blood replenishing and healing potions here quickly." Helstrud turned away from her patient. "Mr Potter, fetch the vials." Harry nodded, placing the bandages on the table next to her before taking one of the healing kits off the shelf of the hospital wing, as the injured continued filling in. Remembering the prognosis for the recent arrival, he fetched the vials needed to attend all of the patients' needs, placing them all on the table next to Helstrud, before repeating the process with the other healers and carers across the Gringotts Londinium Medical Ward. While ordinarily Harry wasn't all that well informed as to which potions could be used in what order, particularly the ones that were refined for Goblins to use, he had been getting a lot of practice with it since the state of emergency was declared. While he had intended to return to Dredhook's home after informing the Viceroy about the uprising, both Ragnar and Golstrud had requested that he remain near the Hospital Ward. Ragnar had been hearing about a possible uprising from his confidants for some time, but the large surge in the purchase of medical kits after a prolonged but subdued surge in the sales of weapons amongst the population, forced him to make a calculated risk. Knowing who some of the ringleaders were, he had the guards detain them, whilst leaving some of their compatriots free to spread the news. While Harry didn't like the fact that the Viceroy had manipulated the rebels into attacking early, he could understand that even if he had taken all the ones they were aware of, the others would have only hidden deeper in the population, delaying the confrontation for years, if not decades down the line. Ragnar wanted to end the threat once and for all.

Without some of its leadership, the rebels fell right into Ragnar's plan and called for a full uprising, with most, if not all, of the supporters taking up arms against the soldiers and guards. The bank itself never opened that morning and would likely remain closed in the days to come, until the consequences of the morning's events were fully understood. It didn't take long for the very first signs of the consequences of the uprising to come rushing through the Medical Ward's doors as the injured came pouring in, almost all of them guards wearing heavy armour that needed to be removed from their bodies in order to treat the deep gashes from the rebel's pikes, spears and halberds. As the morning wore on, Harry soon learned that the danger of Goblin made weapons didn't just extend to absorbing Basilisk Venom. Almost all of the injured guards had been stabbed with Goblin Steel that had absorbed a mixed variety of poisons. The most common of these were easily neutralized with the antidotes the staff had in stock, but a few arrived with a mixture that needed to be carefully neutralized in a specific sequence, all the while the men and women of the Goblin guards suffered through and endured through pain that even Harry could not bare to watch. But he tried his best to not only be there for the medical staff, but also for the patients. Even if his warning had only brought the inevitable to come that much sooner, even if his actions did save the lives of others, these Goblins were suffering because of an action he chose to do. He couldn't bring himself to look away from their pain. During the war against the Death Eaters, he had been fortunately spared from much of the more violent altercations, and his only experience with the consequences of the conflict came in the aftermath of the Battle of Hogwarts. In both conflicts he had been more of a spectator rather than combatant, but that didn't mean he could just turn away from the suffering of others. He needed to do his part, no matter how insignificant it might be, to help those truly in need.

As the day dragged on the Ward had to release some of the recovering patients into an adjoining chamber to make way for the newer patients. Harry was just returning from the Potion's storage closet with new potions cases when a rush of soldiers in leather and dark armour entered, with two familiar looking goblins amongst them, one of whom had a deep gash along his chest and upper shoulder. Helstrud rushed to her sibling's side and began asking Harry for the potions she would need in sequence, while the leather armoured Goblins discussed something amongst themselves. As they prepared to leave the ward, the doors flew open again, as a group of goblins armed with spears, shields and swords rushed into the Medical Ward. The Guards that had been at attention inside raised their massive shields to protect the staff and patients as the black armoured soldiers rushed into the advancing rebels, the two sides trading blows as blood and limbs splattered across the ground. Harry could feel the Elder Wand's consciousness beating against his mind, demanding to be let loose against these enemies that threatened the safety of her master, but Harry held his ground for as long as he could. Then, his vision grew blurred as he saw Dredhook launched backwards into the ground as the Goblin that had successfully impaled him on the shoulder drew a short blade from his shield, fully intending to end the soldier's life. The Elder Wand appeared in his hand as if it had been conjured from the aether, a banishing spell rushing across the distance, before it was quickly blocked by the rebel's shield, though the Goblin was pushed back by a few feet, enough for Harry to summon Dredhook's body to his side of the room, where the Healers were quick to attend to him.

Staring at the growing strength of the rebels as they seemed to want to to deal as much damage as possible to the injured soldiers and guards, while trying to break through their defences, Harry ran through the options in his mind. A quick attempt at an Expelliarmus told him everything he needed to know about goblin-made steel, as the weapons remained firmly in the hands of their owners, with a piercing spell creating a loud thud of a noise though only denting a shield in the process. Running through the remaining options in his mind, he recalled one spell he had come across while reading the Peverell family Grimoires. It was an old spell, one that probably hadn't seen use in centuries, but Harry had considered it as a possible means of piercing through the outer layers of spell resistant creatures like the Griffin. But if he used the spell… it could possibly mean killing the Goblin it was aimed towards. Could he do that? Could he take a life? For all of his time at Hogwarts, it was practically drilled into his head that taking a life using magic was a step too far. That it was the difference between the Death Eaters and everyone else. And yet… how many people had died because someone failed to kill Bellatrix Lestrange when encountering her out on the streets of Diagon Alley? How many suffered through Lycanthropy because the Aurors always tried to capture Fenrir Greyback alive? How many people died because… because Albus Dumbledore refused to risk fighting and killing Voldemort during the first war? Harry knew the answer to those questions. He knew that sometimes killing was the only choice. But could he do it himself? Could he take a Goblin's life? The creatures from the six Trials flashed across his mind and Harry closed his eyes.

They were all the same. Human, Goblin, Nundu, Wyrm, Lavellan, Wyvern. They may not all have the same level of consciousness nor awareness, they might not live the same as the others, but they were all "alive," they all strived to preserve their life to the very end, and for many of the creatures he faced in the Arena, Harry had taken their life in order to protect his own. His hands were already stained in the blood of those creatures, and who knew how many other witches and wizards died to assist him in ending the war against Voldemort. Their blood was on his hands too. They died so that others could live, so that Harry could live and he… he wouldn't do any less. On the beds around him were the injured soldiers and guards whose duty was to protect the lives and wellbeing of every citizen of the Goblin District of Londinium. Many had bled to save the lives of others, many more had possibly died so that others wouldn't. For them, who treated him with respect, even admiration, for Dredhook who had taken on the responsibility of training Harry every day in the art of melee combat, who was now injured in the line of duty, for Golstrud who needed medical attention quickly… how could Harry do any less? With a deep breath, Harry flicked the Elder Wand towards the rebels, the ancient spell spilling out of his lips. "Perforabis Armis." The light blue spell raced across the gap and struck the raised shields, only for a hole to appear at the impact site. The Goblin who had raised the shield up had a stunned look on his face before he fell to his knees, a wide opening in his chest revealing where the spell had struck the chainmail, as blood oozed out of the wound, before he fell forward. The sight of their fallen comrade galvanized the rest and focused their attention on Harry, but the last of the Potters did not hesitate casting the curse again and again, the infirmary filled with blue light almost continuously, until all the rebels that had attacked the Medical Ward had been slain.

With the Elder Wand purring in his mind, content beyond words, Harry returned to his duties assisting the Healers as the Guards reinforced the door and prepared for further assaults, his movements stiff and his face emotionless. After long hours, with plenty more injured treated, the Viceroy of Gringotts Londinium finally arrived at the Medical Ward, under a heavy escort of guards. Ragnar had certainly seen better days as he walked into the infirmary, his face covered in blood, some from gashes along his face, while others seemed to be splatter that had fallen onto him, a decently long sword at his side dripping with blood and chipped in places. He made his way to Golstrud's side, finding his aide awake, though still recovering from the poisons in his system that were slowing the healing of his wounds, before speaking to the Head Healer and to the Guards in charge of the ward. Having heard the report, Ragnar walked up to Harry, bowing his head in a show of respect that stunned all the other Goblins in attendance. "Thank you, Challenger Potter, for the services you were forced to provide to the Goblin Nation's Londinium District. The rebels that came here were the last of the more experienced forces and they had intended to deal as much damage as possible to the injured in the hopes that even in death their objective was accomplished, regardless of the dishonourable conduct they sought to perpetrate. The Soldiers, Guards and Civilians who are all alive here and now owe their lives to you. Londinium now owes you a debt we do not yet know how to repay, but on my word as Viceroy, we will not let your services here be in vain." As Harry was about to respond, he heard the Guards all slam their halberts into the ground, before they all bowed their heads to him.

Harry couldn't exactly remember what his next words were, as the next few minutes were a blur of activity as he assisted the Healers for a few more minutes, before being ordered by Helstrud to rest, as the staff could now handle the rest of work on their own. As he walked past the injured soldiers, those who were awake and could move would lower their heads to him in passing, until a familiar Goblin with a bandage covering his shoulder asked him to step closer. Dredhook looked at Harry and smiled. "You did well today, Mr Potter. I owe you my life." Harry smiled at him. "After all the times that your training has saved my life in the Arena, I believe we can simply call it even." Dredhook chuckled. "I had a feeling you would say something like that. Still… thank you, not just for the lives you saved, but for helping me regain the honour that had been lost to me and my family. If there is anything you need, just ask." Harry shook his head. "The only thing I want is for my roommate to recover quickly. While you are here, I will look into brewing these potions I read that can allow a human to drink Goblin alcohol so that when you return home, we can finally share a few drinks… without either of us ending up in the infirmary." Dredhook chuckled, even as he flinched from the wound. "I would like that very much, Mr Potter. I will endeavour to recover quickly. Until then, do not forget to rest… my friend." As Harry left under escort, the cold that had seeped into his heart had lightened ever so softly from Dredhook's words. While he was proud and thankful for the respect of the Goblins, Dredhook calling him "friend" felt like the greatest honour he could have received that day. It would be one of the few things that would ease his conscience, as the weight of his actions would begin to set on his mind in the days to come.

Present Day

"Here you are, my Lady. Your earnings from the first official worldwide sale of the Improved Wolfsbane Potion." Taking the sheet of paper into her hand, Elysia felt her mouth go dry. "This is more than what had been projected." Fueruk sat back, a very pleased smile on his face. "Indeed. It would seem that up until your potion recipe was made widely available, the Werewolf population of the world was being severely underreported. We expected to see an increase over the average sale of the standard wolfsbane potion, but nothing like this. It was fortunate that many of these unregistered Werewolves came forward and identified themselves prior to the production of the first major batch, otherwise there might still have been a shortage. Still, as you can see, the projections we had panned out. If the cases of Lycanthropy remain steady, we will see the same figure repeated every month for the next twenty years or so. With this, I imagine you can finish the work on your home." Elysia chuckled, before setting the paper back down on the desk. "Considering my last minute expenses and the Galleons transferred over to Hermione Granger's emergency funds, I think it would be better if I just let the new income accumulate a little." Fueruk shrugged his shoulders. "Whatever you say. Now, speaking of new income sources, the editors have been very pleased with your recent submissions regarding your Potions Recipe Book. Miss Charbonneau's illustrations with your suggestions are all fitting together into the book quite nicely. How soon do you believe you will have the full manuscript ready for final review?"

Elysia sat back in deep thought. "Adeline will be leaving for French Guiana in the second week of January, but she has been making great progress, while I am still running a few final checks on some potion recipes. I want to run the full manuscript by her before she leaves, so I will hopefully have it submitted before the Yuletide. Actually, I would love to give her an advanced copy before she sets out for the expedition." Fueruk looked through his planner and made a few notes. "I will speak to the editors to see if they can get a few copies of your book ready ahead of schedule for some early gifts. Other than that, the pre-orders are still coming in. As of right now, every academic institution, from the major ones like Ilvermorny and Castelobruxo, to the minor ones like the ones in Salem and Hobart, have requested copies of the text as soon as it's published, not to mention the Potions Institutions and regulatory bodies. Based on interest and the high demand that the book may see once the initial print has been verified by the institutions, we foresee the bulk of the sales to occur in the summer during what would be the second printing, followed by lower but steady sales every other year during the same time period. Regardless of when or if you decide to publish a second Potions book, you will still be receiving quite the income from all of your projects, as well as your continued work as our chief supplier of human based potions. It would be up to you if you would like to reduce your quota for the potions we store or sell here." Elysia was quiet for a second. "Not for the moment. I will still be Jeanne's primary supplier and, aside from when I had to do extensive research such as it has been these last few months, the quota I have isn't stressful enough to merit cutting back. I will let you know if that ever needs to change."

Fueruk nodded. "Very well. Are there any other matters you need to discuss? Your short term stunt as bodyguard didn't draw too much attention to yourself and our contacts in Britain would suggest that the Weasleys were more angry at the Delacours rather than their perceived hired muscle. The Head of the Guards would be delighted to offer you his expertise regarding the legalities and training required of Gringotts employees hired to serve as protectors." Elysia blushed in embarrassment. After Gabrielle had mentioned that she would need to do a full report to the MSF regarding what had occured in Calais, Elysia had returned to Gringotts to get some much needed legal counsel. Gringotts was no stranger to offering security services to wizards or witches with whom it had pleasant relationships, so the Head of the Guards was more than familiar with French laws and treaties regarding the responsibilities a bodyguard had when reporting any incidents to the local police force. He had accompanied Elysia to the French Ministry of Magic after giving her a few impromptu lessons in the bank, before she sat down and testified before the Aurors. While she took Veritaserum voluntarily, the Head of the Guard was the one who would review all the questions, so as to make sure the Aurors didn't exceed the limits with their questioning in regards to the investigation. It was clear that the Aurors were a bit unhappy with this, but a few free questions such as if Elysia had ever been or was part of a paramilitary force with interests in France eased their minds when she responded in the negative, with the question of her being an active member being broad enough that it was clear she wasn't part of anything except for Gringotts. Fueruk had been made aware that there was some concern that Elysia was being perceived as another Severus Snape style double agent and had wanted to end that misconception irrefutably.

Once the Aurors confirmed that the potion vial wasn't a plant and that Elysia's expertise with potions allowed her to sense the effects of the vial's contents, which had some of the Aurors confused as to how she could do that, the rest of the questions were merely to establish her motivations, observations and any final details needed before she was given the antidote and sent on her way. Back in Fueruk's office, Elysia shook her head. "No, I believe I am fine for now." After downing a less than healthy dose of Goblin alcohol, Elysia bid her friend a good day and made her way back home with some fresh bread from a Paris bakery just outside of the Place Cachée. While Ida took the bread to have it served with today's dinner, she did smile as the elf commented that she would soon be baking her own loaves of bread in the kitchens. She had already tried a few times, but the results had yet to meet her high standards. Hearing that Gabrielle was in the gardens, caught Elysia by surprise. While Gabrielle was often outside, particularly when they enjoyed their lunches or when she was just getting some fresh air while Sera flew around her, this was the time of day that the young Veela usually made her way back home for dinner. Stepping out into the gardens for a moment, which sadly had little to no plant life in them except for a few shrubs that had grown on their own in the last two years, her initial concern died down as Gabrielle was flying about the grounds on her broom, a smile plastered on her face, with Sera following close behind her, the two of them enjoying the somewhat overcast skies. Deciding that her training session could be left for a later time, Elysia pulled out her Firebolt, while Macha and Anand scattered into the grounds.

Catching up to Gabrielle was easy for Elysia as her Firebolt was still just a tad faster than the newer Nimbus, though Gabrielle didn't seem to be pushing her broom to its limits either. Seeing Elysia come up to her, the young Veela waved at her before dropping into a shallow dive, with the raven haired witch just chuckling to herself, allowing her broom to seemingly fall, before pulling up at a much sharper angle. While it had been eight years now since she had last played Quidditch, the old skills had just been dormant within her and, since she wasn't pushing the broom hard enough for it to be a problem, she was easily able to pull herself up from the dive. Pulling up beside Gabrielle, she matched the witch's movements easily enough, even though it was clear the newer broom was more maneuverable. After almost a full hour of flying around the Estate grounds, with Gabrielle almost running into the perimeter wards before Elysia sped ahead of her and demonstrated their presence, the two of them landed safely in the gardens, with Gabrielle sweating profusely, even though the smile never left her face. "That's the longest I've ever been on a broom." Elysia chuckled, her own forehead covered in sweat. "Quidditch games can go on for longer but I have been out of practice for a while." After carefully storing the two brooms in the locker, Elysia watched as Gabrielle sat in the kitchen with Ida, getting some water, as the two discussed dinner, the sight feeling… natural. The last of the Peverells sighed, realizing now that it was less of a matter of if she would start having feelings for Gabrielle. It had also ceased to be a matter of when, as she made her way up to her room for a shower before dinner, as the thought of Gabrielle joining her intruded into her mind. She knew now that they would have to figure out what they wanted from each other soon, before the decision was made for them.

"What the hell do you mean? We had a deal!" The man seated across the table from the person shrugged. "You had a deal, while the Packs felt they were still being discriminated against. Whether they would bother to illegally enter Britain and engage in attacks was all dependent on their own situation back on the Continent. Now that the new Wolfsbane potion is available to all Weres at a relatively low price and that it has almost no known after effects, the Packs have decided not to endanger their prospects. The fact that the ICW moved heaven and earth to get the potion available to the entire Were population of the world and that it negates some of the dangers that employers had towards the population is likely to result in the passage of new laws that will favor them greatly. No one, and I mean, no one wants to trade a hypothetical free range region on a group of terrorists that have failed a grand total of two times to deliver on their claims against what seems to be the direction the ICW Assembly is going. So, consider any support from any Weres outside of Britain to be completely eliminated and don't trust the few packs that still serve you in your own borders. The madness of Fenrir Greyback has not manifested as heavily as any of us would have liked." The man with a British accent cursed under his breath. "Is there nothing we can do to reverse this?" The man behind the desk, with a distinct french accent, raised an eyebrow. "And get the ICW or the MSF's attention? As of right now, neither are intervening in your pissing contest with the mudbloods because it's isolated to the Isles. The moment it escalates outside your borders, we run the risk of drawing their attention to us and all of our illicit operations. If you want to put the mudbloods in their rightful place, we can't risk cutting off your source of resources. Or do you think you would be able to manage to maintain the entire operation on your own? You are welcome to try."

The irate wizard remained silent as his French counterpart waved the comment off. "That being said, we are going to need some of our more experienced fighters to return to the continent in the near future." The British wizard frowned. "I thought you said you don't want to make overt moves in the Continent." The seated wizard shook his head. "Not any overt moves, but there are a few people within French borders who need to be… forcefully retired from their positions. This includes the MSF Director Delacour. His Aurors are getting close to discovering some of our activities and any interference there can derail decades of work, particularly with the Veela slave trade. Aside from the contraband materials and black market potions we are shipping in and out of the country, the sale of these creatures remains one of our largest sources of income and we cannot allow the MSF to derail it." The British wizard rubbed his chin. "The veterans you want are currently working on an operation that will have great symbolic repercussions for our cause. We cannot spare them to you at the moment, until the operation is carried out. Delacour… isn't he married to a Veela with two daughters? Would it not be easier to just blackmail him by kidnapping them?" The French wizard grumbled. "We considered that as a possibility but Delacour is an idealistic fool. He will not act in any way that will compromise his station, even if it means putting his daughters in danger, and even if we were successful in the kidnapping, it would only drive him further onto our scent. No, we need a more… permanent solution for him. Our contacts have been working on getting us access to his property, but the method to achieve the end result is a slow one, particularly if we want to make it look like it was an accident, rather than a targeted attack."

Nodding to himself, the British wizard spoke up. "Yes, that would be a better alternative. That said, it would be advantageous of us to coordinate the deployment and movement of these forces when they can actually take advantage of this opening. The NBO are getting better in their counter attacks, putting our own safehouses and investors at risk. We can't have our best operatives out of the picture for too long or they might not be able to return to duty at all." The French wizard frowned. "How are these Mudbloods giving you so much trouble?" The British wizard grumbled. "If it was only the Mudbloods, they wouldn't be. We believe they have quite a few Halfbloods with experience from the last war, some of Potter's trainees from before the Battle of Hogwarts. They may even have some members of Dumbledore's Order that have been disappointed in Minister Schaklebolt's direction." The French Wizard taped his fingers on the desk. "Any chance we could pin the Ministry and the Order against these NBOs?" The British Wizard scoffed. "If we had members in the DMLE or the Ministry like we did during the last war, it would be a lot easier. Unfortunately, while Shacklebolt is keeping the ICW from interfering, he is also micromanaging the Ministry. The Floo Network, the DMLE and the DoM are all under his close watch or under the supervision of members of the Order. Thankfully we have access to the Magical Registry, but we need to be careful how much of the information is used, or we risk exposing our remaining sources. We are hoping the escalating violence of the NBO will be enough to divide the Ministry's attention, but it's not going to be easy."

The French Wizard leaned back into his chair. "You and the other Heads of Houses are letting Shacklebolt have too much leeway as Minister." The British wizard shook his head. "If we could reign him in, we would. The issue is that he is governing by decree, while refusing to convene the Wizengamot. We believe we have enough of the membership on our side to oust him, if not cripple his response to us the same as the Dark Lord had managed during the First War, but without the Wizengamot being convened in the Assembly Chamber, none of us can do anything to stop him. We even tried to force him via budget negotiations, but he is making do with the yearly budget that was passed under the last session, reallocating the funds wherever he deems necessary under the same departments that they had been destined for in the first place. It's why we need to escalate the crisis further. We need the Minister to be desperate enough to call a Wizengamot Session to order so we can start reducing his executive powers and get back control over our country. That's why we can't spare the men right now. Some are training our newer recruits, but we are having a harder time getting the local Purebloods to back us, at least until we show actual results." The French Wizard raised an eyebrow. "We in the Continent will not fund you indefinitely either. That said, I agree that the veterans are better served working in Britain for now, whilst our own plans are developing slowly. As soon as we have our opening, we will need them back over the border." The British Wizard sighed. "Agreed. Just get me a timetable for the operation so we can plan around it."

Chapter 16: Looking Beyond the Past

Seated in the middle of the Dumont Veela Conclave with her eyes closed, Elysia allowed the magic of the place to wash over her as the Delacours were busy with their responsibilities in preparations for the Day of the Dead. For the Veela, the period of mourning for the dead begins a week prior to the actual date and Apolline had actually visited the Peverell Estate to make the request of Elysia's attendendance in person. Seeing the older Veela entering the Reception Hall of her family home had certainly felt odd to Elysia, but she welcomed her regardless. The Delacour Matriarch took in her surroundings, a smile growing on her face. "I can see why Gabrielle enjoys her time here. The aesthetics are very pleasing, as is the atmosphere. One cannot help but feel safe." Apolline, having rested her hand on the back of the sofa of the reception hall, looked back at Elysia. "While I am sure the payment you received was adequate compensation, I wanted to personally thank you for looking after my girls of late." Elysia shrugged, her hair still pulled up in a loose bun from having been working in her potions lab, her clothes not exactly pristine but she only ever tended to wear white sleeveless shirts or sports bras when she knew she was spending most of the morning at work in her lab, with Apolline arriving just before she was to have her brief shower to wash off the sweat and any contaminants that might have gotten onto her. "Your words are appreciated, but I was just doing what you and Gabrielle requested of me. I take it that the courts have made their decision regarding the incident?" Apolline sighed, happy with the decision despite what it would mean for her grandchild.

"They have. Visitation rights have been terminated and any future request must now come through the courts themselves and under the supervision of an ICW Auror and Family Services Officer. It was also decided that Victoire would be going by her mother's family name, so she is now officially a Delacour. While I am happy about these developments… I cannot help but feel some measure of remorse. My first born had seemingly found love with a man and conceived a child, only for the marriage to end up in ruins. Fleur is strong and I am sure she will surmount this situation, but no mother ever wants to see their children suffer, regardless of the reason behind the pain, let alone their grandchildren. While Victoire puts up a brave front, she can feel her mother's pain, though thankfully Bill's absence will hardly mean much, considering how little he saw of her in her youth." Elysia undid her hair, allowing it to fall loose over her shoulders. "What about the Weasley's themselves? I doubt the MSF would have wanted to let Molly Weasley's actions slide." Apolline shook her head. "They didn't, but as a British National, her government intervened on her behalf. The British Ministry agreed to the custody agreement and withdrew any claims to Victoire's citizenry, in exchange for leniency. Molly Weasley is barred from setting foot on French soil for quite some time, as she alone was complicit with the potion, which she brewed illegally upon her arrival in France."

Elysia pressed her lips together. She hated that, again, the British Ministry treats its citizens with kid gloves, allowing them to commit crimes with little to no consequences. It was the reason why there was a Second Wizarding War in the Isles and why the current Troubles were brewing. She had wondered if Molly had confessed under Veritaserum to having used similar potions on Harry Potter, but could see the British Ministry hushing that up, as they would be very motivated in preventing Mrs. Weasley from ever going to trial and revealing that to the world. Noticing the way Apolline was looking at her carefully made Elysia aware that there was something els3 on the woman's mind, beyond the custody agreement. "You didn't come here to just offer your gratitude, did you? You are here about something else." Apolline smiled softly. "Very perceptive. You are quite right, I am here because I am concerned over my youngest suffering a similar fate to her sister. My ange is not any weaker than Fleur, but she has had… expectations regarding her future, expectations that are now seemingly on the path to being fulfilled. She has a career she is deeply invested in, goals that she has set for herself in the coming years… and the attention of the person she has been yearning for many years now." Elysia sighed. "She was attracted to Harry Potter. I am not him." Soft fingers touched Elysia's cheeks as blue eyes stared into her own. "No, you are not. But he is a part of you, that much you can't deny." Getting a nod, Apolline lowered her hands to her side. "In the last few months, the two of you have shared this place together, getting to know each other, taking things slow. I approved of this because I wanted to see my daughter take her time and I didn't interfere before now because I didn't want to pressure either of you."

Apolline held her hands together before her waist. "And so far, I have been satisfied with what I have seen of my daughter's growth. The difficult part for me to gauge, however, has been you. Your decision to close off the bond to get to know each other in the wider world is an interesting one and I for one do not disagree with it. You have given my daughter enough hints to make your interest in her clear and my daughter has clearly not failed in expressing her own desires. But, as a mother, I need to hear it from you directly. What are your intentions towards my daughter?" Elysia walked over to the sofa before the great chimney, looking at the painting that hung over the fireplace. It had been one of a few she had found in the Potter and Peverell family vaults, displaying a couple watching from beneath a tree as their child played with a large black dog in a pond. She had been fond of it as it was a picture of what had once been a part of her family, and an echo of what her life could have been had her parents survived, with the dog in her alternate life being Sirius in his ever playful state. It was a dream that she enjoyed… though it was just a dream. Turning to look at Apolline, she lowered her eyes. "I would love to see our relationship become more than just that of two house mates sharing a roof. I feel the same attraction she has towards me, and, perhaps more importantly, I can feel that we share similar desires in life. A desire for companionship, understanding and, eventually, a family of our own." Apolline stared at her. "Then why haven't you voiced this to her directly?" Elysia sighed. "Because nothing for me is ever easy. Beyond the fact that I am the last Peverell, regardless of what names or titles I left behind in Britain, there will always be those who will seek out the person that I was and currently am."

The Delacour Matriarch scoffed. "Gabrielle has been a Veela her whole life, as well as the daughter of two prominent members of France's Magical Government. She is hardly new to the dangers that come with fame and unwanted attention." Elysia shook her head. "It is not the same. I am not worried about some petty criminals coming after us because of who I was or who you and your husband are. I am worried about those who will seek me prepared to obtain what they believe are tools that will grant them unlimited power. For over seven hundred years, there hasn't been a Peverell descendant capable of claiming the name. That I have done so will be like a beacon to all those that believe in the legends. That is why this home is so fortified. That is why I tried for two whole years to keep my name from being revealed to the wider world." Apolline frowned. "You could have taken any other name then. Why claim the family name that would only ever bring you unwanted attention?" Elysia chuckled. "Because it's not just my name." A loud caw filled the air as Badb landed on Elysia's shoulder, while Macha and Anand seemed to materialize out of Elysia's own shadows, the sight startling Apolline momentarily. The raven haired witch rubbed the chest feathers of her closest companion. "The name is a part of me, just as it's a part of them. You said that you may not have wished for Victoire to be separated from her father and his family, yet her taking the name Delacour did bring a smile to your face. The same is true for me. I couldn't wait to leave the nam3 Potter behind but… I didn't take the name Peverell just because it suited me. I took it because there was no other name I could take. Not for me… and not for them. We knew the dangers that came with it and we accepted them gladly. Now… that choice lies before Gabrielle."

Walking up to Apolline, Elysia continued. "You asked me why I have not made my intentions perfectly clear. It is because the one who needs to make the decision here isn't me. There are no threats that endanger your family that have an impact on me. Whether it is beasts, monsters in the form of humans or even systems of government, I do not fear them. Gabrielle, however, needs to understand the real dangers that pursue me and be willing to walk besides me regardless. It is partly why I allowed her to enter into my life in the first place." Sighing, Elysia rubbed Anand's head. "From the moment I signed my name on the new Wolfsbane license, I knew that my isolation here was coming to an end. From that moment forward, I have opened myself back up to the evils of the world. The choice of letting your daughter in my life wasn't an easy one for me, but I came to realize that she was offering me a chance at a fragment of normality in this world, something I greatly desire. For Gabrielle, however, she must come to understand that by being with me… she is forgoing the guarantee of a normal life." Apolline scoffed. "My daughter accepted that the moment she realized she was bonded to you, as both Harry Potter and Elysia Peverell. I will not deny that she is a bit unprepared for what this world is capable of, but you? I get the feeling you are more than prepared. I do not disagree that my daughter needs to step up her intentions and I am certain once she feels more comfortable as she settles into your home and her career, she will reach that point. All I ask… is that you do not push her away. Whatever haunts you, you have certainly been preparing for it. Be confident in yourself, as we have grown in our interactions with you. Now, my family will be returning to the Dumont Conclave to begin the preparations for Samhain and Toussaint. I would like it if you were to accompany us there. I know Gabrielle has been introducing you to some Veela traditions. Perhaps you would enjoy seeing them first hand."

So, Elysia found herself in the Dumont Veela Conclave, near the French borders with Switzerland and Italy, enjoying the cool autumn air as most of the Veela attended their ceremonial duties in the central temple. Gabrielle had been giving her a brief overview on the enigmatic race, how they practiced rites akin to those of the Celts and would gather during the more important festivities to celebrate the rites. In the case of Samhain, they first started with a cleansing ceremony where the attendees were anointed so as to wash themselves clean of any evil spirits that had attached themselves to them during the year, before they would be provided with a blessing that would hold strong until Halloween, when the spirits of the dead would be free to traverse the earth, with only those the family's loved and granted passage would be able to enter and dwell in the homes of the living, as the families, unable to see or interact with them, behaved in a way that honored the spirits as if they were present, particularly the recently deceased. The Conclave itself reminded Elysia of the Goblin Districts, though these were out in the open and more interconnected, rather than the compartmentalized sectors, the community arranged within circular high walls. The entire city seemed to have trees growing in between every house, most footpaths covered by the tree canopies, with only the main thoroughfares being free from tree coverage, though the sides of the major paths or streets had more decorative trees lining the edges, the leaves already taking on the autumn colors. It really made the entire conclave feel like it came right out of an idyllic painting.

"Mademoiselle Peverell?" Opening her eyes, Elysia looked over and saw a young Veela looking at her, wearing a long light violet dress that she had seen worn by the priestesses and their assistants as they guided the community to the large temple at the edge of the center of the Conclave. The woman's silver hair was far brighter than Fleur's, looking even more ethereal and, though she was beautiful, her appearance had no effect whatsoever on Elysia. "Can I help you?" The woman gave her a pleased smile, happy to see her Allure did not affect her. "An Elder of the Conclave wishes to speak to you. Would you like to accept her invitation?" Nodding, Elysia stood up, dusting off her pants, before following after the attendant. As they walked through the streets near the temple entrance, Elysia watched as a few Veelas were already walking out, their foreheads marked with a red substance. A few looked her way and started whispering amongst themselves. The attendant noticed Elysia's curious looks and chuckled. "Our apologies. Whenever a magical arrives who is immune to our Allure, there is a great deal of interest, particularly amongst those unmated. Apolline's François was the last to receive this treatment some decades ago and that is not accounting for the fact that you are far more powerful than he is. Were it not for Apolline warning us to leave you be, you would be getting accosted by every unmated Veela of age in the Conclave with a preference for women, though a few others are likely getting second thoughts regarding their own sexuality." Elysia shook her head. "I can see why some poor souls considered the Conclaves a mixture of Paradise on Earth… and a place of death." The attendant smiled. "No welcomed guest here has ever died here without a smile on their face, whether it was of old age or not. Those who were unwelcome… well, they earned their fate."

Gesturing at a side door, the priestess led Elysia into a structure adjacent to the temple, leading her through a few narrow corridors, before standing outside of an opened door. Entering into the chamber, Elysia found it to be quite odd, devoid of most pieces of furniture but for cushions on the ground, with an old Veela kneeling on one of the cushions at the back of the chamber. And she was old. Elysia could feel her essence, with most people having essences that felt to her long a warm light that only fades with age, those touched by age, illness or tragedy feeling more like candles about to be snuffed out by a strong wind. The Veela in front of her reminded Elysia of the Goblin King but, where Gringott felt like a furnace from a blacksmith shop, his fire spiking whenever something fed his spirit with need or interest, the woman before her felt like an old oil lamp, a flickering light that danced in the winds, but one that had enough strength and fuel to endure, despite how long the wick had been burning. The woman raised her head, her eyes kept closed, though Elysia knew that she could see her just easily, if not better than if she had only her eyes to perceive her with. "Ahhh, you are quite the unexpected guest. Apolline mentioned that you were gifted, as one who earned the trust and respect of the Goblin Viceroys would have to be, but even she could not have guessed as to how much. I can feel you, Lady Peverell, just as you can feel me. The others can feel you too, but they do not understand it, even as your very presence draws them all in, like moths to a flame." Elysia, seeing the cushion before the elder Veela, knelt down on it. "I have no intention of causing any of them harm."

The Elder raised up her hands, pressing them softly on Elysia's face and smiled. "And you will not, for you are like the fires of a hearth, a harnessed heat that brings comfort to those around you. When your predecessors walked this earth, they too shared some of your power, leaving many unfortunate souls powerless in their wakes and, like you, they wielded their power fully aware of the consequences of it. And yet… even as I look upon you now, I can see that you have gone through much already, having fulfilled a great upheaval in your heart and soul. Many trials lie behind you, many battles, and yet you have flourished, freeing yourself from the bonds that had diminished you in life and even exorcizing the spirits of the dead that had clung to you like chains. I had intended to offer you our blessing, but I can see now that you are already free, for the dead do not trouble you. Much may still lie ahead of you on your journey through life, but great powers stand by you, powers that I do not recognize, but powers all the same." Pulling her hands back from Elysia, the smile never left the old Veela's face. "When I first sensed the bond in young Gabrielle, all I saw was a pitch black void, a thin thread of light hanging on for dear life as the darkness threatened to consume it. That darkness never faded, even as the thread grew stronger. With you now before me, I can finally see where the darkness is from and, at least from what I can understand, is that the darkness we feared is actually a part of you and that it is no danger to your life or hers. Still, I find it interesting how well strengthened the bond between you two is. You have guarded it, haven't you? Treating it like a treasure to be cherished, rather than a crutch to be used or even abused."

Elysia lowered her eyes. "I was already bound to another through Dark Magic, the connection between us toxic and violent. My connection to Gabrielle felt pleasant from the moment I became aware of it. I had no intention of using it to take advantage of her. She deserves better than that." The Elder nodded. "She does. Her own journey has just begun and already she has suffered the challenges that all Veela must endure. With you by her side, I can't see what awaits her, but I can tell Apolline that she need not worry. In better hands Gabrielle could not find herself. Go in peace, Lady Peverell. The Dumont Conclave will mark you as an ally and friend, as we have marked your family for nearly a millennium, so long as you honor us and protect our people." Elysia smiled at her. "You need not worry, for in my eyes you are no different from the other souls that populate this world. In the end, we are all born from the same ether and the same darkness will call us home one day." The Elder nodded. "Yes… you are quite right. We are all the same, though do heed this warning. All souls are the same before your eyes, but I believe you are something else. Do not fear standing apart from the rest, for that is your place, to see with clear eyes what others do not, to intercede where you feel you must. Gabrielle may carry the name, but I feel the one closest to fulfilling the purpose of an angel…is you." Elysia shook her head. "I never wanted that." The Elder chuckled to herself. "Wanted, no I don't suppose you did. But it is who you have chosen to be and you know this… better than anyone else. If you find yourself in need of guidance, or just an old ear to talk to, know that my door will always be open to you."

Being escorted out after bidding the Elder goodbye, Elysia blocked out the light from the sun with her hands, before she noticed the Delacours all standing around the bench they had left her seated at. Gabrielle was the first to spot her and gave a questioning look to the attendant, who just smiled at the young woman. "You need not be concerned, Gabrielle. Your… guest may have had the attention of quite a few of us, but she remains free to pursue her own interests. Elder Ligia declared as such and the attendants will inform the rest. Now, by your leave, Representative Apolline, Director Delacour. A pleasure to serve you, Lady Peverell. Do come again." After bowing to them, the attendant left the group, all wearing the marks on their foreheads from the ceremony, with Gabrielle frowning. "If you were with Elder Ligia, why did she not bless you? It's often a tradition, even if you are not a practitioner." Victoire, who was holding onto her mother's hand, giggled. "Tante Gabrielle's shadow doesn't need the blessing. Her three companions already protect her." Rudding the strawberry blonde hair of the child, Elysia smiled at her. "You see quite a lot, don't you, Victoire? You are quite right, though. My friends keep me quite safe." As the family headed for the nearest food vendor as they opened up their shops, Gabrielle walked up to Elysia. "Are you sure everything is alright?" Elysia smiled at her before offering to let her go ahead of her. "As good as can be. Now, what was the pastry you were gushing about yesterday?" Briefly sensing Elysia's essence through the bond and getting a feel that everything was indeed alright, the young Veela smiled and pulled her to the nearest line, describing the various flavors available, the sky a beautiful blue as life returned to the Conclave once more.

Londinium District, Spring 2000

Feeling a goblin approaching from behind, Harry's eyes remained fixed on the scene before him, as lines of the diminutive creatures presented tokens to the bodies of their deceased family members. The insurrection came to an end within a single day, but even that amount of time resulted in the deaths of hundreds of goblins, if not more. Here, at the grand Mausoleum of Gringotts Londinium, the families of all those who died, regardless of which side they were on, were allowed to approach the resting places set aside for the dead and pay their respects. The soldiers and guards who died in the line of service were to buried at a section dedicated to all who wore the chainmail, the bodies buried with the equipment they had upon their deaths, the armour cleaned of blood and anything else, though the damaged pieces were left broken, the shattered shields, pierced mail and cloved plates being the dead's badges of honour. Those who had died on the insurrectionist's side were buried in a section set aside for all who participated in such dishonourable activities, whether they were traitors, oathbreakers or thieves. While Harry found the practice odd, he could understand the reasoning for it. All Goblins saw themselves as the children of the Earth Mother, first and foremost. Even if a Goblin dishonoured themselves or their family against the Goblin Nation of Gringotts, their lives were still in the hands of the Earth Mother. In death, they would be interned into the ground, returned to the Earth Mother's embrace one last time. Only the honours the living visited upon them in their final moments before burial would mark them as different, as the Earth Mother would claim her children just the same, no matter what their lives were like.

"You did what you could, Challenger Potter. Do not let the deaths of our kind weigh your shoulders anymore than they already have." Golstrud, still sporting his arm in a sling, walked up to join Harry at the vantage point, a thin battlement that stood along the circular walls of the Mausoleum, where they could look down at the gathered goblins, many carrying a glowing crystal in their hands along with their offerings, the crystals being the primary light source for the congregation. Harry sighed. "I know. I can understand that no matter what I did, there would always be those who would have died fighting on both sides. Still… that doesn't mean one has to like it… or think it was worth it." Golstrud looked up at the young wizard. "I have a feeling you are thinking about more than just the lives lost here or that you yourself killed, if not those who died during your life above the stone." Raising his hand up, Harry looked at the lines and calluses that marked his skin. "I spent seven years being told about how I saved Wizarding Britain, how so many people survived because Voldemort seemingly died when he came to my parent's safe house to kill me and failed. Those words may not have meant much to me, as I had no recollection of that event except for my mother's scream and the blinding green light of the Killing Curse, but I think, some time along the way, I started to believe that I could save the people around me. That somehow, someway, I had the power to protect the people that I loved or cared for from the evils of the world. Even when all the evidence said otherwise. Cedric's death should have been my wake up call, but it wasn't. It took me until Sirius' death for me to realize that there was no great power, no grand secret. People would still kill those I cared for, no matter how much I tried to prevent it."

Clenching his fist, Harry breathed deeply, before looking back over the Mausoleum, his three companions silent in his mind. Golstrud watched the young man. "I suppose we all live our lives thinking that way, in one way or another. We become complacent, believing that no ill can come to us. Gringotts Londinium has stood for over a thousand years, and we believed no one would dare threaten its peace. And yet it came to pass and one realizes that the centuries weren't as peaceful as we were led to believe. That is why we honour the soldiers and guards who die in the line of duty. It is their strength, their service, their sacrifice that guarantees that others will never know kin slaying, if not only in passing or from our history books. Still, there is always a price left to the survivors, such as yourself. I take it that taking the lives of the rebels weighs heavy on you?" Harry looked over at the section where the rebels were being buried, aware that a few of them would be the very corpses of those he killed. "Consciously, I am aware that I made the right choice. Those who could not defend themselves were spared, those who sought to harm others, including myself, were themselves killed. It was no different than killing the beasts from the Arena. Or, at least, it shouldn't be any different. Yet, I cannot help but feel that my hands, which were already covered in blood, are now soaked in it. I know… I KNOW… I did the right thing. But the guilt… the shame doesn't seem to fade nearly as quickly as I would like. There is something in the back of my mind, telling me that perhaps… perhaps if I was stronger… better trained… perhaps then I would have been able to stop the rebels that attacked us, without killing them."

Golstrud sighed. "Perhaps, but the level of training and power you speak of would be quite the investment on your part, in both time and effort. Do you believe it to be worth your time, now that you have found some measure of peace?" Harry was quiet for a moment. "If it means living the rest of my days acting on not only my ideals, but my capabilities… If it means that I can save more lives than I end up taking, then yes, I believe the training and effort is more than worth it… and I will need to be able to prove to myself that I am making progress, that I can become powerful enough to decide my own fate… Golstrud, could you inform Ragnar that I wish to recommence the trials? Not soon, but I want him to know that I will not be waiting out the rest of my sentence." Golstrud looked at the young man, weary. "Challenger Potter… Harry… you do not need to endanger your life any further. You have already requested our assistance in completing your NEWTs and a Mastery in Potions will not be far behind. Even if you spend the next ten years here, it will not be as a prisoner or as a laborer, but as a welcomed guest." Harry turned to look at the Goblin, a bittersweet smile on his face. "I know, and I am grateful for that. I truly am. But I can no longer just indulge in the tranquility of life that you all have shared with me here. I need to make something of my life. I need to stop being just a puppet, or a bystander. I need the strength to move beyond the limits of my abilities. Because, what you have all let me pursue here has not only shown me that beyond this moment there is a life that is truly waiting for me, but one I want to embrace with every fiber of my being. That is why I do not intend to abandon my studies or my craft. At the same time… that is the very reason I cannot leave Londinium without completing the Arena Trials."

Looking up towards the rocky sealing, Harry continued. "From the moment I was born, there was always someone coming after me. Because of who my parents were, what they fought for, what I inadvertently stood for. Leaving this realm some time in the future may not change that. In the eyes of some, I am still the greatest threat to their vision of their world. The Man Who Conquered Voldemort, the Boy Who Lived. They will still believe that and hunt me down to squash that symbol. If I am to leave this place one day as a free person, if I am to truly live a life as a Potions Master, I need to be strong enough to face any threat how I see fit. The Trials… I may have started them in order to earn my freedom, but now… now I must complete them, in order for me to know that I am strong enough to live the rest of my life… on my own terms and no one else's." Goldtrud saw the determination on the young wizard's face and smiled softly. "An odd wizard indeed and yet… perhaps that is the reason you may succeed where others have failed. I will let Ragnar know and we will provide you with the documents you need to begin your preparations. Just one thing." Harry noticed that Golstrud seemed hesitant but didn't say anything. Eventually, the goblin sighed. "It would be wise if you went out of your way to speak to my sister, Helstrud. I believe you deserve to know the truth about yourself before you risk your life once again in the Arena. It may not change your mind about the Tasks… but it might yet change your vision of the future that comes after it." Harry blinked, unsure what Golstrud was referring to, but he nodded. "I will ask her first thing in the morning."

Present Day

As the alarm went off, Elysia grumbled in her sleep. She already knew what day it was. It was the same as every other year since Harry had first been able to communicate with the Hallows directly, the air feeling heavy, almost oppressive with magic. There were a few other days with a similar sensation to them, but it was Halloween the one that had the most impact on her, and it had nothing to do with the death of her family twenty four years prior. Harry had already gotten over any sense of guilt he had endured during the initial months he had spent living at the Potter Cottage, tearing down the very home that had been the site of the beginning of so many of his issues in life. Tearing apart the place where his mother had died for him, plank by plank, had helped him to accept that he could no longer live his life by thinking about the dead. When Harry had died, he had made the decision to come back to life. He couldn't justify living if he kept acting on behalf of the dead, living up to their memories and ideals. The dead were to be mourned, after all, but they were not supposed to be chains to choke the life of the living. So Harry dedicated himself to living his life based solely on his own thoughts, his own ideals, his own desires, and that belief stayed with Elysia. Unfortunately, the Potter luck, or was it Peverell luck, was still very much a part of her, as the moment All Hallows Eve comes along, the magic that builds up over time, particularly around October, reaches its peak, unleashing a cascade that seems to cover the entire northern hemisphere.

This build up tended to affect Elysia negatively so, until sunset, she just had to deal with feeling like she was having trouble breathing. While she usually exercised on mondays, the way she felt on this day wasn't conducive to exercising, so she decided to forgo her morning routine, making her way down to the dinning hall, finding the other occupants of the house already there. Gabrielle waved her over as she munched on a croissant, whilst Adeline petted Macha's chin, a saucer of milk half finished in front of the feline where she sat on the table. "Has she been behaving herself?" Adeline smiled at Elysia. "She snuck into my tent again last night, but other than that, she's been a doll." The self-satisfaction that Macha felt right now made Elysia shake her head. "You're spoiling her." Ida popped into the room, placing a large cup of coffee in front of Elysia's usual seat. "Take this, Mistress. It will help you cope for the morning hours. Ida will have another one ready for midday." Elysia nodded, slumping into her seat as she rubbed her forehead. "Thank you as always, Ida." Gabrielle watched Elysia with concern. "Are you alright? You don't look so good." Elysia waited for the warmth of the coffee to fill her stomach before answering. "Halloween just isn't my day. Before you ask, it has nothing to do with my past. I just feel… uncomfortable today." Adeline frowned. "So no chance in getting you to drop by the village after sundown? We have a wonderful Halloween celebration back in Saint-Cirq, besides the kids just going out trick or treating. It's the one day of the year that the residents of the divide actually get to mingle without worrying about the Statute of Secrecy. We get to show off our magic, specialized food and just have fun with everyone else wearing costumes. Even the Delacours agreed to drop by."

Gabrielle pulled some loose strands of hair back behind her ear. "My mother had dropped by the store to talk to Jeanne and, after hearing about the local festivities, called a family meeting. We all agreed to come on over and have Victoire go trick or treating with the other kids, since Reims doesn't really have anything similar amongst the magical community. We even went out to buy or fashion some costumes for everyone the other day, when you were busy with work in the lab." Elysia downed a few more mouthfuls of coffee, feeling her body becoming less lethargic as the drink took effect. "We will see how I am feeling later in the day, though I was just planning to have a quiet evening looking over the ingredient reaction charts and writing possible recipes in my office. Regardless, I don't have a costume to wear." Adeline shrugged. "Then just show up with your usual heavy black coat. You'll look just like a vampire to the non-magical kids. You could even stop by my mother's place, since she is really good at applying color changing charms to objects and clothes." Seeing the look in Gabrielle's eyes, Elysia sighed. "I will think about it, ok? For now, let me just get some strength back in my bones." As Ida placed the breakfast plates in front of Elysia, she listened as Adeline and Gabrielle went over their plans in a few days, as both had been summoned to Beauxbatons for their examinations. As interns, they had been receiving study assignments and reading lists to go over by their Professors regarding their subject matter. Since it was for a single subject, both admitted that studying was far easier now, though the tests would cover far more than what a typical midterm examination went over at any of the NEWT level courses.

The dark skinned witch had been at the Estate for almost a week now, having received an instruction list on how to better prepare herself for the Guiana expedition, setting up a Wizard's Tent in the food resource greenhouse since it remained mostly empty, except for a few plants that Adeline and Ida had planted, most being the type usually processed and used as seasoning. Adeline had disabled the temperature control feature of her wizard's tent to get as close an approximation as she could to South American heat and humidity within the greenhouse for much of her stay. The first few days had been tough on her, as the transition from a typically cool and dry environment to a warm and humid one was unpleasant, but the young Charbonneau witch persevered and Elysia was considering letting her stay until after they got back from Beauxbatons. Her friend's presence in the property had also done wonders for Gabrielle, the two of them often eating lunch in the gardens, though Elysia could see Adeline's critical eye studying the layout. She was waiting for the day that she dropped off a list of plants Elysia could consider planting to make the garden actually inviting to be in, though the presence of the small creek nearby in the forest and the plethora of magical and non-magical creatures in the woods had Adeline practicing her upcoming expedition outside just as much as within the Greenhouse, with Gabrielle spending plenty of time with her, enjoying the outdoors and the fresh air with Seraphina at her side at all times, as the autumn season got into full force.

Once breakfast was completed, Elysia went downstairs to check on her cauldrons, many being inactive since she knew that the day would affect her mental readiness, leaving only a few potions that she had been preparing for Jeanne's Apothecary as fresh stock for November. Storing the last of the vials into her transport case, she locked it up in her cupboard for the night, planning to deliver the vials for Gringotts' inspection as soon as she could, before taking a cleansing shower. She had briefly debated informing the two young women about the communal bath, but with Adeline focused on enduring as much of her stay as possible as if she were on her expedition, meaning using the tent's internal shower, Elysia decided to spare them the temptation and left them be. Perhaps she would let them know after their examination, as a reward. Once she was suitably clean and contaminant free, she returned to her room upstairs before entering her office, beginning the difficult job of determining possible new recipe mixes again. As her experiments were coming to a close, Elysia wanted to try out a few, even more unlikely combinations, to see if there were any improvements on effectiveness. Cracking her fingers as her body ached from the effects the day had on her, she took her pencil and began writing. The hours slipped by as she jotted down new combinations, some that could even result in the creation of new potions that mixed the ingredients of two existing ones that she had already developed, with Ida dropping off her second large cup of coffee and a tray of sandwiches. The elf was aware that her Mistress did not like to be interrupted when she was writing, with even her three companions leaving her be, all of them deciding to keep the two other women company as they got into their Halloween outfits.

It was only when Ida informed her that the two of her guests had left, that Elysia realized that the sun was setting on the horizon. As soon as the last edge of the solar disk was beyond her line of sight, Elysia felt the wave of magic passing over her, the magic that had been building up inside of her finally dissipating with it, even though it left her feeling unbalanced. Taking her cup, she walked into her sitting room and looked out the large window, watching carefully as orbs of light began to coalesce through the treelines before beginning to wander, seemingly aimlessly, throughout the forest. She could feel Ida's concern for her as the elf watched from within the study. "Will you be needing anything else? Ida could have the bath ready for Mistress in a moment. Ida knows tonight is a difficult night and that Mistress could use some rest." Elysia looked back towards her, thinking of Adeline and Gabrielle's invitation. Gabrielle hadn't been very insistent but Elysia could feel that the young Veela was simply trying to get her to spend more time out of her family's Estate. Aside from her weekly visits to Gringotts Paris, and the few times she had accompanied Gabrielle to Calais and to the Dumont Conclave, Elysia had been keeping herself isolated in her home. Gabrielle hadn't been overly against Elysia's isolation, but the witch could see how much it bothered the blonde just how much time she spent isolated from others. Sure, it was Halloween and her magic wasn't in the most normal of states, but she would only be going as far as the village and she would be using portkeys. Maybe Gabrielle and Adeline had a point and she could just… step out and have some fun for a change.

Testing out her muscles and feeling the weight from earlier having dissipated a bit, Elysia sighed. "Get me another cup of coffee. I don't feel as… diminished as last year and making a short jump to Saint-Cirq via portkey won't be an issue." Ida searched her Mistress' eyes and nodded. "As Lady Elysia wishes." With a third cup of coffee soon in hand, though this one had more additives to make it a more relaxing drink, Elysia walked into her room and opened her walk-in closet, staring at the clothes in front of her as she contemplated her options. She had made it very clear to Adeline that she did not in fact have a traditional witch outfit, as Elysia had never been a witch in Magical Britain, and she simply would not have been caught wearing one even if she had. The suggestion of something the non-magicals would associate with Vampires did seem plausible with her wardrobe, as she had the right combination of clothes and colors, until her eyes landed on a leather bound package resting next to her shoes. Pulling it out from her closet and setting it on her lap once seated on the bed, Elysia lifted the lid and inspected the contents, feeling like this was a more viable option for her. It would be a unique look, and it would be a safer option, one she hoped the locals would prefer, though even she could admit that the colors weren't anything special. Adeline had said that Jeanne would be willing to alter the colors on any clothes she had that might work as a costume. These weren't exactly clothes… but it should be fine. Maybe… maybe Elysia could have a normal Halloween for once. Right?

"Oohhh, what a cute little mummy!" Victoire raised her arms up and groaned in the same way that the mummies she had seen in enchanted picture books did, making the older couple smile as they gave her a small bag of candy, before she broke character and squealed, much to her family's amusement. The same scene had repeated itself a few times already as they walked down the streets of Saint-Cirq-Lapopie, knocking on the doors with almost every house in the town having a jack-o'-lantern on it's porch, the ones lit marking the homes that would welcome the trick-or-treaters. From the moment they arrived at the Apparition Point, Gabrielle knew that accepting the invitation had been the right choice, as Victoire was able to quickly interact with the other children, her mummy costume being found quite cool by the magical and non-magical crowd. Using a combination of medical bandages that had been dyed in color and made to look weathered, with the girl's hair tied back under a bald cap, she looked like she stepped out of a museum, at least until she started giggling. The rest of Gabrielle's family had also elected to come wearing costumes themselves, with her parents dusting off some old costumes they had, her father having slicked back his hair and dressed himself in the traditional look for Dracula, whilst Apolline hanged off his shoulder in clothes reminiscent of a Victorian era dress, two pinpricks on her neck with red coloring highlighting her position as Dracula's current victim. Not wanting to differ too much from her daughter's choice of costume, Fleur elected to come dressed as an Egyptian princess, though the sections of the outfit that would ordinarily have made onlookers salivate had been covered over with bandages, giving her a look more akin to a resurrected princess, her hair charmed to match the traditional black colors as it spilled loose over her shoulders. Despite her best attempts, however, the locals still found Fleur attractive, including a far more exposed Adeline.

While Adeline had been at the Peverell Estate, she and Gabrielle had been brainstorming what costumes to wear, with the witch not wanting Gabrielle to hold back after she had missed out on all seven of Beauxbatons' Samhain Costumed Galas. While Adeline had tried her best to get Gabrielle to wear something a bit more revealing, something that would surely have made an impression on Elysia if she had joined them, Gabrielle had refused, though that didn't discourage the young Charbonneau witch from being daring herself. Mixing an older European styled poet shirt with sections ripped off along the chest and shoulders, a black corset that Gabrielle feared would rearrange the witch's innards with how tight she had asked it to be, and tattered remnants of a black dress and petticoat, there was no hiding Adeline's incredible physique, even after half her face was painted by her mother with a skull motif, the diagonal line looking almost like a scar as it crossed her face. Still, despite Gabrielle's objections to wearing something revealing, she did manage to disguise herself in a very elaborate costume. Using white robes and see-through material provided by Apolline, Gabrielle's outfit had certainly made a few people stare at her, though it was mostly because of how realistic she looked. Inspired by the ghosts she had seen at Hogwarts during her brief visit to the Castle, she had dressed herself up as the infamous Dames Blanches, a local variation of the women in white spirits seen all over the world by the non-magical population. These were, of course, ghosts that somehow were visible to those who usually couldn't see them, with a fair number of them being women, their white, ethereal forms giving them their common identifying trait.

Aside from the more conventional aspects of her clothes, Gabrielle had also been under Jeanne's added touch, as she used a potion and paints to turn Gabrielle's skin ghostly white whilst her hair turned a darker grey, before using her brush to give a few more creative details, like darker shadows around her eyes, nose and lips. When her family arrived, Fleur looked at her sister and gave her one final, special touch, casting charms on her that made her look translucent and even partly fluorescent. The effect, for those that had seen ghosts first hand, had been uncanny, as Gabrielle could easily be mistaken for any spirit, with the children of the town approaching her with clear awe in their eyes, whilst some of the parents were clearly concerned, though Victoire's constant presence eased many of their fears and anxieties. As they finished the last of the houses in the village and were walking back the road towards the Magical Streets whilst passing other groups of children, they heard the bells ringing from the church. Gabrielle remembered what Jeanne had told her. "It's time. The street festivities should be beginning now." As they passed through the wards, Victoire squealed as the street came into view. While they had passed through the place when they arrived at the village, the street had looked oddly quiet, with people rushing around in hushed whispers. Now, however, the place was very much alive as carts filled the sidewalks, selling everything from fresh food, locally made confectionaries and even a few enchanted objects that produced trails of fog, what looked to be bats, butterflies or even fairies. These were all, of course, illusions, but the children loved them all the same, with the objects having a time limit for the non-magical families, only working during this night, though those who bought them years before could get them recharged for free if they returned the next year with them.

Walking under the crisscrossing hanging lights that looked like jack-o'-lanterns, the family went to the nearest cart as Victoire ordered chocolate and caramel covered slices of apples, pears and other fruits. As her parents shared a hot buttered spiked cider, while Victoire had a cup of hot cocoa with her mother, Gabrielle decided on a softer straight serving of apple cider, before she heard her name being called out. She waved at Adeline and Jeanne, the latter wearing a more conventional witch's robe though in dark blue colors, when the figure next to them almost made her choke on her drink. "Elysia?" That soft smile that Gabrielle saw almost every day made her heart melt as she approached the trio, the details of Elysia's "clothes" coming into focus. Instead of her usual dark clothes, the reclusive Potions Master had arrived in what looked to be a mixture of several forms of armour, from chainmail that was seen through the joints of the extremities, with the sections in between wrapped in a mixture of dark leather armour with thin plates of metal over the larger spaces. Below the chainmail that covered her neck and the platemail that rested over the top of her chest hung a white bit of cloth with the emblem of a coat of arms, two fleur du lis' at either side of a sword held up, a crown ringing the tip of the blade. It was, Gabrielle knew, the coat of arms belonging to Jeanne d'Arc. Even Elysia's hair, which was usually set in a ponytail or left hanging free, looked to have been braided and tied back so as to make it easier for a helmet to be placed on her head, though the only accessory on her seemed to be a sword which sat on her hip. The sight of Elysia in medieval looking armour brought back a lot of her childhood fantasies back to mind, leaving Gabrielle glad that she was wearing paint over her cheeks.

"Told you that the outfit would leave Gabrielle speechless. Was that armour left in your house since the days of the last owners?" Elysia shook her head as Gabrielle recovered her faculties. "No, this is more of an amalgamation of pieces of armour that the Goblins resized for me a few years ago. The sword is just a training blade, though it did have some sharpness to it. I dulled it out before coming here. Still, I can see why you two spent weeks debating your outfits. You both look amazing." Adeline shoved Gabrielle a little closer, with the young Veela glaring at her friend before she felt her hand getting lifted up. When she turned around and saw Elysia bending down to kiss her chuckles, her heart started beating wildly in her chest again. "Would Mademoiselle like me to serve as her escort for this fine evening?" Gabrielle nodded silently as the Charbonneau women watched on in amusement, before she and Elysia returned to the Delacour family who were talking with non-magical locals about their views regarding magicals. The young children in the street all approached her, with a few families asking to take photographs with everyone. A few kids even ran out of a small little alley, screaming about a black dog that jumped at them from the shadows, with the smirk on Elysia's face making Gabrielle curious. "Where are your three companions?" The armour clad witch shrugged. "Having their own idea of non-lethal fun, I suspect. I wouldn't be surprised if there were stories about a cat, a dog and a bird of varying sizes scaring the locals that just happened to get too far into secluded locations." Gabrielle shook her head, though some of the night's joviality was broken when a little boy fell, scraping his knees.

Elysia was at the boy's side quickly, handing the mother the first aid kit she always carried with her, before surprising the locals aside from the Charbonneau's as she summoned a glowing owl from the ether, the joy radiating from it and the beauty of the owl as it screeched, drawing the attention of all the children, including the injured boy who hardly flinched as his mother cleaned the wound before bandaging it. As the boy's family thanked Elysia, Fleur walked up to Gabrielle's side. "That patronus… it's Hedwig. Did you…" Gabrielle shook her head. "She never used the Patronus in front of me." Apolline, who was nearby, hummed to herself. "For someone who claims to be bad with children, they certainly do seem to love her." Watching as the kids swarmed around her, Elysia sent Hedwig amongst them, flying within touching distance though the ethereal bird passed though their hands easily as the adults all watched, smiling as their kids had fun. Gabrielle felt a smile growing on her face, seeing for herself why Elysia was the guardian angel of the village, as a simple act of kindness to one child resulted in all of the children experiencing a beautiful piece of magic. While neither Harry nor Elysia would love to be called knightly, Gabrielle could see that the armour fitted her perfectly, as the last Peverell embodied much of what the Saintly Witch stood for in the legends passed down through the ages: a witch who placed the needs of others at the forefront of her mind, bringing hope to those who needed it most. She might not be the boastful hero that many perceived Harry as, but Elysia didn't seem any less of a protector, going to other's aid without a second thought. On that night, the people of Saint-Cirq-Lapopie swore that Jeanne d'Arc walked the earth again and, as far as Gabrielle and those who truly knew Elysia were concerned… they weren't wrong.

As the festivities died down and the families returned to their homes, Elysia wished the Delacours and Charbonneaus a pleasant evening, as Adeline was going to crash at her mother's house for the night, leaving Elysia and Gabrielle returning to the Estate all on their own. The feel of Elysia's gloved hand on her bare one didn't make the transportation any less stimulating for Gabrielle, and her heart definitely skipped a beat as Elysia spun her around in the reception hall, until her hostess held the young Veela against her chest. "Thank you." Gabrielle's dazed state was broken by Elysia' words, as she looked into those beautiful green eyes. "Halloween and I have never been fond of each other and I doubt things will truly change in the years to come. Still, you and Adeline's insistence allowed me to actually enjoy myself this evening, the first Halloween I can say that I enjoyed wholeheartedly in my life. For that you have my thanks." Gabrielle blushed, even if her disguise didn't show it. "You're welcome. After all the help you have been to me these past few months, I just felt it was only fair if I helped you back at least in something so minor." Gabrielle watched as Elysia used her teeth to pull off her glove, before that warm, bare hand took Gabrielle's once more, raising it up to her lips. "What you did was no minor thing. Not to me, anyways." When those lips pressed themselves against the back of her hand, Gabrielle's body instantly grew warm, and by the dilated eyes on Elysia, she felt the same way. "You and I have danced around each other for some time now, though some may say it's been a bit brief. Still, I will make things clear. I am attracted to you, Gabrielle Delacour and if you wish to pursue a relationship between us, you have but to ask."

Gabrielle blinked as Elysia pulled back before she felt the air grow cold, before, as if in the blink of an eye, all three of Elysia's companions were at her side, the witch's own green eyes glowing with magic as all other light seemed to dim around her. "I will also say this. There is more to who I am than what you and the others see every day. While you have met the person I wish to always be, the world isn't kind enough to grant us the chance to live an idealized life, even with more than enough money to satisfy one's earthly desires. If you truly wish to pursue something more with me, keep this in mind. Everyone in that village calls me an angel, despite my best attempts to dissuade them. Even the Dumont Veela Elder called me as such, though I believe she saw in me what I try to restrain everyday. Because, if I am an angel as you all say I am, then never forget that angels are not just harbingers of good tidings… but also of calamities, battles… and death. If you wish us to be more than just housemates, then do so, knowing that someday… my hands may be stained with blood once more." Gabrielle, feeling stunned by the coldness of Elysia's words, felt her warmth return as those lips that had graced her hand kissed her cheek after Elysia had approached her. "Bonne nuit, Gabrielle." It took the young woman a few minutes before she left the reception hall on her own, taking the vial of potion that Jeanne had given her to reverse the effects on her skin, before washing away the rest of the paint under the shower, her heart beating wildly, as she realized that Elysia had accepted and reciprocated some of her feelings, while also giving her a very clear warning.

As she stepped out of the shower into her room, however, Gabrielle held her hand to her heart, feeling it go steady. Elder Ligia had told her that there was darkness on the other side of her bond. If that darkness was a part of Elysia, then she… she couldn't turn away from it. Everyone else had turned their back on Harry once before, when he tried to help them with Britain's recurring problems. They had taken him and his kindness for granted to serve their own needs and dismissed him when they had no further use of him. She would see who Elysia truly was in her entirety and decide then and there what she would do about the feelings in her heart. Until then, she would focus on pressing her career forward, just as she promised her parents. In the master bedroom, Elysia finished untangling her hair at her reflection in the mirror. While there was more that Gabrielle should probably know about her, she would leave that information unsaid for the moment. Apolline had asked her not to play with Gabrielle's heart and she made sure of that tonight. Whatever came from tomorrow onward, the youngest of the Delacour sisters would act in the knowledge that Elysia had blood on her hands, not all of it from beasts or animals, and she knew that, in time, she would only continue dipping her hands in even more blood. If Gabrielle could still look her in the eyes and not shy away from what the rest of Elysia Peverell was, then there was a real chance something could come of their relationship. What troubled Elysia, however, was how much she was hoping that Gabrielle would succeed and how much she yearned to be fully truthful with her. The very idea that Gabrielle would not be able to look at her in the eye with the same love and desire she saw in them now… was almost too much for her to bear.

"Everyone, please keep your distance! This is an active crime scene. Please stay behind the cordon." Hermione, using a Polyjuice Potion to disguise herself as a random woman she encountered in the Metro Station back in London, watched as Susan Bones directed the other Aurors around the crime scene, while instructing a few to keep the public at bay. The redhead had certainly come a long way since she started out as a reluctant member of Dumbledore's Army. As the niece to DMLE's Director Amelia Bones, she had frowned upon the very idea of taking part in a clandestine Defence Course along with the other students, but she still joined as she, like everyone else, recognized that Dolores Umbridge wasn't going to be teaching the students anything of merit. Later, Susan had confessed that her Aunt shared her niece's concerns over the clandestine group after she told her about it but permitted her to continue her participation after confirming that she was indeed learning how to defend herself from others. When Harry suffered his visions regarding the capture and torture of Sirus Black, her hesitation resulted in Susan not taking part in the rescue mission to the Department of Mysteries. This created a gulf between her and the rest of the DA members that didn't entirely heal, even after Amelia had been killed in her own home by Voldemort and his Death Eaters whilst the Ministry was still recovering from the debacle that had been Minister Fudge's final years as Minister for Magic. While Susan and the others resurrected the DA during their seventh year at Hogwarts while the castle itself was under the control of the Death Eaters, it was clear that the loss of her aunt had shaken her deeply.

Though the DA had officially ceased to exist after the war came to an end, Hermione did meet up with a few of its members from time to time, including Susan. After she had graduated from Hogwarts and completed her NEWTs, Susan had entered the Auror Academy and completed her formation into an Auror in three short years, a time that actually served her quite well, as she managed to shake off many of the insecurities that had plagued her as a young woman. While she was also the Head of the Bones family, the fact that the Wizengamot had yet to meet kept her from joining the body, though she had confessed that she intended to appoint her best friend, Hannah Abbott, as her Proxy, whilst her friend's father remained the Lord of House Abbott. As the onlookers crowded the streets of the small town, Hermione watched as a large group of Aurors apparated in, including the Minister for Magic, Kingsley Shacklebolt. The one and only time the Wizengamot was convened was to declare him as the new Minister for Magic, the session being one of the shortest in recorded history with the Assembly only containing the very bare minimum of attendees for quorum, as quite a few had been either in DMLE holding cells or in Azkaban for their part in the Death Eater Occupation. After that, Shacklebolt had refrained from convening the Assembly, in fear that it could reduce the executive powers he was using to "restore" Wizarding Britain. Hermione had initially applauded his use of the office to undo all of the decrees passed by his predecessors, including Voldemort's puppet. The state sanctioned discrimination and internment of Muggleborns had been dismantled, though Hermione was fully aware that discrimination remained, both within the Ministry and the wider population. Pushing past the onlookers, the group made their way to the Auror line, before Kingsley asked to speak to Auror Bones.

Turning away from the throng, Hermione slipped on a set of wired earphones into her ears and listened in on the conversation, thanks to Susan. The two women had grown increasingly worried about Kingsley's decisions regarding the increasing surge of Neo Death Eater violence, as well as the New Blood Order's retaliations. As a Muggleborn and a staff member of the current Prime Minister, Hermione was well aware of the advances in technology and had acquired cell phones for herself and her parents. She had successfully convinced Susan to carry one with her and to call her number when she met with Shacklebolt, just in case he made any comments that could indicate he was beginning to either abuse his position, or to endanger the population any further by inaction. While Shacklebolt's reaction to the growing crisis seemed tame, both Susan and Hermione knew it was mostly from his inability to increase the DMLE's yearly funding. Still, his decision to treat the NBO as equally as dangerous as the NDEs had caused issues within the former members of Dumbledore's Order of the Phoenix, as they could see that Kingsley was playing the political game to not overly antagonize the Purebloods who still held a great deal of power in the community. Hermione, and Susan, felt that his decision could ultimately backfire, if it seemed like he was treating the NDE and their supporters with the same indifference that had doomed so many Ministers in the past. It was why Susan had agreed to Hermione listening in, on the condition that Hermione swore that the information she overheard never made its way to the NBO. The former Gryffindor swore to that without giving it a second thought.

"Auror Bones. Report." Pulling the beanie hat down and over her ears, Hermione turned to look at the Minister for Magic as Susan filled him in on the situation. "Last night, after the muggles had left the streets and the last Auror Patrol passed through the village, a group of what we are fairly certain were NDEs descended on Godric's Hollow. They focused on this section of the village, attacking the neighboring buildings, killing the muggle residents and even some of the magicals that live here who came to their aid. By the time the first responders arrived, they were gone. You can see for yourself the damage that was done. On closer inspection, however, we believe the intended targets of the NDEs were the graveyard and the Potter residence. The graves of Lily and James Potter were disturbed and the caskets were opened. We are still waiting to see if there was any evidence that they managed to retrieve the bodies." Shacklebolt shook his head. "You need not bother. The Potters bodies were cremated soon after their death. With Voldemort seemingly destroyed, Dumbledore feared that the bodies could be used to inflict a Maledictus on young Harry by his supporters. No physical trace of the Potters was left behind that could have been used for such a cause. Voldemort himself knew this, we believe, as he never attempted to disturb the graves. Unfortunately, the NDEs seem to not be as well informed." The Head Auror, an older man by the name of Sturgis Podmore, looked towards the Potter Cottage, the wards around the structure no longer concealing its appearance. "That's odd. The damage on the property itself looks too clean."

Susan pointed towards the blasts along the side of the structure. "They attacked it from the the side as soon as the wards around the property collapsed, but they didn't get much in before they ran from the arriving Aurors. According to the recidents, the Cottage itself was already missing much of the damaged first floor when it was handed over to the Ministry. Word is that Harry Potter had been living here for a couple of months dismantling the property after his last public appearance, before he vanished entirely. When the wards collapsed two years ago after it was sold to the Ministry, the changes to the house were visible until the new wards were raised up. The NDEs did, however, manage to destroy the statue of the Potters since its wards weren't as strong." Podmore looked around. "So, are we operating on the belief that this was an attack aimed against Harry Potter?" Susan shrugged. "Possibly. Based on the evidence, it's more likely this was merely a show of force and a publicity stunt. Destroying the statue, the graves and the cottage on Halloween night 24 years after the first apparent death of Voldemort was probably their way of striking back, if not damaging morale. Had they found bodies, it could have been a direct threat to Harry, but without them, this is more like a challenge to him and to the Ministry." Kingsley sighed, rubbing his bald head. "A challenge I doubt Mr Potter will respond to. It's been two years since the properties under his name were sold and all of the profits that Gringotts made from them went to clear his outstanding debts to the Bank. If he isn't dead, he is certainly playing the part and no stunts like these will get him to appear again. Still…"

The Minister for Magic turned to his aid. "We can't allow acts like these to go unchecked. Have the Preservation Department come in and try to repair, if not restore the damage to the village and the monuments." He then turned to Podmore and Bones. "Conduct as much of an investigation as you can before placing guards in the village on a permanent basis. Use the Cadets from the Academy if you have to. Harry Potter might have abandoned us but the community still reveres Voldemort's Vanquisher. We can't let any of these monuments be trampled upon by any organization. It will only embolden the enemy and make the Ministry appear weak. We can't have that. Interrogate any Neo Death Eaters that are successfully arrested. The people who did this won't be able to help themselves. They will gloat about this attack and we will charge them as soon as they are in our custody." As Shacklebolt began to address the onlookers, Hermione heard Susan hang the call, which made the first generation witch turn away from the scene, pausing briefly to look at the damaged statue, the metal melted beyond any recognizable form, before looking past it and at the exposed Potter Cottage. She smiled a little, glad to hear that Harry had been using his brains after the Battle of Hogwarts. When the reporters, Death Eaters and the Ministry personnel were all looking for him after his last public appearance, they had searched for him everywhere, except in Godric's Hollow. This place that was associated with the death of his family and the beginning of his legend as the Boy Who Lived just seemed to be too emotionally charged, filled with far too many bad memories for him to have wanted to live here. So of course this is exactly where he had initially hid himself from the world.

That he had tried to dismantle the property all on his own also told her about his mental state at the time. Whatever had occurred after the Battle of Hogwarts, he had clearly found some measure of peace with his past, being willing to close the open wound that was his parent's safe house in order to possibly make a life for himself here, before something else drew him away from the world almost completely. The fact that he had sent her a letter after a full two years of silence had certainly eased some of the pain in Hermione's heart, and the knowledge that the Neo Death Eaters couldn't use his parents' bodies to hurt him further helped as well. She still remembered their visit to Godric's Hollow on Christmas Eve fondly, despite the disastrous events that came from it, their time in the graveyard being a source of comfort to her, having been there for the man she loved as a brother. A man who still cared enough about her to ask her to leave Britain before she too got dragged into the growing crisis. Now that the Neo Death Eaters had struck out against Harry's image, Hermione was certain she and the others who were with him during the war would be next. Still, this attack could help her get Shacklebolt to approve a change in her position in the Ministry. She had already trained a replacement for her in the Prime Minister's office, so getting reassigned wouldn't cause any inconveniences. The fact that her leaving Britain would free up DMLE resources would probably also help her cause. After apparating back to London, she pulled out her cell phone and called her parents. They had been debating where to move to since the letter arrived, with her mother having reduced her work hours at the Clinic. If everything went as planned, they could begin moving after Christmas. Hermione just wasn't sure if her plans allowed her to see an old friend once more. She hoped they did.

Chapter 17: New Possibilities

"Ten minutes remaining. If you are still on the essays, you may want to begin tying up your conclusions soon." Looking over her sheets carefully, Gabrielle reviewed the term exam in her hand, surrounded by other Interns and Apprentices as they completed the exams corresponding to their own subject matter. As she was studying for a Mastery that had a Certification attached to it in order to legally practice her profession, Gabrielle and the others needed to complete a few term examinations during their studies, one being a written section followed by a practical test. Satisfied with the answers she had written down and the essay questions she had filled out, she stood up from her seat and approached the front of the classroom, handing her work to the Examiner. "Here sir, it's the MCH exam." The older gentleman looked at the papers and smiled, as he was also tasked with gathering the1 examinations from the Healer apprentices that filled out the rest of the seats. "Thank you, my dear. I believe Professor d'Este is waiting for you by the stables to complete your practicals. Have a good day and best of luck with your results." Gabrielle smiled at the Ministry Examiner. "Thank you sir. Have a good day and Happy Yuletide." Taking a calming breath after stepping out of the classroom, Gabrielle pulled her bag's shoulder strap over her arm and started making her way down the hall, feeling relieved that her first examination had gone so well. She and Adeline had been studying at Elysia's home over the last few weeks extensively, with both of them having been visiting Beauxbatons to take part in the practicals, as these could take several days to complete due to a variety of conditions.

In Adeline's case, she needed to periodically check in on the plants in the Academy's Greenhouses, documenting everything and harvesting the materials at the appropriate time. According to Professor Persaud, Adeline would have to complete another half year of observation and examination, the French Guiana trip and one final year as an apprentice at the Academy, helping with the preparation of the plants to be used by the students of Beauxbatons during their classwork. Adeline, so far, was very excited for all that it entailed and Gabrielle was happy herself that her friend's mood had improved since the assault. As she neared the exit, Gabrielle pulled out her coat and slipped into it before stepping out into the cold winter weather. Whilst the rest of France was still only getting brief flurries of snow and some heavy rains, the high elevation of the Pyrinees meant that they were already under decent snow cover. While the wards prevented the worst of the weather from passing through, meaning that true blizzards would never bury the Academy, that didn't mean it didn't get bitterly cold on the ground. Once through the stable doors, she placed the coat on a rack nearby for the snow to melt, hearing d'Este calling her name from the back of the stables. A soft shriek forewarned her as Seraphina landed on her shoulder, with Gabrielle rubbing the Chal's beak. "How's the cold treating you?" The magical bird shivered, with Gabrielle nodding. "Yeah, it's a bit hard up here. Don't worry, you will have a warm nest to return to once we get back home. Though it will mean using Elysia's portkey." Sera shrugged, with Gabrielle chuckling. "Yeah, it's not that bad actually. Do you think you can wait for me to finish here?"

After one last cheek rub that left some grains of sand on her owner's skin, Sera flew up into the rafters. As she approached the stable where d'Este was in, Gabrielle smiled as she saw a familiar colt. "Hi Biaggio. How have you been, little one?" The small Abraxan neighed cheerfully with its mother watching diligently from the stall next to him as Gabrielle began her task for today: documenting his growth and determining if he was at a healthy weight for a colt that was a few months short of a year old. Having done the measurements, she calmed the Abraxan colt and his mother before drawing blood with a syringe, depositing it into a small vial filled with a potion. She watched as the blood and potion reacted. "It's odd that we have a lot more potions for use in the care of Magical Creatures than spells. Healers have plenty to pick from to detect illnesses or infection but we have to resort to blood samples." Estous shook his head. "It's not that surprising, considering the restrictions. Spell Creation is hardly ever regulated and many of the new spells are hidden from wide distribution to favor the families of those who develop them. Potions, on the other hand, are heavily regulated and need to be registered in order for them to be used for profit. As such, there will always be more potions available for similar processes that one would think a spell would be more than able to do. Besides, Care for Magical Creatures has always been tied to Witchcraft more than Wizardry, same as Potions. It shouldn't surprise you that there's a lot of overlap, same with Herbology."

Happy to see that the blood samples results disproved the presence of illnesses, infections or parasites, Gabrielle did one final check on the Abraxan's feet, peeling away the outer layer of the hoofs and seeing that there were no injuries, before filling them down to a healthy level for a creature that didn't use horseshoes but who wasn't being as physically active as nature intended for them. Once she finished her report, her Professor went over everything, before sealing it up in an envelope that he would deliver to the Examiners. "Good work as always. You are becoming quite the natural MCH." Gabrielle blushed slightly. "Thank you, Professor, though I can't take all the credit. Elysia has been very helpful producing all of the potions I need to check on the health of the creatures. She actually seemed to enjoy it too, saying that it was nice making non-standard potions, though she also said that she intended to try out some modifications to the existing recipes to increase their shelf life." Estous chuckled. "Don't let Sypha hear that or she will swoon. Having a Potions Master who isn't afraid to experiment is her dream come true." Gabrielle shook her head. "She won't hear it from me." As they packed up the equipment and left the stall, Estous continued. "Still, your name is also making the rounds in the Magical Creature trade, beyond even our borders. Having a proper MCH on the Continent is getting the Breeders, Rangers and Carers very excited. They might have gotten used to losing some of their charges due to illness, injury or poaching, but when they heard you will be getting a license in a few years time and will be available for commission, a lot of them have been reaching out to not only offer their support, but even requesting visitations for you to get even more experience. You could see a jump in requests after your latest evaluation comes through."

Gabrielle turned to look at her professor. "Already?" D'Este nodded. "Of course. The ones who assisted you in the last four months were personal contacts of mine, former students, fellow classmates, staff and close friends. But after this term exam gets through and if you score well enough, and let's be honest, after your two week long performance in the practical evaluation there is no way you are doing poorly in the written test, the evaluation will be available as a reference material when people consider soliciting your services. They may have been raised and prepared themselves for careers with Magical Creatures without a MCH being there to help them and their animals, but very few of the genuine Carers will look a gift horse in the mouth. So, make sure you rest up well during the Holidays. Come January, there will be a lot more people reaching out to you." Gabrielle frowned. "Oh. I may need to get one of the communication scrying mirrors then, though Elysia will have to adjust the wards for it. Maybe we can get a call only Floo terminal to work. She has been working on getting the one at her home working but it has been having trouble connecting to a network." Estous chuckled. "That mirror would probably be your best bet. While most people have a Floo Terminal, there is at least a single scrying mirror in every community center. Though don't fret too much over it right now. As your Sponsor, I will be receiving the requests until the day you get your license and you still have a good year and a half to go before having to worry about managing the commissions on your own. I will actually be helping you with that during your final year before certification."

After thanking her Professor, Gabrielle followed him to all the other stalls, checking the Abraxans for illnesses, but finding most were in good health, with the exception of one who had a thorn embedded on the sole of its foot. Once the animal was sedated, they were able to work on his hoof, finding that at the very least the wound had yet to be infected seriously. Under her professor's careful watch, Gabrielle used a hoof knife to get a better look, before using a pair of tongs to pull the thorn out, with Estous whistling as he inspected it. "A Streeler barb. Good thing it was dry or it would have caused a lot more damage. I will have to check the examples and see which students worked it. Breaking one of the spikes and leaving it on the ground is poor work on their part." Gabrielle hummed in agreement as she applied a cleaning solution to the wound, before drying it. Once dry, she dabbed in Healing Potion and an animal variant of a nail growth ointment, which helped to refill the part of the hoof that had been carved away. Once the rest of the hoof was filled down to an adequate level, Estous worked on the other hooves whilst Gabrielle finished her report, which she handed to her professor. A knock on the stable door drew both their attention as Adeline poked her head inside, her hat slightly covered in snow flurries. "Afternoon, Professor. Is Gabrielle done here? I just finished with Professor Persaud and wanted to know if I could catch a portkey back with you." Turning to look at her sponsor, d'Este gestured with his hand at Gabrielle. "All the Abraxans have been checked and cleared now, so you are free to go." Calling Sera down from the rafters, the three of them left the snow covered school, all clamoring for the warmth of home.

"How are you doing, Jeanne?" The shopkeeper, who was writing down the new potions that Elysia delivered into her shop's inventory book, sighed. "You know… I thought it would be easy. She was at Beauxbatons for seven years already, so the thought that she will be gone for six months shouldn't be all that different. But…" Elysia, who was adding the sticker-like registry tags to the vials, frowned. "It's different now, isn't it?" Jeanne nodded as she continued writing in her record book. "She's not a little girl anymore and this is a trip to the other side of the world. It might very well be the first of many trips for her in her career. We all know that when they reach a certain age, we are supposed to be ready to let our children leave the house to make their own path through life, but I suppose we also tend to expect to get a year or two of a reprieve, a time when we can just get used to being around each other full time. These last few months have just felt… they have been absolutely wonderful as Adeline and I have gotten to know each other again, seeing each other every day and just talking about the days ahead. But they have also felt so short. In a little over a month, it will just be me here all on my own again." Elysia placed the last tagged vial into the storage box that Jeanne used when keeping her supplies in the back of the shop. "You know… I think Adeline would say that you need to find yourself a boyfriend." The words snapped Jeanne out of her sour mood as she snorted, before laughing softly. "She would say that, wouldn't she?"

As She took the filled box into her backroom, Elysia began working on the last set of tags that needed to be applied. She spoke up when her friend returned, the two of them now working on the vials together. "I wish I could tell you things will get easier. My parents died when I was still an infant and my extended family weren't exactly fond of me, but they kept me around because of extenuating circumstances, even though they made it known to me that I was never really welcomed in their home. When I was first told that I had magic and that I was going to be spending the next seven years at Hogwarts, I was itching to go every summer and I dreaded the day the school year would end and I would be sent back. Then, as if my luck wasn't already bad, every single year at Hogwarts was one nightmare after another of dangerous creatures, Dark Witches and Wizards looking to take out Harry Potter and then the start of the war all over again. I never really got to have either an education, or that feeling of being safe… not until I started working in the Gringotts mines. And believe me, I know how screwed up it is that the moment I actually felt safe, comfortable and in a place resembling a home… was when I was several feet underground, surrounded by Goblins, working my debts away every day for the next five years of my life. So, I am definitely the last person who can tell you what you should be expecting from a life without someone so important to your life not being there anymore." Jeanne, who had been applying the stickers had stopped as she looked at Elysia's face, her words filling a massive sense of dread in her heart.

The smile on Elysia's face really confused her as she carried on. "That said… you actually have her living here, under your roof, for the next few weeks. Maybe you can start easing your trepidation by actually talking to Adeline, listening to her dreams and finding a way to reconcile what path her life might take, with the life you wish to have. Don't waste the opportunity… that so many of us never got to have in the first place." Jeanne was quiet, her eyes on her hands and the vial currently held there, until Elysia's next words surprised her. "And she's not wrong about finding a boyfriend. If not, then a man friend with certain benefits, to take the edge off." Jeanne bursted out laughing, even as the tears slipping down her eyes had been from the earlier discussions. "Oh, shush you. Not all of us can have your luck with love." As Elysia was about to ask what she meant, the bell over the front door rang out, with Jeanne looking over as her next customer arrived, realizing it was someone she had been getting to know quite well of late. "Good day, Apolline. Need something?" Apolline, wearing her long white, black and blue robes, walked up to the counter and handed Jeanne a list of potions. "My potions cupboard recently had its contents expire, so I need to restock quite a few things. I actually checked with my usual supplier in Paris but they didn't have the specific monthly potion I take in stock and the Conclaves tend to make them in quantities only for their residents. Do you have this variant?" Jeanne looked at the list and nodded. "We do, actually. Give me a moment as I get everything on the list and, if you would like, I can have you added to the list so I can have a vial set aside for you on a regular schedule." Apolline smiled. "That would be appreciated." The elder Delacour looked at the offerings on display, though Elysia had a distinct feeling that Apolline was very much aware of her presence.

"How are Fleur and Victoire doing?" Apolline reached over and inspected one of the herbal jars on sale. "They are quite well, though Victoire has been asking to visit the village again. It would seem she made some friends during Halloween and wants to come over and play with them. After I am done here, I will be meeting with the other parents to see what would be a good day when all of us are free from work. Fleur, of course, wants to come, but her schedule might not permit it." Elysia chuckled. "Yeah, I can imagine. At least the Magical Convention doesn't meet as much until after the New Years." Apolline sighed, sliding the jar back into its position. "You would think that would mean I would have more free time, but that isn't the case. Come December, the old aristocratic families, as well as the more influential representatives, will be hosting Yuletide parties and get togethers. While my husband hates them and I personally would love to spend the winter evenings snuggled against him in front of a warm fire, sipping some vin chaud, some of these parties are where the new legislations are discussed and negotiated ahead of time. They help gauge interest, establish voting blocs and discuss amendments. My evenings will be decidedly full during the Yuletide, though some of it is on purpose. Having previous arrangements gets the more "unsavory" members of the French political shakers to cease insisting on invitations. Unfortunately, my usual excuse for having Christmas Eve off the table will be out on her third honeymoon and I have yet to find a replacement." Elysia frowned. "Wouldn't saying you will be at your home amongst family be enough?" Apolline grumbled. "That would only invite the others to think that I am hosting a private celebration, which will lead to endless requests for either invitations or to abandon my plans and pick the more sociable parties."

Jeanne, who had been in the back, returned carrying two of her smaller vial cases. "Here we are. This is everything on your list, all labeled and organized by expiration date, with a card in the front that will let you know ahead of time when you need to think about restocking. If you come back with the box every four months or so, I can refill it for you with the same potions and update all the information." Apolline looked it over and inspected the vials, smiling. "I will be sure to do that. This will be easier to manage when compared to the old potions cabinet I was using back home. How much for everything?" As Jeanne went over to the register and began adding up the potions and taxes, she spoke a few words that made Elysia's heart run cold. "You know, Elysia and I were discussing our plans for the Yuletide, since Adeline will be leaving for Guiana in January. She had invited us over to her Estate for Christmas Eve. Why not tell those stuffy pricks in the Convention that you will be attending an exclusive get together at another Estate and have your family relax there. I am sure Elysia wouldn't mind having you over." As the two women looked towards her, Elysia felt her anxieties pick up, though the fact it would only be the Charbonneaus and Delacours attending made it settle down quite a bit. "Uhm, sure, I wouldn't mind. Though…" Her face went bright red. "I… don't have any Christmas decorations back at the house. Buying them wouldn't be a problem but I don't know where to start." Apolline looked at Elysia as a smile grew on her face. "As it just so happens, I know the perfect place and I can assure you it won't leave your finances in dire straits. That is, if we are indeed welcomed to attend. I am certain my husband would be delighted to be spared another dull evening at a wealthy estate trying his hardest to not make for the nearest exit."

After paying Jeanne for the potions, the three of them started discussing the plans for the next few weeks of November, with a few days late in the month being set aside for Elysia to join them out in Paris, Avignon and Reims. They made sure to leave the dates flexible enough to see what Gabrielle, Adeline and Fleur would say based on their own schedules, but neither Apolline nor Jeanne were too worried that there would be conflicts. As Apolline left the door, Jeanne looked over at Elysia. "I am sorry that I sprang that on you. I know you were repaying me and my daughter for last year by inviting us but…" Elysia shook her head. "It's fine. I was going to invite Gabrielle regardless and it would have been rude to not invite the rest of her family over. I just need to get used to the fact… that there are people I can actually invite over to my home for the holidays. Before… I was either getting invited but turning them down while I was at Hogwarts… or I just never had the means to actually invite anyone since I lacked a home of my own. I guess… having a house where you can have people over is just part of being sociable." Jeanne smiled at her. "It is, and besides, we all know you will never invite people over for a Gala, despite that massive ballroom in your home, so having a place where the Delacours can spend the holidays without the usual political and diplomatic maneuvering will be good for them. And you will have plenty of time to win Gabrielle's family over, not that you haven't already done that." Elysia pouted. "I am not trying to win her family over." Jeanne chuckled. "No… trying is definitely not the right word. Well. maybe for François, as the man seems hard to please, but for everyone else? Please. Apolline, Fleur and even Victoire were all smiling as you escorted Gabrielle around during Halloween."

Elysia's face went bright red but she didn't protest any further. After excusing herself, she made her way back home, the massive reception hall looming in front of her as she stripped off her coat and boots, stashing them all away in the closet beside the entrance, before letting Badb, Macha and Anand take physical form. The three rushed up the stairs, more than likely to rest after a long day out, as Elysia debated how much of the house needed to be decorated. Covering all the available rooms would be ridiculous and, even with the added guests coming, the main dining hall was too grand and impersonal to use. "Ida?" The small elf apparated next to Elysia. "Yes Mistress?" Restraining her dislike for the title, the last Peverell looked at her friend. "We will be having guests over for the Yuletide on Christmas Eve. The Ladies and I will be doing some shopping for decorations but I wanted to run by you which rooms we would be using. There are the small dining rooms and lounges facing the gardens… ah, I am going to have to do some outdoor decorations too… Great. Anyways, could we comfortably serve seven guests in those rooms?" Ida nodded. "Why yes, they would be the best, especially since they are next to the stairs leading up to the first and second floor guestrooms." Elysia mentally added having to furnish two or three guest rooms, not to mention decorating them for the Holidays as well, to her list of things to do in the coming days. "Check with your family when they would like to start waiting out the winter. They can have the staff rooms on the opposite wing of the Estate so they can have their fun without disturbing the guests."

Ida smiled. "That would be for the best. I believe late November would be the right time so they can avoid the colder evenings. I will let them know in time and make sure the rooms are all prepared." Elysia nodded. "Good. I will inspect the guest rooms near the stairs to see if they need any more work done or if it's just allocating furniture to them from the other guestrooms. Let me know when dinner will be ready." With Ida busy in the kitchen and Elysia's companions resting in her chambers, she found the rest of her day very relaxing as she rearranged the spare furniture into the guestrooms, while making a list in her head of the objects she would be needing to buy, though thankfully she had already purchased much of the necessary items for the rooms after deciding to get this section of the Estate refurbished, though moderately. As she finished resizing a set of beds in one of the guestrooms, she sensed the arrival of Gabrielle at the Estate with Sera and Adeline. She smiled softly as she decided to tell them about the communal bath, in case they wanted to relax after the month-long study spree they both had to do to prepare for their exams. Though, as she made her way down the stairs, her heart progressively grew anxious. There was a part of her that desperately wanted to join the two women in the baths, but there was another part of her, one she tried her best to ignore most of the time, that reminded her that she wasn't the same as them. She hadn't been born or raised as a woman and her own personal interests made her participation even more complicated. Elysia sighed as she rubbed her head. Complicated. If there was any word that described her accurately, it would be that one, as everything about her couldn't just be simple. Not even her body.

Londinium District, Summer 2000

Harry opened the Infirmary's door and looked inside. The place certainly looked better now, with all the beds being empty and the staff well rested. The Chief Healer, a female goblin that Harry knew as Golstrud's sister, was handing out papers to her staff members, before she spotted him entering the Infirmary. "Greetings, Challenger Potter. What brings you here today? I hope it's not another injury on your part." Harry smiled softly. "That reminds me of Madam Pomfrey, the Healer at Hogwarts. Apparently, I was such a constant presence in the Hospital Wing that she had a specific bed set aside for me. She even had a plaque with my name engraved on it over the bed." The Goblin Healer shook her head. "Ahh, so little in your life has truly changed. Still, do try and work on improving your safety and wellbeing, Challenger Potter. Now then, how can I help you?" Harry rubbed the back of his head. "Well, you see, Golstrud mentioned there was something important in my file that I needed to discuss with you. I am not really sure what it was he was referring to." Helstrud rubbed her chin, before signaling Harry to follow her into her office, where she locked the doors after informing her staff that she would be busy for the next few minutes. The office itself was very different from the one that Harry had seen belonging to Ragnar. Where he gathered trophies belonging to his kills, Helstrud had picture frames covering many of the bookshelves and mantle tops. Harry's inspection of the room seemed to have been noticed though, as she raised her voice once she had pulled out a file from the cabinet at the back of her desk. "Not what you were expecting?"

Frowning, Harry took the offered seat. "Yes and no. I knew you were a Healer, so I doubted that I would be seeing creature skulls, weapons and trophies, but I wasn't expecting to see photographs. Some I gather are your family members, but the others… are they your staff and apprentices or your patients?" Helstrud smiled. "Correct on all accounts, Challenger Potter. We Healers have our trophies too, they are merely less… concrete as the ones our colleagues collect." She gestured at the oldest looking frame. "That one there is my first ever patient. It was a simple case of repairing a gash across his chest, but it took me a while to get over my kind's societal rituals. As a female, touching a male was a sign of interest, but as a Healer it is imperative that we not hesitate. The sack of old bones got through to me by saying that he had no interest in bedding me, particularly if I inadvertently sent him to the Earth Mother sooner rather than later. That snapped me out and I patched him up quickly. He lived for another forty years and never hesitated to wave at me in greeting." Harry smiled at that. "I like that. Mementos born from kindness rather than death, the acts no less a challenge nor any less life threatening." Helstrud nodded. "Indeed. Healers, despite the reputation of Goblins, are well respected in our world, seen as avatars of the Great Mother's mercy and love for all life. Now then, Challenger Potter, as to the reason as to why you are here…" pulling out a slip of paper, the healer slid it across the desk. "When you were seriously injured, we ran a full test of your body's condition. We detected signs of prolonged malnutrition, heavy behavioral potion exposure and curse damage. These things you are familiar with, of course. What surprised us was this particular result from your blood test."

Harry looked at the line of text that she was pointing to with her long and bony finger. "Born July 31st, 1980 to James Potter and Lily Potter née Evans, sex… Transient? What does that mean?" Looking up, he saw Helstrud sitting back on her chair. "Well, it's a very complicated matter. You see, in most humanoids, the sexes are usually divided between male and female based on the reproductive organs they are born with. However, studies over the centuries have demonstrated that there are individuals born with the organs of one sex, but with the biochemical, genetic, psychological and perhaps even the spiritual characteristics of the other. In the non-magical world… as of right now, this condition has not been adequately identified, diagnosed or treated. Most human parents, and even the communities, simply identify the infant as the sex of their organs and begin applying the societal norms associated with these. This results in conflicting conditions and the individual will likely spend the rest of their life struggling to either adapt to or reject the role that has been assigned to them by the communities. There has been of late a surge in understanding of these transexual humans and a push for more inclusive and tolerant laws, not to mention treatments and operations that allow such individuals to approximate themselves to their own ideal form, though there has, sadly, been some backlash from more conservative sectors, mostly from people who politicize the issue simply to enhance or solidify their powerbase. Now, in the magical world, this condition manifests differently. Magic is, after all, fluid and it is shaped by the wielder, who in turn can also become shaped by it. Beings like yourself, born Transient, can manifest at birth sexual organs and traits from either sex, or even both at the same time, your essence shifting based on which ones you identify the most with, with your magic at times making the changes for you." Harry frowned. "But… I haven't manifested any such traits."

Helstrud raised an eyebrow. "Are you sure? Think back to your days as a child. Were there any incidents of accidental magic that might indicate otherwise? What of your behaviour and interactions with others? Who did you enjoy spending time with, who did you wish to emulate more?" Harry frowned as he went back through his memories. "At Hogwarts, I always preferred being with Hermione or Luna, if not the girls from the Gryffindor Quidditch Team. Where I was left to live, I guess I was more engaged in responsibilities that my Aunt was supposed to carry out. I remember making more friends with girls but Dudley and his bullies were always there to chase them away. I remember Petunia hated that I had long hair and trimmed it into something awful, but it then grew back. I then got one hell of a beating from my uncle." Looking back at Helstrud, Harry noticed that her eyes were looking forward with a sharpness he had never seen on her face before. "Healer Helstrud?" Those eyes then focused on him and softened considerably. "Let this be a lesson, Challenger Potter. Even a Goblin Healer will not hesitate to inflict pain onto others, particularly to those who engaged in the mistreatment and abuse of children. Healers we may be, but the Hippocratic Oath is a human invention, after all." She sighed. "I believe, Challenger Potter, that you experienced many symptoms associated with being a transient being, but had any such indications that you were different, in both a magical and a behavioural way, suppressed, violently even, until you simply suppressed it yourself. When you were here after you were made aware of the potions you were fed, I remember you mentioning that you felt like there was something else that was… off about who you were. It is my belief that what you were feeling at the time was this part of your very essence that had been suppressed. Your reflections merely made you aware of it once more, subconsciously at the very least."

Harry sat back, staring at his hands. He could remember staring at himself in the mirror in his first year at Hogwarts, seeing how thin he was, his body misshapen by malnutrition. He had felt so disgusted with himself, so ashamed of his flesh. The very first years of his life at Hogwarts, he remembered trying desperately to shower when all the other students were either asleep in the morning or heading to bed at night, not wanting anyone to see him naked. This was made all the more difficult when he joined the Quidditch Team, as he didn't want to change out of his clothes in front of the other players. It wasn't until later that he finally felt more indifferent to his appearance, but never comfortable in his looks. He had always assumed it was because he didn't want to appear weak, because he was ashamed of what the Dursley's had made of him physically. Now, though, if what Helstrud was saying was true, maybe there was something more. Maybe it had been less about how malnourished he was and more about how his appearance didn't seem to be what he wanted it to be. Maybe… maybe there was something more to this. "Is there any way to know for sure?" Raising his head, he watched as Helstrud searched in her desk drawer, before placing a vial before him containing a purple liquid. "As you can imagine, you are not the first Transient to exist. There have been many magicals before you with this trait who sought their own ways to reach their ideal self. This potion was developed by them. Now, I should warn you. This is not a gender swapping potion, nor is it permanent as is. It is known as the Transition Potion and its purpose is to transition you from your current form into the closest thing to your ideal self, taking cues from both your conscious and subconscious mind. You may not like the end result at first, but it is what you truly envision yourself as."

Taking the vial into his hand, Harry stared at the liquid within. "So there is a chance I may not wish to go through the change?" Helstrud nodded. "There is indeed. It's why it's not ordinarily a permanent change. In order for the change to be made permanent, you would have to take a binding potion. Now, this means you will have plenty of time to try out this alternate form of yours, letting you experience what it's like to be within your ideal self. Ultimately, whether you go through the change or not is up to you. After all, that is what a transient being is, a person who can change from one state into another of their own choosing. I will, as your physician, recommend that you, at the very least, take one dose and discover what you may yet be. After that, the choice will be yours. The potion should be easy enough for someone with your expertise to reproduce at home and you are welcome to seek my medical opinion at any time." Harry gripped the vial in his hand. "Thank you, Healer Helstrud." As he was about to leave the office, Harry noticed that one of the picture frames was empty. "Who is this for?" Helstrud looked up from the file in her hand and smiled. "Ah, that is there for the day I add a picture of yours. When I discovered your condition, I thought it was only fair to leave it blank. I intend for the portrait to reflect who you ultimately choose to become, Challenger Potter. Whether that person is a Potions Master, Champion of the Arena, man, woman or something in between, I want to make sure that it reflects who you truly are. Wouldn't you prefer it that way as well?" Harry looked back at the empty frame, and the promise that it held. "I would indeed, Helstrud. I would indeed."

Present Day

"I can't believe Elysia was holding back on us! This place is amazing! The baths at Beauxbatons are definitely bigger, but the water here just feels so much better!" Gabrielle smiled softly as she folded her towel and placed it at the edge of the tub after having followed her best friend into the communal bath's water, the air thick with steam though the water was a comfortable warm temperature. "Probably because if she had told you, there was no way you would be showering in the wizarding tent whilst you were preparing for the exams and the trip." Adeline, who had lowered herself where just her shoulders and neck were above the water, groaned in satisfaction. "When it feels this good to take a bath here? Damn right I would have wanted to use this place every night. Also, mom found a tub I can add to the tent. I will have to add the water manually, but it will be fine for the duration of the trip." After tying her hair up and slipping it in a clip to hold it in place, Gabrielle joined her friend in the deeper water, feeling her stress from the day fading away as she leaned back. "Then I rest my case. So, how was the exam for the Herbology apprenticeship and certification?" Adeline waved her hand dismissively. "After all the days we spent studying for our own exams? It was a cakewalk. I handed in my weeklong studies on the plants the Professor had the Herbology Apprentices reviewing and caring for and she seemed really pleased with my work." Gabrielle shoved Adeline lightly. "Sounds like you are a shoe-in for the Guiana trip." Adeline dipped her face into the water before rubbing her eyes clean. "Yeah, though I could tell there were some fellow apprentices who were unhappy. Chantal noticed and assured me that I wouldn't have to worry about them. Most of them are only going on the trip to get credit for the certification, meaning I won't be sharing tents or duties with them. The rest weren't friends of the pricks, so they don't have it out for me. What about you? How was your practical examination?"

After going over her own weeks-long work with Professor d'Este and enjoying the fact that, even though she took the written examination with the other Healer graduates, she wouldn't be dealing with any of them directly in the next two and a half years, the two of them were startle by a slight noise that seemed to shake the building. Out of concern, Gabrielle called Ida, who seemed relatively calm after popping in. "Ida, is everything fine? We heard a weird noise just now." The young elf bobbed her head. "Everything is fine, Miss Delacour. The Lady Peverell simply had a cauldron blow up on her while testing out modifications on how to brew a potion." Seeing the worried looks on the young women, Ida quickly added. "Mistress Elysia is unharmed. She is well enough aware of the dangers and on the first sign that anything was going badly, she apparated out of the isolation chamber. This would be the second cauldron she has had explode on her this year and she is quite adept at avoiding injury. I believe she is currently clearing out the damage and the spilled materials." Adeline sighed in relief. "Jeez, I had heard about Potions Masters having to worry about the possibility of cauldrons exploding, but aside from a few students deliberately setting one off, I have never heard of it happening to anyone." Gabrielle, however, remained frowning. She had noticed that Elysia seemed… distracted when she welcomed them to the Estate, though she was tightlipped about what was on her mind. Adeline seemed to have noticed it too. "Ida… could you ask Elysia if she would like to join us? Maybe she just needs a moment to relax. It wouldn't be fair if we both enjoyed the bath without her being here too."

Gabrielle saw the conflict of Adeline's request on Ida's face. She herself had noticed that while Elysia seemed comfortable in her current form, there were moments when she seemed stressed out. Plenty of these moments occured when they were exercising in the gym during the morning hours, though Gabrielle had attributed some of these incidents as Elysia being awkward around her because of their shared attraction towards each other. Ida's reaction and hindsight made the young Veela realize that even though Elysia had seemingly transitioned into being a woman quite well, minus some differences in body language and societal behaviours, it was very likely that she was still uncomfortable seeing herself as a woman, let alone in a situation where she would be subjected to scrutiny by others. "It's ok, Ida. If Elysia isn't up to it, we don't mind if she doesn't join us today." Ida relaxed slightly and nodded towards Gabrielle. "Thank you Miss Delacour. Mistress Elysia is quite private and has a lot on her mind at the moment so it's likely that she will refuse, but I will still pass along your request." Ida popped away, leaving the two women in an awkward silence. "Gabrielle… I know Elysia had a difficult life living at Hogwarts during those awful years but… is there something else that's bothering her?" The young blonde looked at her friend and sighed. "It's… not something I am at liberty to say. I am only partly aware of it because I met her once before, when she was a student in Scotland, but I don't know the full extent of the issue either. Just know that she is likely to be… uncomfortable in situations like this."

Adeline frowned. "Why? Is it because she's attracted to women? I can imagine that being somewhat of a problem in Britain, since some of their laws are a bit archaic, and if she grew up among non-magicals then all the more reason why she would hesitate. But here? It's just us two who have gotten to know her a lot better." Gabrielle frowned, trying to figure out a way to explain the situation without breaking Elysia's confidence, when someone else spoke up. "Reason hardly ever has a role to play when it comes to insecurities, Adeline, but you are right. I have gotten to know the two of you quite well and there are some irrational fears I need to get past." The two women turned and saw the figure of Elysia walking out of the entrance that led to the locker room, heading straight to the showers along the wall. "Don't mind me, I will be with you two in a moment, I just need to clean myself adequately before entering the bath." With her back turned to the young women in the communal bath, Elysia took off her towel and hung it from a rack nearby, before slipping under the showerhead. The three conversed lightly regarding the examinations from the day, with Elysia surprised about the snowy conditions arriving so soon in the mountainous region, adding her own experiences of cold winters in Hogwarts, the banter helping to ease Gabrielle's surprise. She tried to keep her eyes down when Elysia finished showering, before she walked towards the two women in the water, hesitating slightly as she held the towel before her naked form. After a deep breath, she slipped into the water with Adeline and Gabrielle having kept some of their eyes averted, before she too added her folded towel to the side of the tub.

After stretching her arms over her head enough for Adeline to wince at the noise of a bone popping into place, Elysia looked at the dark skinned woman and smiled at her. "T… thank you for inviting me. I didn't want to intrude, since this was supposed to be a reward for you two after studying so hard the last few weeks." Adeline smiled at her. "Hey, you deserve it for putting up with us for the same amount of time. By the way mom described you, I gathered you were just not very social. Did… something happen to you at Hogwarts?" Gabrielle wanted to reach over and cover her friend's mouth with her hand, but Elysia surprised her by responding. "A lot of things happened at Hogwarts and while I can't go into specifics… I can freely admit that I was never truly… satisfied? … content? Comfortable! I was never truly comfortable in the way I looked amongst my peers. My upbringing prior to Hogwarts wasn't the best and I can readily admit to suffering from chronic malnutrition. I was thin, skinny, very uncomfortable in my own body and, even with the Feasts at Hogwarts, there was no way for me to actually recover what I missed out on. When I had to share the showers, I always felt inadequate. Over the years, I managed to pick up some muscle mass, but it only accentuated just how underweight I was. Despite my best efforts… I never quite felt like I belonged in my own skin, and it affected me in ways… that I hadn't really considered." Feeling the heavy mood, Elysia turned to the two young women and smiled at them. "That feeling has passed and I received the treatment I needed the most, and now I am comfortable in who I am today, though as you noticed… some old fears and insecurities are hard to kick."

The mood eventually lifted as everyone talked about their plans for the next few weeks, with Elysia revealing what she and their mothers had discussed. Both Adeline and Gabrielle were excited about the upcoming Yuletide season, with the former practically begging Elysia to let her help out with the decorations for the Gardens, whilst Gabrielle was more than happy to work on the decorations inside, as she wasn't exactly fond of the cold. Eventually, the three decided to leave the water, though again Elysia hesitated to leave even as Gabrielle and Adeline were already showered and covered up with their own towels. Not wishing to embarrass her any further, Adeline thanked Elysia for the opportunity and headed into the lockers to get dressed, with Gabrielle following close behind. She did catch a momentary glimpse of Elysia as she exited the bath, the young Veela's face turning bright red from what she saw of her housemate's naked physique, though she did notice the white bathing suit bottom the older woman was wearing as she too headed to the showers to wash off the bath salts and oils. Even as Adeline teased her about how flushed she was, Gabrielle kept thinking about Elysia, what she had said about herself in the bath and the reality she had just seen. It definitely felt like she had been telling the truth, though it was probably one that had the benefit of hindsight. At the very least Gabrielle was happy that Elysia was comfortable sharing as much as she did about herself and hoped that one day… maybe she wouldn't hesitate to share the rest of it. She definitely was looking forward to that day, and what such trust would mean about their relationship.

"You needed something from me, Director?" François looked up from his position behind his desk and signaled her silently to his ears, with Moriéve nodding before drawing her wand. As one of the very few Dhampirs currently alive, Cynthia possessed the enviable distinction of being capable of using magic. Most Vampires possessed magic in their bodies but, due to the nature of the curse that sustained them, this magic was directed to enhancing and sustaining their bodies, with very little of it being capable of being used actively, with the exception of the Elders and their abilities to transform into bats or wolves. As a Dhampir, however, the curse was barely active in her, meaning she had a shorter lifespan than a full blooded vampire and lacked the ability to ever transform her body via the curse itself, but because she was able to produce magic within her own body that didn't feed the curse in its entirety, Cynthia was able to learn how to use magic. As she was still a century old, this meant that she was self taught, as the inclusivity laws that would have permitted her to study at Beauxbatons would not be in place until after Grindelwald's War. Still, her unique situation made her one of the MSF's most trusted Aurors and François knew she was well trusted by the Dark Denizens she policed. It was why he needed her insights right now. Once she was satisfied that the room was without eavesdropping spells, François raised his own privacy ward, which Cynthia could tell was heavier than usual. "Something troubling you?"

Nodding, Delacour took a file from his desk and presented it to her. "These are all the disappearances that have occurred in France over the last few years, including the ones from the non-magical side." Leafing through them, Cynthia frowned. "That's a lot of women, particularly these last few weeks. I knew there was an issue with Veelas disappearing and I have had my contacts working on that, but there are so many more non-magicals as well. Do you believe they are all connected to some massive human trafficking operation?" François sighed. "I sincerely hope not, but the numbers of late are concerning. The primary issue with the Veela disappearances is that most have been independents, young women who had left Conclave life behind. Their activities are harder to trace and they don't have the backing of a Conclave to increase the security of their residences. Now, you remember the recent Algier smugglers we caught? Apparently, they claim to be part of a larger smuggling operation, one that has been redirecting their resources of late. For the most part, this has included black market potions, wand making materials and magically resistant hides. While they themselves are paid in muggle currency, their shipments on the way back to Africa and the Middle East apparently consist of "live cargo." While some of what they smuggled was suggested to be rare magical creature specimens that are illegal to transport without authorization, there is a strong possibility that the smugglers have been transporting the captured men, women and veela towards these other countries, possibly as their "down payments" for future shipments." Cynthia felt her skin run hot, which was a rare thing for her kind. "They would need to have facilities to contain these groups of victims before getting them off the continent without using magic."

Looking up from the paper she stared at her boss. "Is that why you called me? Because of the role Vampires used to play in the human trafficking market?" François steepled his hands. "I have enough faith that your father and the other Courts are keeping themselves relatively clean, as the advent of blood banks has made your need for "on tap" resources less necessary. That said, the Courts are not known for changing all that much, meaning that the knowledge and contacts from that side of the world are readily accessible. I would like it if you could try and approach the Courts discreetly and see if anyone has heard of a group filling in the void they left behind when they ceased their illegal activities. I would also like to know if the Weres have heard anything about these operations. With the new potion in open circulation and the laws changing to accommodate them, we could see a lot of people come forward and report illegal activities in exchange for immunity from prosecution. So long as these Weres were only acting as guards, I have no issue requesting the prosecutors to provide them with such immunity, though any "hunters" sent out to capture any prey will have to be processed and negotiated with on a case by case basis." Cynthia looked at the page in front of her, and the women who looked so happy, their lives changed irrevocably by forces beyond their control, many of whom by being who would be delighted to see these same women beaten down and broken into mere pets. She had seen that behaviour in the Vampire Courts before and hated it beyond words, her father being the instigator for the more inclusive and responsible behaviour of European Vampires as blood became easier to obtain. "I will ask around discreetly. Anything else?"

Nodding, François handed her a second file. "The items that have been smuggled into the country are supposedly not staying in it, at least not all of them. There is a chance that these were destined for Britain, where the resources would be useful to the Neo Death Eater terrorist organization. It's possible this is all part of a vast criminal enterprise that seeks to profit from the conflict, though there is a chance they could be trying to do something similar here. If you can't find anything on the kidnappings or the intercontinental smuggling trade, keep an eye out for anything regarding Britain. Whether it's manpower or materials, someone out there is looking to capitalize on it and will look for services rendered by deeply private people." Cynthia looked over the folders. "I am guessing by your security measures that you are paranoid that there are those who have already been bought and paid for to keep the MSF off their backs." Francois sighed. "Indeed. I am in the process of doing something about that but I can't say anything else." Cynthia raised an eyebrow. "And what makes you think you can trust me?" François smiled at her. "My dear, if you had as much apathy for others, you would have remained your father's princess in his Court, not become an Auror. That and the rage I saw in your eyes at the sight of the women who have been spirited away makes it clear that you do care, about them and about the job. That said… do be careful. I don't want to lose an excellent being such as yourself, let alone such an excellent Auror." Cynthia smiled at him as she stored the files into her coat pocket. "Will do, sir. By your leave."

Chapter 18: Of Angels and Demons

"Hey! Anand, come back here with that!" Elysia looked up from the box full of artificial Christmas garlands, before shaking her head as the black haired dog pulled on one of the garlands that had already been placed around the window frames. After she ran past Macha, who was lazily resting along the top of the Entrance Hall's sofa, the ethereal creature rushed up the stairs, its ill gotten gains dragging along the ground behind her, leaving Christmas ornaments littered across the ground, though these thankfully remained unbroken. As Adeline chased after the dog who ruined the garland she had placed herself, Jeanne looked on as her daughter chased the beast up the stairs, who managed to snag the pilfered garland and start a tug of war, causing the elder Charbonneau to shake her head in amusement. "It's a good thing you had these enchanted to be unbreakable." Elysia smiled as she summoned several of the felled baubles and deposited them into the box they originally came from. "It was the right choice, though Fleur hated it after she was conscripted by her mother to help us out with all the delicate decorations. At least, I am certain she started hating it after her one hundredth decoration." Jeanne chuckled. "Yeah, I can imagine. Still, I am surprised you were able to convince Apolline not to have you buy living trees. I have never met a more demanding woman in my life." Elysia shivered. "I have. I could also understand why she was dead set on me going for actual trees, but I refuse to be responsible for chopping down over ten trees just to decorate the Estate. Sure, artificial ones are more expensive, but with the right preservation spells, they will be around for quite a long time."

Jeanne nodded, before proceeding to wrap lights around the tree she was currently working on. The two of them had been accompanied by Apolline to several Christmas Markets all along France, with the other family members coming along sporadically. It was clear from the start that Apolline was heavily traditional when it came to trees, liking living ones with more ornate and unique decorations, while Jeanne, who had been raised in a mixed family, was more interested in the modern styles. Elysia had to often balance the two, agreeing with Jeanne with buying only artificial trees, and surreptitiously leaving an order for one living tree, while being more open minded about the decorations. As had been decided, the only rooms that would be decorated were the guestrooms that would be in use, though both Elysia and Gabrielle's rooms were getting their own, more sparse decorations, as well as the selected dining room, the adjacent lounge and the Estate's Reception Hall. Right now, the Charbonneaus were helping Elysia and Ida with the Reception Hall itself, as they all felt it was more significant if the lounge area was decorated in tandem with the Delacours, who had a previous arrangement earlier in the day. Of course, the decorating of so many trees did come with the complication of whether or not one could use Christmas lights, though Jeanne had been kind enough to take Elysia to a Magical Market that was being managed by a family of first generation magicals who had developed a means of using magic to replace the electricity on said lights. They were currently working on alternating colored lights and even preprogrammed effects, but for the moment Elysia had settled on lights that had their intensity shift, not unlike actual stars.

As Jeanne activated these lights and gauged how to give the tree the best coverage, Adeline finally managed to return, the garland wrapped around her arm. "That dog of yours is a menace." Elysia smiled as she helped to disentangle the young dark skinned woman from the Christmas decoration. "They all are, but there is no malice behind it. They just like to have fun, at anyone's expense. Trust me, it's hard to get them to behave around anyone, including Goblins." Adeline tested her now freed arm, rubbing the pine needle indentations along her skin. "Is that who you had over when you asked Gabrielle to spend a long weekend at her parents' house?" Elysia shrugged. "Maybe? Sorry, but it's all going to be a surprise. You will just have to wait like everyone else." After redecorating the garland with baubles, flowers and stars, Ida lifted it up and placed it on the hooks that had been attached to the walls, before fastening it with magic, as Elysia and Adeline fastened it along the sides of the windows. The three of them had finished decorating much of Reception Hall with lighted garlands along the window and the spiraling stairs, leaving just the trees to decorate, when Elysia looked towards the front entrance. A few minutes later, the Delacour family entered with little Victoire squealing in delight as her mother and aunt smiled from behind her. Apolline gave the hall a quick sweep with her gaze before speaking up. "They may not be real but I must say that you three have done a fine job decorating this space."

Once everyone had removed their coats, Elysia watched as François looked around, looking past the decorations. Now that she thought about it, this was his first visit to the Estate, as work kept him relatively busy and any free time he did have he dedicated it exclusively to his family. "Apolline mentioned this place was initially designed as a fortress. She wasn't kidding, though the more aesthetic interior look you are going for is definitely far more pleasing than what the former aristocrats favor in their homes." Elysia recalled the design of the Malfoy home, at least what little bit Harry had seen with his engorged face at the time. "Medieval bluntness or Baroque over indulgence?" François grumbled. "The latter, obviously. From the moment the Palace of Versailles was unveiled, every magical family demanded their artisans surpass the glamour and prestige of the monarchy. You, however…" taking a few steps closer to the wall, he inspected both the wood panels and the Christmas decorations. "You favor utility, elegance with subtlety. I take it the more elaborate craftsmanship wasn't exactly by choice?" Elysia sighed. "When you give Goblin Artisans and Craftsmen the equivalent of a blank canvas, a specific design aesthetic and they just happened to want to give it their all into the creation of a masterpiece? Trust me, if they wanted to show off and I had let them, there was a chance Versailles would have been eclipsed. There is a reason the marble reliefs are placed behind the tellers in their banks. It is very much a show of the Goblins' love of stonework and the pinnacle of their craftsmanship." François added that bit of information into his mind, noting that he needed to give said stonework more attention the next time he visited the bank.

Leaving the Reception Hall after the last of the lights were tied to the trees, the group entered the lounge that Elysia had selected for them, with a decently sized tree placed in the corner. Taking a seat on the sofa with her grandmother, Victoire began picking out which Christmas ornaments she wanted to use from the boxes placed around the tree, with Adeline looking through the windows to the gardens. François soon joined her, his arms crossed over his chest. "Thinking of what to add out there?" Adeline nodded. "It's the only set of decorations that Elysia hasn't bought yet." Said person spoke up as she pulled the string of lights out from its case. "Seeing as we are not lighting the entire building up like most people do with their own homes, I thought it best if we completed the decorations in here first so then you could decide how much needed to be decorated outside so that it looks appealing, not excessive." Adeline hummed to herself. "She has a fair point." With Ida delivering cups of warm coffee and cocoa to the room, everyone got to work applying the decorations, with Elysia lifting up Victoire on her shoulders so the little girl could place the star at the top of the tree herself. All the while, the former Potter kept her eyes looking around, seeing everyone, including François, enjoying themselves as the two families debated which decorations to place next. The reality that this was not just Elysia's first true Christmas, but Harry's as well, only partly counting that brief time of joy the one Christmas season Harry had spent at Grimmauld Place, wasn't lost on her. The surge of emotions was enough for both Gabrielle and Ida to look towards her, with the former bringing over a warm cup of cocoa.

"You ok?" Accepting the cup, Elysia held it in her hands, letting the warmth seep into her skin, before responding to Gabrielle. "Y…yeah. Up to this point, I was only ever a guest during Christmas celebrations. At Hogwarts, at my godfather's house, and at Jeanne's. This is the first one where I am actively participating in decorating not just a house… but my own home, with people that I care about being here with me. It's… I don't know… how to describe this feeling." Gabrielle could see tears filling out Elysia's eyes. Wrapping her arm around the raven haired woman's waist, the young Veela elected to say nothing at all, letting Elysia go through the emotions fully. For a brief moment she felt the bond between them, which was almost always closed down, open up, with flashes of memories and feelings spilling through, like water through an opened canal. She saw Harry looking wistfully at the Christmas tree his relatives had set out, knowing there were no presents underneath it for him, followed by a glimpse of the tree in the Gryffindor Common Room, the joy of actually having presents of his own soured by the knowledge from hindsight that several of them were merely an old man's manipulations. She saw that heart warming interaction between Sirius and Harry at Grimmauld, followed by the heart wrenching moment he and Hermione shared before the Potter graves. In every instance, Harry was indeed just a bystander, never a participant in what it meant to live a normal life, and it tore at Gabrielle's heart to no end to see how deep those wounds ran. The rush of memories and emotions, however, only made Gabrielle hold onto Elysia tighter. She could see why Halloween had meant so much to Elysia now. This settled Gabrielle's own feelings as well. Regardless of what they were to each other, she would give Elysia a real joyous Christmas experience, one that would eclipse all the disappointments she suffered in the past. It was what she deserved.

"I must say, you have placed a lot of effort into decorating the guest rooms for us." Elysia rubbed the back of her head as she and François descended the stairs of the Estate. Whilst he had trusted Gabrielle's judgment regarding her staying at Elysia's home, the latter's invitation for the Delacours to spend the days of Christmas Eve and Christmas on the property resulted in her having to allow the exceedingly careful head of the Delacour family to inspect the rooms he and his family would be staying in. As a show of goodwill, Elysia had also shown him Gabrielle's suite, with her permission of course, with him being suitably satisfied. She had then directed him to the room he and his wife would have for the night, as well the room for Fleur and Victoire which adjoined it, finding them all satisfactory. Wanting to avoid any issues, Elysia had let him see the rooms fully decorated, especially the room he would share with Apolline, with him having a knowing smile at the sight of the traditional living tree specifically bought and decorated with the Delacour Matriarch in mind, the smile telling Elysia that she had made the right call, though the other room had a tree with more modern styled decorations, particularly those that Victoire had seemed to favor the most when she had been helping to decorate the lounge on the ground floor. "I am asking you and your family to celebrate what is a deeply personal holiday at my home. While it's fair to expect you all to accept some of my personal tastes in what that might entail, I personally believe that a good host should also accommodate his guests within reason." François raised an eyebrow at Elysia. "So this has nothing to do with appealing to the family of the woman you intend to court?"

Elysia's face turned somewhat red. "To some degree, perhaps, but my intention is still to provide the best environment for a Christmas celebration for the guests who will be attending. I had the blessing of inheriting and accumulating a decent amount of galleons. What good is it if I don't put them to use?" The Delacour Patriarch sighed. "If only most of the old families were as thoughtful and as generous. I have had the displeasure of attending many Christmas Eve Galas with the most affluent people of our society. Rather than being accommodating or displaying some form of hospitality, the majority of them simply take it as an opportunity to brag about their wealth, creating these elaborate parties that only account for their own tastes and beliefs. I am glad to see that you are being more reserved and thoughtful, though seeing as my daughter has taken an interest in you, I couldn't imagine you being any other type of person." Elysia took the compliment in stride, though she was debating whether or not to be more open with Gabrielle's father. Apolline had mentioned that she had yet to reveal the fact that Elysia had once been Harry Potter to her husband, both because she felt it bore no real importance to Elysia's interactions with him and out of respect for her privacy. Though she wanted to confide in him, the last of the Peverell's simply wanted to get to know him a bit better before adding another layer of complication to their relationship. Thankfully, François carried on with the conversation on his own. "You mentioned that the Estate had its wards up to Gringotts standards, while retaining some of the initial defensive ones already installed on the property?"

As they reached the reception hall, Elysia nodded. "The Estate had been locked down for almost a millennium, with the wards fading in intensity as the nearby leyline weakened. Gringotts had retained the inheritance contract for it and managed it as well as they could, with the concealment wards managing to keep any unexpected guests away." François shuddered. "I can see why. Even apparating into the portkey point is… unnerving, though I can't help but applaud the security measures you have in place. I was thinking of applying some of those very measures to my own property, so I was curious if Gringotts would be able to replicate them, or if it was a proprietary ward of the Peverells." Elysia frowned. "It would depend. The wards of the property are unique in other ways besides their origin. Applying the Gringotts and internationally approved standard wards was far more complicated than if it had been any other property, but I could try and see if the configuration of your wards is compatible with mine. That is, if you are willing to have me look them over. I can understand if you wish to keep your wards a family secret." Françous stopped for a moment, rubbing his chin. "Our home is in no way an ancestral house, as my family only came into providence after the Napoleonic Wars. The wards on our property are simply the ones sanctioned by the French Ministry for use on the properties belonging to Convention Representatives and high ranking Ministry personnel. I would have no problem letting you look them over. We can head on over right now, if you like, before I get called in to make an appearance at the Ministry."

Slipping on some more appropriate winter clothes, Elysia portkeyed with François back to the edge of the Delacour property line. As they were still a few days from the beginning of the Yuletide, the ground only had a thin covering of snow, with the forecasts for this year seemingly warning that it would be colder than the previous one, but that there were fewer chances of heavy snowfall. François himself checked the ground just in case the melted snow had already formed into ice, but found the ground to be more wet than slippery. "I am going to have to throw some salt along the pathway to the house, before this turns to ice in the night." Elysia followed after the man to the front door, before that nagging feeling reappeared. Looking along the front of the property, Elysia could feel there was something out of place. "Monsieur Delacour, could you wait a moment? Something isn't right with the wards." Walking along the front of the house under the watchful gaze of François, Elysia paused in a position in front of the house's large window overlooking the sitting room. Either because of the material or coating of the glass or the wards, she could not see through into the house itself, but when she reached out with her hand, she felt the wards act as a barrier. However, when she pushed a bit harder, she could almost feel them make way for her. While Elysia could bypass some wards, it was usually with Badb and Macha both lending her their power. While both of her companions had accompanied her, neither was focusing on sharing their power at this moment, meaning the failure was occuring because of the wards themselves. Drawing the Elder Wand, Elysia summoned her Patronus and sent a message to Maeruk, before informing François about what she had discovered.

As learning how to send a Patronus as a messenger wasn't as difficult as learning the Patronus Charm itself, the experienced Auror that was François was able to send a message to one of his own staff members, the young man arriving a few minutes after Maeruk and another Goblin. Delacour called the man over. "Lécuyer, sorry about the unusual summons but this situation needs an expedited response. My guest here found what she calls a vulnerability in the wards. She summoned her associates from Gringotts to offer their own expert opinion. I would like you to verify the situation as well." The young man with sandy blond hair nodded. "Very well sir." As the Goblin and Lécuyer worked on the wards, Elysia looked towards Maeruk. "Sorry about the summons. I know this is a somber time for all followers of the Earth Mother, but I am not as well versed in wardstone stabilized wards." The female Goblin shook her head. "My cousin and Sursef understand that you would not call without reason, my Lady Peverell. We were all too happy to answer your summons." Elysia raised an eyebrow. "I am glad, though I need to ask… should I keep quiet about the familiar tone you just used with the Ward Master?" Maeruk blushed, a first for the elder Delacour to witness on a goblin. "... I will be informing my cousin prior to Ostara if things remain stable, so your discretion would be appreciated." Elysia chuckled before mining that her lips were sealed, when Lécuyer cursed. "Your friend is right, Director. The ward has been compromised, though I am not seeing how it was done. We would have to take the ward down to inspect the relays."

That bit of news troubled François as he did not wish to expose his home any further, but Elysia tapped his shoulder. "I can place a temporary ward on the property while yours is down, keeping everything locked down on either side while they diagnose the problem." Delacour looked at his Auror, who nodded. "That would be the best way to go about this." Getting a nod of approval, Elysia approached the other Goblin. "Ward Master Sursef, could I bother you for the use of your warding stones?" Receiving the bag, Elysia began walking around the exterior of the Delacour home's wardline, leaving just enough space for those inside to move about freely, as she dropped the pebble sized crystal stones onto the snow covered grass. François turned to Maeruk. "Would your Ward Master not have been a better choice in setting up the temporary barrier?" Maeruk's eyes shifted to him. "He is more adept at placing permanent wards. Temporary ones, particularly those raised without a wand, need to draw in energy from their surroundings to be activated, and even then it takes time for them to be fully charged, the same as it happened with yours. Champion Peverell, however, can charge them herself, meaning the ward will be up as soon as the last link is established. A ward set by her, even a temporary one, will hold up to anything that might endanger your family." Raising an eyebrow, he waited beside Maeruk, cataloging everything he had just gathered about the behaviour the Goblins expressed around Elysia as she reappeared from the other end of the house, tossing one final crystal before holding another which was held with leather straps like a pendant. He heard Elysia mutter the word "behave" to the air, before she placed the strap over her head.

As soon a brief flash of light was seen from the pendant and the crystals, both François and Lécuyer gasped as it felt as a weight had settled onto their being, though the Goblins seemed unaffected. Elysia noticed the reaction and blushed. "Ah, right, sorry. I might have charged it too quickly. You can drop the house's ward now, it's perfectly safe." The younger Auror turned towards the new ward barrier, running his wand against it, his eyes widening. "She isn't kidding. This ward is as strong as the one over the Ministry Building." Sursef muttered to himself. "It's probably stronger still. Director Delacour, if you would please lower the wards? I would like to check the relay that is buried here." Sighing to himself, Delacour entered into his home, with the wards coming down a few minutes later. With a flick of hand, Sursef carved a hole into the ground, summoning a long cylindrical core of dirt out of it before placing it to the side. With a scan of his hand, he was able to find the repeater in the dirt cylinder, pulling it out and cleansing it, with both he and Lécuyer frowning as they looked at the object. Sursef was the first to speak. "Director Delacour, I believe you have a far more serious problem on your hands. This relay has been sabotaged. One moment." Moving a few steps away with his hand scanning the ground, he made another incision, summoning a smaller cylinder of dirt, before removing the relay from it. He compared the two to each other, before bringing them to François. As the head of MSF inspected the two, seeing the differences, Lécuyer chimed in.

"Ward Master Sursef is right, though this is a lot more troubling than some act of sabotage. Based on the components and the age of the materials, it can be inferred that the very people who installed the wards sabotaged it. They made it in such a way that the vulnerability this relay created would be undetectable to the owner of the ward, as the relay would fail over a shorter amount of time. If your home had been attacked, you wouldn't have known it was happening until the wards had already been breached." Elysia looked at the stricken Delacour. "Who installed these wards?" Lécuyer answered for his Director. "All government issued wards are installed by certified warding companies, all of whom bid to take on the job. The government usually takes the lowest bid, seeing as they have a lot of properties that need new wards every Convention election cycle." François grumbled. "Either they singled me out as the MSF Director or every property the commissioned company warded is compromised. We need to investigate this thoroughly." Lécuyer nodded. "I will head to the Ministry and pull up the paperwork on the company involved."

Sursef, having collected his tools and replugged the holes in the ground, approached the MSF Director, handing him a card. "Gringotts may not offer the cheapest wards, but they are beyond reproach. You may have them inspected by your own specialist as they are installed so you can be more confident. I can inform Director Fueruk about the potential situation and have Gringotts Paris on hand, ready to install as many wards as requested by your Ministry." François nodded as he took the card. "I will speak to the Minister and have him contact your Director to formalize the agreement. If the wards of more Ministry personnel are all sabotaged, we will need to remedy the situation as soon as possible." Sparing a look at Elysia, the raven haired witch just gave him a soft smile. "I was already willing to host you for a night. You and your family can spend however long it takes to get the new wards installed. I will only ask you to help pay for the groceries we will need to get for everyone." François rubbed the back of his head. "As much as I would like to decline for the fact that I do not wish to further impose on you, I have no choice but to accept your generous offer. And… thank you, for noticing the gap in the wards." Elysia shook her head, before she looked at the house in question, glad that she didn't need to contemplate what a tragedy it would have been had she not been here to notice.

"Looking for something to show off to Elysia?" Gabrielle blushed softly as she pulled the chemise away from her body, returning it to the clothing rack at the store in Paris' Place Cachée. She had come to the city to purchase the presents for Christmas, accompanying her mother, Fleur and Victoire, whilst her father was busy trying to stymie the chaos that the investigation into the sabotaged wards at their house had unleashed. Minister Brion Béranger had given his full support for an investigation into the company responsible for warding the property after another client, Director Poirier, found that his own wards had been sabotaged as well. The company, Étienne Wards and Defences, which was one of the oldest warding businesses in France, had its assets ceased and documents inspected. All estates warded by them were currently undergoing review, with the appearance of several more cases of sabotage at varying stages of vulnerability being discovered. The possibility that the company could have been responsible for the deaths of some prominent members of the Assembly and the Ministry came to a head when the names of the deceased appeared on the client list, as many of these deaths had been labeled as accidental, if not a crime of passion perpetrated by the members of the families involved. No one had suspected that the wards could have been sabotaged by the installation team itself. The Marcels, the family that owned the company, claimed to have had no knowledge of these sabotages, laying the blame on the individual ward masters, but the MSF confirmed that the individuals doing the installations were never the same for every case. The head of the family was detained with specific charges being prepared as quickly as possible for his more permanent detainment prior to a trial.

Of course, when news of this scandal broke, the public who had done business with the Étienne Wards and Defences company sought out other companies to review the state of their own wards and to overhaul them if they were found lacking. As it was winter, the weather certainly didn't help matters, as any installation required the removal of the previous relays from the ground and the burying of new ones, with the cold ground proving difficult to work with, not to mention the number of clients that suddenly wanted a very intensive review of their homes' securities. Gringotts Paris had the benefit of calling on the Ward Masters of its other branches to lend a hand, meaning that they saw the most customers in the shortest amount of time, so they became the default that all of the affected families turned to. Due to the treaties between the Goblin Nation and the Ministry, the homes and businesses of the Convention's representatives and Ministry personnel were given top priority, with François Delacour having the difficult decision as to whether or not he could afford to delay the warding of his own home to give the other Directors and staff members a shot at getting their wards reinstalled before the New Year. Since Elysia had been quite generous about providing them with accommodations and the temporary ward around the Delacour home was found to be ridiculously effective, François scheduled his home's re-warding after the New Years, prefering to give the rest of the Ministry the chance at a safe holiday season whilst his own family was well protected.

For Gabrielle, this meant that her family got to see her interact with Elysia on a more intimate level, which made her incredibly self-conscious. Not that they were doing anything improper, as Elysia remained the model of restraint and civility Gabrielle knew her to be, but she could see her parents eyeing every interaction between them, with Apolline seemingly very satisfied with what she was seeing. While her father seemed aware that there was something changing between Elysia and his daughter, he didn't exactly seem overly concerned. Elysia had admitted that she was looking to inform him as to who she had been before, but was waiting for the warding situation to be resolved first. Of course, the one having the least amount of trouble with the entire affair was Victoire. The size of the house had the little girl in an exploratory mood, with Elysia assuring the Delacours that no room that had anything dangerous was in any way accessible. She had been forced to lock the gym just in case Victoire tried to play with the heavy equipment without adult supervision but, other than that, the little ball of endless energy was free to move about the upper floors of the Estate, with Elysia's three companions often being found playing with her. François had been initially concerned about Anand, as she seemed a bit on the wild side, but the three creatures were unnaturally gentle with Victoire, particularly when they played games together. The fact they all had a greater degree of awareness than any creature of their kind, magical or not, made François relax a bit regarding his granddaughter's interactions with them. After having spent a few days enjoying Elysia's warm hospitality, with Gabrielle and Fleur both suffering some embarrassment about their parents… overindulgence in their use of the communal bath, the Delacour women had elected to head out to Paris' Place Cachée to do a bit of Christmas shopping.

Apolline had initially been with them but had slipped out of the store in order to buy a few gifts for her family that she wanted to keep as a surprise from everyone, with Gabrielle and Fleur agreeing to meet up with her in an hour at the fountain in the main square. So far, they had visited a few shops and bought their parents some tasteful gifts, with Fleur buying a few toys for Victoire, and Gabrielle buying a few more after seeing what her sister had purchased. At Elysia's insistence, Ida had been permitted to listen to Gabrielle's summons, so she could transport the items back to the rooms in the Estate. The two young women had also stopped by and purchased some holiday wrapping paper and ribbons, before stopping at a clothing store. Once Fleur had found a pair of pajamas, winter clothes and a child's dress that Victoire loved the color of, she had made for the cashier, whilst Gabrielle had lingered in the undergarment and lingerie section. Having seen the colors of clothes that Elysia favored, those being mostly in blacks, reds, greens and dark browns, she had found a black see through chemise that was a lot less conservative than what Gabrielle usually wore, before her sister startled her. Taking a moment to recenter her thoughts and to lessen how red her cheeks were, she looked through the other options available to her. "I thought about it but… wouldn't it be too precipitous of me to be planning for us to be intimate? We aren't even dating yet." Fleur chuckled softly. "Gabrielle, you two may not have been dating for the last six months, but you have been dancing around it the entire time. Hell, even I have felt it whenever you two share space. Your Allure flares at the mere thought of her and I am pretty sure her magic does the same, though I have no idea how one even counters the effects of the Allure the way she does. I am not going to say that the moment you two start officially dating you should pin her down to the bed and start getting frisky, but you shouldn't try restraining yourself either. You have been doing that as it is already. Just… feel out what seems appropriate in the moment and enjoy yourself. I know if I was in your place, I would."

Gabrielle looked at Fleur with a bit of surprise on her face. "Wait… you think you might be interested in women too?" Fleur blushed softly as she too inspected the lingerie options, though she refused to lift them out of the racks since Victoire was next to her, the little girl enjoying a small bit of confectionery. "Maybe. I mean, these last few days living in the Estate has made it very clear just how gorgeous Elysia is, even to my eyes. She has really worked herself hard to not be scrawny, which would be far too easy with how short she is. Of course, it's beyond clear that she still needs a few lessons in personal care. Her hair is better than it has any right to be, but it's still just a mess, and the fact she can be so attractive with no makeup is impressive for a non-Veela. Seeing all she has become has certainly made me realize how much of a mistake I made when I didn't approach Harry with the respect he deserved, though in all honesty… maybe neither of us were mature enough to have started anything at the time. The truth is, however… being around Elysia and seeing you two interact has made me aware that I might have missed out on someone else, someone who showed a lot more consideration to me than the rest of the magical population of Britain and who might have been feeling just as lonely as I was. I had certainly dreamt about it but I always held myself back… for obvious reasons." Remembering what her sister had told her of her stay in her home at the Shell Cottage, only one name popped into Gabrielle's head. "Hermione?" Fleur's face turned a bit more red. "It is the weirdest thing. When she was there, I was just focused on being a good mother to Victoire and being a faithful wife. But looking back now… there is a part of me that wishes that I had been willing to initiate something with her."

Gabrielle frowned after she decided to not buy the chemise, the three of them leaving the store and making their way down the street, the crowds being scarce due to the bitter cold. "Then why not send her a letter? It shouldn't be too hard for her to travel here." Looking over at her daughter, who was looking through the nearest window at the toys on display, Fleur felt a bittersweet smile grow on her face. "I wish it were so easy. Hermione is unfortunately the second most sought after target for the NDEs, after Harry of course. If she were to go anywhere without the right safety precautions, it could get her killed. It's why I haven't sent a letter to her since moving back home. I don't want to be the reason she gets attacked or worse. Even still… I miss her. Victoire does too, even more than she misses her father, which just goes to show just how thoughtful and caring Hermione was to her when she was visiting us." Gabrielle saw the wishful expression on Fleur's face, as she tried to recall something about Hermione. What had Elysia said about her? "Didn't Elysia mention that she was able to send her a letter? She is hardly the least careful of anyone in the world, meaning it was sent in a safe manner. Maybe she can send one for you the same way! That way you can reach Hermione without endangering her and let her know just how much you miss her." Fleur pulled a loose lock of hair behind her ear. "I… I will ask her, though now you know this means I need to figure out what present to send Hermione as well." Gabrielle smiled. "So? It just means we get to have more fun out today. How about we checkout the bookstores? Hermione can read French, so any of the local ones should be fine, and the rarer the book the better." Nodding, the three Veela moved through one of the narrow side streets to where one of the local bookstores was set up, but as they neared the door, their vision suddenly went black. As Gabrielle was about to scream, the familiar sensation of a stunning hex shot through her body before she lost all conscious thought.

"François! Tell me you have heard something! Tell me someone has seen our girls!" The Delacour Patriarch felt his heart weighing heavy in his chest as he took his frantic wife in his arms. "I wish I could. I have mobilized every single Auror and Reservist under my command and even pulled some favors with the ICW Aurors and non-magical Police. We will have the ports scoured and the border crossings locked down. They will be found, I promise." Apolline pulled out of his arms, her voice raised. "You and I know the longer it takes, the higher the chance that we will never see them again!" François sighed, seeing feathers poking out along Apolline's jawline. The pain and rage she was feeling was overpowering her control over her form. "Beloved, I have done everything that is within my power to find them and I will not rest until they are, but you should make your way back to the Estate. As soon as we have news I will be there to tell you personally. Please…" Apolline, seeing the truth in her husband's eyes, lowered her gaze to the ground, nodding with her head. Calling over an Auror that was guarding the crime scene, he asked him to escort his wife to the nearest Apparition point, where she could take the portkey back to their temporary home. Allowing herself to be pulled along, a deeply distraught Madame Delacour searched in her mind for all other alternatives she could pursue to recover her girls before it was too late. She had heard far too many horror stories from the few Veela who managed to escape their captivity, how they were nothing more than bed warmers for the ultra wealthy to keep on the side to satisfy their twisted fantasies. She couldn't allow that fate to befall her daughters and granddaughter.

As they passed along the side of Gringotts Paris, Apolline's head snapped to look at the grand doors. Breaking free of the auror's grasp, she rushed as fast as her legs could take her up the steps, before passing the two bewildered guards, though they came to attention as the Auror behind her drew near. Reaching the welcome desk, she did her best to control her emotions. "I am Representative Apolline Delacour of the Dumont Veela Conclave. I need to speak to Viceroy Fueruk on a matter of treaty." The receptionist Goblin looked surprised but stepped out of their desk, asking her to wait a moment, as the Auror reached her side, asking her to accompany him outside. With the Goblin Guards just behind ready to intervene if they were needed, the loud crack of a cane striking the marble floor of the Bank's lobby drew everyone's attention. Having brought the entire chamber to silence, Fueruk gestured for Apolline to approach him. "What can Gringotts Paris do for you, Representative Delacour." With the Auror again trying to reach her, Apolline's next words stunned the entire Goblin workforce. "I wish to invoke the treaties between our peoples to hire the Champion of the Arena to rescue my kidnapped daughters and granddaughter." All the goblins turned their attention to their Viceroy, who took a few steps closer to Apolline. Seeing the desperate plea in Apolline's eyes, Fueruk looked past her shoulder. "Auror, if your orders are to secure her safety or to escort her, then please inform the MSF Director that Gringotts will assume full responsibility for Representative Delacour's wellbeing. You may go. Madame, if you would follow me." After entering a region of the bank she had never seen with a large circle at its center that reminded Apolline of a Portkey or Apparition end point, Viceroy Fueruk turned to her.

"Why do you believe that Champion Peverell will be able to assist in the recovery of your missing family members?" Apolline took a deep breath. "Because she is connected to my youngest daughter through a magical bond. My daughter explained to me that Elysia's raven familiar traveled through it once before, bypassing the wards of Beauxbatons to rescue her from another student. I believe Elysia can do the same. Please, the longer we delay…" Fueruk nodded. "The greater the chance they may be harmed or worse. I understand. Ida." A soft pop preceded the arrival of the Peverell family elf. "Viceroy of the Goblins calls Ida? What can Ida do for the Goblins?" The Viceroy bowed his head slightly. "Dearest elf, your Mistress is needed here. Please inform her to arrive post haste… and to bring her weapon along with her. Her bonded is in danger." Hearing the last part, Ida wasted no time and apparated away. A few minutes later, the Floo Terminal on the side of the chamber flickered to life, revealing Elysia in clothes that Apolline had never seen on her, except perhaps with the armour she wore on Halloween. They reminded her of Death Eater garbs, though these looked more like leather fatigues with plates of metal attached to them. Carrying a long case, Elysia's eyes went from Fueruk to Apolline, the sight of the woman being all the confirmation she needed. "I thought something was wrong! Gabrielle just blacked out too quickly. What happened?" Fueruk walked up to Elysia as Apolline explained what had occurred a few streets over. "Lady Peverell, though it pains me to ask you to take on this assignment for what it will entail, the truth is that you alone can save the lives of these Veela, and perhaps any others also in captivity at their location. Are you willing to take up arms once more?"

The way the question seemed to rock Elysia surprised Apolline. In the time she had known her, Elysia Peverell seemed like the fulfilled promise of Harry Potter's future: a person confident in their power and sure of their actions, though still remaining unnaturally kind. That the idea of taking up arms, even to save someone who meant something to her, would be so physically impactful was never something she expected. She watched as Elysia opened and closed her mouth repeatedly, before those broad shoulders slumped. In a defeated silence, Elysia moved towards the nearest table, placing the case she had brought with her atop of it, as a Goblin arrived, handing a portkey to Fueruk which he had requested after calling for Elysia. Apolline watched as Elysia unlocked the case, before lifting the lid, the contents consuming Elysia's attention completely. "I had hoped to have left this part of my life behind. I had repaid my debt in full and conquered the last of the great challenges. All I wanted… was to be left in peace." Reaching into the case, Elysia's right hand wrapped itself around the hilt of the weapon, before lifting it into view. The sword was longer than the one Dredhook had initially taught Harry with, the blade just as wide, made of a black metal that seemed to draw in the light. Taking the offered potkey and instructed on its use, Elysia finally turned to look at Apolline, who felt her own heart cease beating momentarily, the green eyes of the witch glowing in a green light that looked all too familiar to those who had faced down dark wizards and witches alike, though they seemed hollowed out, as if the person behind them had vanished.

"Fueruk, draw the necessary contract with Madame Delacour and have the Head of the Guards prepare a questionnaire. I will need his presence for the interrogations as soon as I have… recovered." Fueruk raised his hand to his heart and bowed, as did all the Goblins in view of Elysia. "Everything will be prepared upon your return, including the Champion Suite. For what it's worth… I had wished that this day would never come. May your enemies fall swiftly before your righteous blade, Champion Peverell." Nodding, Elysia walked to the center of the chamber, as Fueruk gestured at a Goblin behind a desk. As the circle underneath Elysia started to glow, the raven haired witch inclined her head. "Alright Badb, show me." A few seconds passed before Elysia vanished, the circle going dark once more. Fueruk turned to Apolline. "I believe it will only be a matter of minutes before your daughters and granddaughter are returned to you, though I hope you are ready to live with the cost of today's request." Apolline shook her head. "To bring back my girls safely, no amount of galleons would be too great." Fueruk raised an eyebrow. "I wasn't referring to the price, but the cost. Ah, perhaps the translation in English is insufficient. Madame Delacour, there is a reason we of Gringotts Parision revere Lady Peverell. It is not just that she is a Champion of the Arena, but the fact that she remained a deeply kind and generous person despite the horrors she faced." He looked away from the Elder Veela and fixed his gaze on the platform where his dear friend had just been.

"Elysia came to us seeking a life of peace. In her years of service to the Goblin Nation, she had stained her hands in blood of both beasts and sentiments alike in defence of herself and others, but the Nation never dared to send her out against wandwavers or others of her kind. The trials that she faced resulted in her mastering what power she possessed, but she feared that said power could be used inappropriately… That she herself might be tempted to act inappropriately. As such, she has been allowed to remain in peace, sent only to eliminate pests that would put our people's lives at risk, because we knew not only how deep anything greater than such a request would harm her, but what it could draw out." He looked back at Apolline, a pained expression on his face. "Your family will be with you shortly, of that I have no doubt, but you best pray that when Elysia herself returns, she does so as the woman you had met, and not as some… thing that she needed to become to save the lives of those dear to you both. If not… well, the world may not be ready for The Morrígan to walk the earth once more, particularly if she has lost herself to the coldness of death. Now, if you excuse me, Madame Delacour, I have some preparations to attend to… and a Sovereign to inform, regarding today's events." Apolline watched as Fueruk walked away from her, his gait far more unsteady than she had ever recalled seeing on the Viceroy, as she looked back to the Apparition point, her heart sinking, believing that she might have saved her daughters… at the cost of far more.

"Looks like we will be getting quite the payday tonight. Three Veelas, all of different ages, with a little one younger than ten years of age. She might make the month for all of us tonight." Gabrielle struggled to open her eyes, her neck feeling itchy as some collar had been attached to it, her arms bound behind her back. Turning over, she saw what she assumed were their attackers as they finished attaching a similar collar to Victoire, with Fleur lying down on a filthy mattress not a few feet away from her, her arms similarly bound and a collar fastened to her neck as well. One of the men looked over at her. "Whoa, we will have to add a warning with this one. Stunners wear off quickly. Hello there, pretty bird. I don't suppose you would save us from the trouble of looking by telling us if you're still pure between your legs. The clients like to break your kind in themselves, you see, and will pay a pretty penny to have that chance." Gabrielle narrowed her eyes as she drew on her power, before she felt the collar around her throat tighten up to the point she couldn't breath. The man chuckled to himself. "Sorry, tweetie, but you aren't the first Veela we have handled and you won't be the last. That collar on your neck is set to knock you out if you try drawing on your magic for anything. So if you don't want to be passed out for the few hours you have left with your family, I suggest you behave yourself." When the other man placed Victoire on the last available mattress, her arms and legs also bound behind her back, the burly fiend looked from Gabrielle to Fleur. "Mmm, I think I am going to want to sample the goods." The man standing by the cell door grumbled. "You know if you damage them, we aren't going to see much of a payday, little girl or not. The Boss is clear on keeping all merchandise as pristine as possible."

The conversation between the kidnappers made Gabrielle feel ill to her stomach. That they would see her and her family as little more than merchandise to be sold to buyers was bad enough, but the very idea that they could be raped even before that was nauseating. She could feel the panic from six months back rising up in her mind, the very idea of not only repeating the horror being powerless once more at the hands of a man but possibly having to bear the shame of being raped? Even though she had her insecurities, even though she struggled so much with being Veela, that didn't mean that she was willing to let herself go through all of that once more. As her face grew framed with feathers again, she felt the collar tightening around her neck once more. But, before she could pass out, a soft sensation dulled the anger and revulsion in her mind. "You are safe. This, we promise you." Gabrielle felt her body relax briefly as the words echoed in her mind. What surprised her, however, was that it hadn't only been Elysia's voice. There were others there too, sounding similar to Elysia but just slightly off. The sound of beating wings made her realize who the other voices were. Still, even as she felt safer, she still filled the link with urgency as the burly man turned a waking Fleur onto her back and began to rip at her clothes. "The girl was holding onto this one's hand. I will be careful, but I bet you she is the mother of the two, meaning I can have my fill since she is already lesser goods." The man at the far end of the cell sighed. "Just don't get too wild that we need to use potions to make her presentable. As I am not interested in watching your bare ass, I am just going to step outsid-"

While the bigger thug was pulling down his pants, he spoke up into the sudden silence. "Yeah, yeah, just warn me if anyone drops by." After his words left his lips, the people in the cell who were aware heard two thuds, as a round looking object landed right beside the man as he loomed over a quickly panicking Fleur. The thug looked to his right, his face going stark white as his eyes found themselves fixed on the decapitated head of his accomplice. "What the- ugh…" As he surged up, all thoughts about enjoying himself having fled his mind, he found his body unable to move. Even breathing proved difficult. Turning his head down, terror gripped his soul as he saw the tip of a black blade sticking out of his chest, blood slowly dripping onto the equally surprised Fleur. A voice the Veelas knew all too well filled their ears, though neither had ever heard it sound so cold, as the words sent a chill down to their very bones. "There was a small part of my mind that simply wanted to sneak in here, retrieve my charges and leave. I don't really enjoy killing, particularly when it comes to intelligent beings. Unfortunately, I don't think there are any true intelligent lifeforms here. Only vermin, parasites and the victims they are feasting on. So, I think I am going to stick around here for a moment and deal with this… infestation. You, my filthy little parasite, can just sit back and wait your turn. I am curious though, how you will ultimately die: blood loss, suffocation, brain death… or if you will live long enough for me and mine to make it back here to finish the job ourselves." Gripping the man's shirt, the cloaked being tossed the paralyzed thug away from the captives.

Fleur initially felt relieved when she heard Elysia's voice, only for the relief to turn into shock as those bright green glowing eyes grew fixed on her. She watched as a black gloved hand with sharp looking claws reached out to her, causing her to flinch and close her eyes, until they tugged at her collar. From her vantage point, Gabrielle watched as magic surged from the collar and vanished into the claw, before Elysia pulled at the object, the material breaking as if it was a knife slicing through paper. Doing the same for Gabrielle after she sliced through Fleur's bindings, Elysia finally freed little Victoire, who had apparently awoken at some point, the little girl throwing herself into Elysia's arms, crying. The touch of the little girl seemed to surprise the last of the Peverells, her eyes losing their inner light, before she carefully patted the small child on the back. "It's ok, Victoire. The bad men won't hurt you or your family ever again." Rubbing the strawberry blonde hair as the girl pulled back, Elysia cleaned off the tears from the child's eyes, before handing her a keychain. She called the two other Delacours to her. "Grab onto the ring or each other and just wait while I go deal with this situation. The portkey is set to activate as soon as the anti portkey wards go down." Victoire hugged her mother tightly. "But what of the other bad men? What if they come back while you're gone?" Elysia smiled at Victoire. "They won't get a chance to harm you. Anand." Following a brief pause, the three Veela watched as a black mist streamed out from Elysua's body and pooled right next to her, taking on the form of a canid. However, where Anand usually looked like a disheveled domesticated dog, today she took on the more menacing appearance of a large wolf, its pelt slick black, its eyes an unnatural green.

Elysia stood up and turned to her companion. "Anything that isn't a fellow captive is to be killed on sight. You can have your fun with them after we are done. Your first priority is keeping the three of them safe from any harm. Understood?" Anand lowered her head in confirmation, before Elysia took up her blade. "Badb." Another stream of mist left Elysia's body, the cloak that had covered her body disappearing as it took the form of a raven, leaving Elysia in her Champion crafted armour. "Find the wardstone and see if you can corrupt it. Have it let the portkey activate before closing it all back down. The Aurors can deal with this place after we clear it." After a soft caw of confirmation, Badb took flight, before Elysia looked back at the three Veela huddled together, her eyes lingering on Gabrielle. "As much as I would wish otherwise, this is a part of who I am." To her surprise, the last of the Peverells watched as Gabrielle's eyes held her gaze steady and resolute. "I understand. I will wait for you on the other side. Just make sure you come back." Elysia blinked at her, feeling her body go up in temperature, before giving her housemate a soft, if bittersweet smile. "I will be there." Raising her sword, she took a few practice swings, getting used to its length and weight again, before taking a deep breath, her eyes beginning to glow once more. "Alright, Macha, let's get rid of this infestation." Hearing a roar in her head that was more like that of a large feline than a cat, Elysia left the cell where her charges were being kept, finding the rest of the floor not too different from what much of her basement had once been, rows upon rows of prison cells where the owner would keep its victims. Digging into her pocket, she released a recording crystal, having it float behind her before she started carrying out her work in full.

Getting a sense of where there were more living creatures that were able to move freely, Elysia rushed forward quickly, her long sword held at her side with both of her hands gripping its handle. Coming around a corner, the unconcealed huntress found a grouping of several guards, all surprised by her presence. That surprise remained frozen in place in the case of several of the guards as she rushed forward, slicing her way up one man's entire torso, before swinging around and taking the head of another. Dredhook's instruction of never slowing down her momentum unless it was strictly necessary was beaten into her heart as she carved and stabbed her way through the remaining wizards, with one managing to cast a disarming curse at her. Since most wizards and witches had no idea how to face a non-magical combatant, Elysia had elected to focus on physical combat and, even with the dark wizards or witches smart enough to cast a disarming curse whilst she was holding a sword, the use of it was pointless if you couldn't land a hit. Having dodged the spell with relative ease, she dispatched the remaining guard in the underground before another curse could be thrown her way. Focusing on those remaining life forms around her, Elysia could feel the terror leaking out of them, meaning they were probably the victims of this trafficking ring. Knowing that they were safer in their cells for the moment, Elysia left them there as she made her way up the stairs into the ground floor of the building. It was clear from the construction that this place had once been the personal property of some wealthy family, with the interior of the upper area seemingly too well maintained to be a recent acquisition. Tightening her grip, she spotted the next group of targets, killing them as soon as they spotted her, before they could even draw their wands.

While she hoped the owner wasn't stupid enough to have their own family living at top of a dungeon filled with humans and Veela snatched from the streets, she wouldn't put it past them either to be so callous and unafraid of being caught. Elysia's thoughts were briefly paused when Badb reported in, having located the wardstone and began the process of corrupting it, overwhelming the magic of the owner with their own. Checking on Anand, Elysia found she was still guarding the three Delacours, a bit bored since she knew her owner took out most of the guards on the lower floor intentionally. Promising to repay her with plenty of attention the next few days, the last of the Peverells focused her mind, trying to gauge out who was living in the building above the cages. To her disappointment, it was clear that there were indeed children in the upper floors, some feeling equally as terrified, if not as broken as the ones below. The presence of collars around the necks of most made it easy enough for her to know who not to strike. A few, however, seemed standoffish, bound by no collar. It seemed to her that the ringleader was indeed running his operation from the comfort of his own home. The level of arrogance on display ran a surge of power through her skin, with Macha singing in her ears in absolute delight at the slaughter that would follow. And it was a slaughter. These Dark Wizards and Witches were probably on par if not less skilled as the Death Eaters and Snatchers Harry faced in his life, but their inexperience at facing a combatant that could outspeed them and strike with either her sword, or the knife she could draw with her offhand, made them little more effective than civilians. Fueruk and Ragnar would probably find their performance to be seriously disappointing, though Elysia was just glad she didn't need to be too overly concerned.

With her not casting any magic, the owner of the property was simply unaware of her presence, only getting the faint sensations of a few lucky guards casting some spells, but at no point did Elysia sense the wards activating to lock her in or cut off her movements. When they suddenly fell under her control, a smile broke on her face as she momentarily dropped the anti portkey ward on the basement, sensing through her link to Gabrielle that they had been successfully transported away, before locking the place down tightly. No one would be allowed to leave the premises until she was done eliminating the infestation. Whether it was to regular humans, Elves or Veela, an organization that prided itself in trafficking beings as slaves did not deserve to be spared and she had no intention of doing so. With the wards under her control and Anand free to join the hunt, Elysia made no further attempts to conceal herself. The next grouping of guards were blasted away in an overpowered wandless Bombarda, limbs, mangled bodies and broken bits of furniture splayed all along the corridors, with her blade ending the lives of any fortunate survivors. She could tell she was approaching the current location of the organization's on site leader as the concentration of better trained dark wizards and witches spiked, but with Badb having joined her as well, they could no longer see her approaching them. In what felt like a very long hour, Elysia finally reached the last remaining door with guards hidden behind it, the rest of the rooms having only collared victims in them. The owner had clearly gathered his family into what he hoped was the most secure room in the house.

Once fully concealed by Badb's power, Elysia unleashed a Bombarda straight at the fortified double doors, splintering them into a fine mist. A stream of spells and curses filled the opening as the inhabitants sought to capitalize on the sudden opening, but all those simply passed by Elysia, her form completely hidden from sight. Allowing a few of the guards to step out of the chamber to inspect the area, she made her way inside, noticing the family cowering in the corner. Using her hand, she unleashed a wide range stunner, knocking the non-combatants out, with the action drawing attention to her position from the guard next to her, his wand shifting to aim her way. Unfortunately, her blade swiftly sliced through his elbows, disabling him, before she launched him into another guard. Ramming her equally as invisible blade through both bodies, she then turned around and dodged the curses unleashed in her direction, any concern for the wellbeing of their injured and dying comrades clearly gone from the mind of the remaining guards, with an older man, rotund though with an impeccable head of brown hair, standing in the corner, his wand in his hand. Recalling what curses came from that direction made Elysia realize that he was just as capable of defending himself as any of his guards, though unfortunately for him… none were her match. A flicker of movement from the door drew Elysia's attention, before one of the two remaining guards found his wand and hand becoming Anand's new chew toy, his agonizing cries drawing the attention of everyone left in the room. With a precise stab of her long sword, the last remaining guard was disabled, his body slumped onto the ground as she withdrew her blade from his neck.

As Elysia confirmed there was no one left to be a threat and that the family of the head of the operation was properly stunned and unconscious, she then turned to look at the ever more desperate man, his eyes darting everywhere as Anand had vanished into black mist before any of the curses sent his way could strike him, returning to Elysia, though she could feel that the dog was still unsatisfied, while Macha purred in contentment. Badb, as ever, was indifferent. She didn't care to take lives, though Elysia knew that below that indifference, there was a small part of Badb that yearned to see judgment passed down onto those who deserved their fates as they abused the living. Elysia touched the raven's essence within her, letting her know that she would not go unsatisfied either. Waiting for an opportunity, she reached out and grasped the wand in the man's hand, snapping it and his fingers together through her strength, before striking his knee at the correct angle, breaking the ringleader's bones. His knees barely struck the ground before he began to beg. "Please, stop! I will go quietly. I will go to the Aurors and reveal the identities of my associates. Just please, spare me!" Masking her voice, Elysia spoke from underneath her cloak of invisibility. "Oh, I know you will go to the Aurors and claim to cooperate. And then… you will drag your feet, delay the courts and do everything in your power to give your associates enough time to bail themselves and you out. An election here, an appointment there, large anonymous donations all around. You will do everything in your power to delay your comeuppance. Unfortunately for you… I am no Auror, nor do I serve your government in any capacity. I was sent here to clean up the infestation of parasites that dared to harm those dear to me… and that is exactly what I will do."

The man grew ever more desperate as Elysia grabbed him by the collar of his suit and robes. "Please, I can give you names. I can give you some of the members of Sangroyal. Galleons, gold, all the slaves you could want! Anything! Just spare me!" A smile broke along Elysia's face, not that the man could see it, as her companions waited patiently for her judgment. "I believe you. I know you will give me everything you know…" The man's face slowly grew more confident, believing that he had succeeded in bargaining for his life… until the now visible black blade pierced him right through his abdomen, severing his spine. He looked up, stunned. "But you said…" Elysia interrupted him. "I know, but you see, I don't actually need you alive for me to get everything out of you. In fact, it's easier for me to do it after you're dead. But don't worry, I won't let you die too quickly. Because of you, there are hundreds of innocent souls suffering as they are treated as little more than playthings somewhere in the world. Their blood, their pain, their tears… they are all on you just as much as they are on the hands of those who are torturing them right now. So you won't be dying quickly today. Instead… I will let you suffer a fraction of the pain you have caused others before your own death and then make sure your afterlife is no less peaceful. Anand, Macha, Badb." Elysia appeared in the room as her three companions took form, with only Badb retaining her usual form, as Anand remained in his wolf-like state while Macha took on the appearance of a black panther. With all three Hallows in attendance, Elysia looked at the man, her eyes glowing as green as theirs, as all four stared at the man. "He's all yours. Just don't damage the soul too much. He has a lot to answer for." She then released her grip on the wizard's shirt, before death descended upon him, his final moments of life being anything but brief or gentle.

Chapter 19: Embracing Hope

Staring at the Apparition endpoint deep within Gringotts Paris, Gabrielle waited for Elysia to return. When the three of them had been portkeyed to this exact location, her mother had intended to bring everyone safely back to the Peverell Estate, but Gabrielle had refused to go. She could feel echoes of what was happening to Elysia and she didn't want to leave her bonded to recover from it all on her own. After the Director assured Apolline that Gabrielle was safe, particularly as all of them were checked by Healers and given a clean bill of health, her mother relented, taking Fleur and Victoire back with her portkey after the array was opened up for them. Apparently, the system was one that was in place for the transfer of materials, gold, vault contents and other miscellaneous objects between the various Goblin Banks. It was even more secure than the typical Apparition point because it could be opened and closed on both ends, with the wards designed to impede detection from outside forces, though this meant that it could not operate as an open arrival point, even if one was registered with the wards. For travel between the Banks, it had to be planned ahead of time and scheduled. Ordinarily, Gabrielle would not have been told about such things, but, as Elysia's bonded, Director Fueruk was willing to trust her with some insider knowledge whilst they waited for Elysia's return. Having been provided a chair, Gabrielle was surprised when a female Goblin approached her, handing her a glass of cold water. The young Veela smiled. "Thank you, Maeruk." The attendant shook her head. "No thanks required, Miss Delacour. If anything, we should be thanking you." Surprised by Maeruk's choice of words, the young goblin explained.

"Lady Peverell is a very dear and beloved member of the Goblin Nation, but there was only ever so much we could do for her. We helped rebuild her home, assisted her in starting her career as a Potions Master and guaranteed her freedoms as a citizen, but for all of that, we knew we could not fill in the hole that remained in her heart. She was practically a hermit for a year and a half, uninterested in the world around her. Until, of course, you came around. From the moment you signed your contract with Lady Peverell, we could all see the light returning to her eyes, her visits becoming more common and extended as she sought to reconnect herself not only with you but the rest of the world. She has come a long way since the end of her Trials and it is all because of you and her friends. So, thank you." Gabrielle held the glass in her hands. "Do you think… she will be alright? I can feel her through the bond, but all I am getting are brief flashes that feel… cold." Another voice spoke up. "Yes, she will be physically fine, though her mind… well, when she killed the beasts of the Arena it was clear to all that she regretted most of their deaths. What she found where you and your family had been kidnapped to were beasts that looked like men, who acted like men. Beings with souls sure, though one can imagine how damaged those souls needed to be to play a part in such a vile business. The question, my dear Miss Delacour, isn't whether she will be fine or not, but what the experience might change in her heart, if anything does." A voice from the array control desk filled the air. "Incoming apparition." Gabrielle finished her drink and handed it to Maeruk, before standing up as the array flared with light before it faded. At its center stood the familiar form Elysia, though she looked tired, the longsword still drawn and held in her hand. Looking around, her eyes momentarily froze on Gabrielle, sending a rush of emotions through the briefly opened bond, before she pried her attention away onto another.

"Head of the Guards Tyrok, would you do me the favor of… treating my weapon? I doubt it's been nicked but I am in no state to properly clean it at this very moment." The taller than usual Goblin dressed in heavy plate mail but without the helmet walked forward and received the weapon with care and reverence. "It will be ready by morning, Champion Peverell. When you come to retrieve it we may then carry out the other business you requested of me." Nodding, Elysia then dug into her pocket as she approached Fueruk, handing him the recording crystal and a portkey. "The portkey is set to the destination and the wards are currently down so you will need to contact the Aurors quickly. The crystal should have everything you need for the report and contract fulfillment, with the exception of two eliminations I carried out upon arrival. I recorded their final state, at the very least." Fueruk nodded as he took the crystal, before looking over her face. "I will handle the matter of the service contract. That said… will you be needing anything else?" Elysia looked towards Gabrielle for a moment, before shaking her head. "Nothing else at this time, my friend." Hearing the last word used by Elysia eased some of Fueruk's concerns. "Then you may retreat to your suite. Your bonded has insisted on handling everything else herself." Bowing her head softly, Elysia walked past Gabrielle, hesitating to take her bare hand, before Gabrielle reached out and did it herself. The two walked through the corridors of the Bank before reaching what Elysia called the visitor's wing, as all the suites were gathered here. Finding her room, she didn't need to use a key as merely touching the doorknob unlocked it. Inside, Gabrielle could see that the Goblins actually took the time to decorate the suite in a similar fashion as Elysia's home, as a clear show of respect.

"You don't need to help me with my clothes." Gabrielle, who had been about to reach for Elysia's neck, looked up into those green eyes, seeing concern and … shame. The young Veela shook her head. "You are in this state because of us. This is the least I can do… Besides… I have gotten used to dealing with blood these last few months." Sighing, Elysia showed Gabrielle where the armour's straps were and what order to undo them. As she started to remove the belts and arm guards, Gabrielle began to see the splattered blood covering it, the black material having hidden it well. Drawing her wand, she used the vanishing spell most Healers learn to remove blood stains on clothes, before continuing. Removing the chest armor surprised her, knowing that Elysia was quite "gifted," but the plate seemed to conceal it quite easily. Once she had the chainmail shirt removed, which Elysia had to help her with since it was quite heavy, she noticed the bindings on her chest, blushing softly, before continuing. All the while Elysia watched Gabrielle, looking for any sign of fear or disgust, but only seeing her embarrassment from earlier and her concentration. "Would you have ever wanted to be a proper Healer?" Gabrielle paused for a moment as she was removing the last buckle on Elysia's thigh armour. "I suppose I did once, but the more I studied Healing, the more it became clear that there needed to be a degree of empathy for others. While I can feel a general degree of empathy for everything that lives, it's harder on an individual level, having experienced what I have. Tonight's events… don't make it any easier. What about you?"

Elysia stared at the nearby window. "I spent some time helping out the Chief Healer at the Goblin Hospital Wing, though I was mostly distributing potions and helping hold down the patients. Helstrud told me I had the empathy required of a Healer, but not the patience, let alone the knowledge." Gabrielle looked up, blushing again as she realized how suggestive her position was as she removed the padding and thigh armour plates. "Don't Potion Masters need to have patience as well?" Elysia raised an eyebrow at Gabrielle. "You did see my setup, right? One potion into the next and the next?" Gabrielle blinked until she realized what Elysia meant. "You time them so you don't really need to watch them brew for the allotted time?" Getting a nod, Gabrielle returned to her assignment, but when she went to pull Elysia's pants down, a hand reached down and held her wrist, though the grip softened quickly. "I… sorry… I can do that on my own. You don't have to go any further." Gabrielle brought herself up to stand face to face with Elysia, those green eyes looking at her with concern, as Gabrielle realized why she apologized. Raising up her hand, she touched Elysia's cheek, the young woman instinctively moving into the touch, before she stopped herself. The blonde witch bit her lip. "You saved my life and the life of my sister and niece. You don't have to apologize to me. And while the experience did dredge up some unpleasant memories, it… it's gotten easier now. If anything, I feel like I could never flinch away from your touch." Elysia searched Gabrielle's face. "That doesn't mean the scars are gone." Gabrielle shook her head. "No, it doesn't. But I think it means I am beginning to move past it… and I want to move past it all with you."

Sighing, Elysia took Gabrielle's hand into hers. "But it won't be tonight. You may feel fine, but I refuse to have anything as deeply important as our first time tainted by the evils of others." Gabrielle looked into Elysia's eyes. "Not even a kiss?" The raven haired witch looked away. "No, not even a kiss." Gabrielle chuckled before turning Elysia's face to look at her. "You asked me once, after you told me about this darker side of you, how I could bear to look at you knowing your hands could be stained with blood. This is why. The men who kidnapped me wouldn't have even bothered to ask nor care about me, they simply would have taken the things that mattered to me, including my body, without so much as a consideration. I was an object to them, something to admire, steal, sell and eventually… use. But you can't bring yourself to even think about taking advantage of me, even when it's at my request. My well being means more to you than your own desires. And you wonder why everyone calls you an angel." Leaning in, Gabrielle placed her lips against Elysia's, resisting all the desire she had to push for more, before pulling away, enjoying the stunned look on her housemate's face. "Now, I am going to be showering and I would love it if you would join me. Just showering." Walking past the mostly undressed Elysia, Gabrielle proceeded to remove her own dirtied clothes, glancing back to spot the raven haired witch staring away at the nearest wall, refusing to even observe her, despite the clear invitation. Once inside the far more modest shower, though it certainly had a larger space than the one in Gabrielle's suite, the young Veela sighed in relief as the warm water cascaded down her back.

A few minutes later she noticed movement in the bathroom and watched as a deeply red Elysia stood outside the shower, only wearing a towel for modesty. Despite the earlier invitation, Elysia refrained from entering the shower itself, though she remained in the bathroom itself. "You sure you won't join me?" Sighing, Elysia shook her head. "One day, and the way you are behaving, it will be quite soon, I will join you and make sure that neither of us are out in a decent amount of time, but not tonight. I… am not as in control over myself as I usually am." Respecting Elysia's wishes, Gabrielle finished showering and left the bathroom. Summoning Ida, the elf was glad to see her well, even crying tears of joy. After bringing over a pen and paper, as well as an overnight bag of pajamas, Gabrielle wrote a few letters for her parents and sister, assuring them she was well and that she was staying the night to look after Elysia. Just before Ida left, Elysia walked into the suite, making her own requests for clothes, before slipping into just a camisole and shorts. Noticing that Gabrielle was seated on the bed and had no apparent interest in moving, Elysia pulled back the covers and slipped onto the bed. Turning off the bedside light, Gabrielle briefly debated being more forward but decided to just sleep in her pajamas. Once under the bed sheets, the two women stared at each other before Elysia was the first to break eye contact. Moving more to the center, Gabrielle reached over and pulled Elysia into her arms, running her hand through the slightly damp long hair and over her back. For her part, the last Peverell remained exceedingly stiff in Gabrielle's arms, before the young Veela spoke to her.

"Was that something you do often?" Elysia sighed, pressing her forehead into Gabrielle's chest. "No, that was my first time. Before that I was just taking out nests of magical creatures that were a danger to others. Wyrms and Lavellans, mostly." Gabrielle was silent for a moment, curious as to how Elysia seemed so comfortable killing magicals. Had she been in her Veela form, she wasn't exactly sure if the instincts would have been enough to allow her to take a life so easily. Either sensing or hearing Gabrielle's thoughts, Elysia responded to her silent query. "The first time I took a life since Voldemort, was in a Goblin Nation District. I had been there for over two years by then and had killed a few deadly magical creatures in the Arena, as part of my attempts to repay my debts to Gringotts. There was a rebellion and I was assigned to help in the hospital, when the rebels breached its defenses, intending to kill as many people as possible. My minder, my trainer… my friends. They were there, injured. I couldn't let them die! But Goblins in armour and with their weapons are hard to stop with magic. Only a debilitating or killing blow that could pierce goblin steel would be able to do it. So I used a medieval curse crafted by my ancestors to pierce through the armour… and killed them. I killed all of them." Gabrielle felt Elysia starting to shake. "They weren't monsters pretending to be human. They were Goblins, fighting a desperate battle for what they believed was right. But I couldn't let them kill my friends, who were fighting for the same thing, to protect their way of life. That was the day I truly felt like my hands were stained in blood and I knew… it wouldn't be the last. Ever since, I dreaded the day that I would kill a sentient being again… even as I trained myself in order to do just that. Because I knew that if I hesitated again, like I did back in Britain, even more people that I love could end up dead. I couldn't let that happen again!"

Gabrielle pulled Elysia tighter against her chest, any other thoughts washed away from her mind. She had wondered why Elysia had seemed so at ease with what she was doing. The sort of men and women she killed certainly made it easier to justify it, but the fact that she had been training herself to kill sentients, despite not wanting to, broke her heart. Over the last few months she had gotten to know who Elysia was, had seen numerous times how she was so kind and generous, even to complete strangers, how deeply she cared for the well beings of others. At the same time, she had seen her pushing her body to its limits, every day, training herself physically and perhaps even mentally, to account for what she knew, deep in her heart, was an eventuality. That people would come and endanger her peaceful and quiet life, threatening the lives of those she wanted to protect. All that training, all that discipline, so that in the moment she was needed, there would be no hesitation, no weakness. It was why Gabrielle, Fleur and Victoire had been saved with only the barest of traumatic memories to show for it. There was a part of Gabrielle that hated that she had been a part of what dragged Elysia back into a position where she would be needed to act as she did. At the same time… she knew that if Elysia had heard about her kidnapping, she might have lended assistance regardless if they had been housemates or not. So she buried that shame deep in her heart as she kissed Elysia's hair, wishing to do everything she could to ease the burden of her saviour's heart. Elysia had already saved Gabrielle's life twice already. Now, it was her turn to save Elysia's, in her own unique way.

As she slowly stirred awake, despite the heavenly dreams she had been having of spooning with Elysia on the bed, her raven haired housemate leaving feather light kisses along her neck, Gabrielle managed to crack her eyes open. While it obviously wasn't a full sunrise outside, it was clear from the amount of light in the overcast sky that it was sometime in the morning. Finding herself missing the physical warmth of her companion from last night, Gabrielle turned around, running her hand over the bed searching for Elysia. Her hand did eventually find something warm and round, but it was covered in fur and instantly started purring at her touch. Sighing to herself, she began to pet the intruder, as this was not the first time Macha, Elysia's black cat, had snuck onto her bed. Of the three animals, the only two who had snuck into her room were Badb and Macha, with Anand always being civil to her and never instigating anything. Then again, if that dog wasn't chasing something, it was usually sleeping. She had never really thought of it as a guard dog until last night, when it physically reminded her of a Barghest, though it didn't exude the same violent aura. Her form had been massive and while she remained calm enough that Victoire had been unafraid to pet it, she had taken her master's instructions to heart, never once dropping its guard until the portkey activated and pulled them out of the dungeon. Stretching slightly, Gabrielle finally looked around the so-called Champion suite of Gringotts Paris. It certainly was spacious, looking even more comfortable in the pre sunrise hours. Finding Badb resting on the headboard, she gave the raven a gentle petting, but the bird simply allowed herself to be touched, clearly either still feeling sleepy or just too tired to respond more to her touch.

After making sure her legs weren't too stiff from last night, Gabrielle made her way to the nearest window, surprised at seeing cars moving about the street. She knew that there were no streets or buildings behind Gringotts within Place Cachée, meaning that the view was that of non-magical Paris. While her parents weren't as strict about keeping to the magical side of the city, Gabrielle didn't really have much experience with the non-magical side of the world. As she leaned on the window sill to look around, enjoying the varying designs of the cars driving past in the partly snow covered streets, she heard the door behind her unlock, before Elysia entered the room, holding a large tray covered with simple cloches, protecting the food underneath. At her side was Anand, her tongue hanging over the side of her jaw, clearly pleased with herself, being back in her usually shaggy dog form. "Oh, good morning. I hope I didn't leave you waiting for too long. I had to step out of the room and handle a few matters. I brought breakfast, if you are up for it. Ida wasn't happy that she didn't get to cook, but the chefs for the Bank had already made the meals for us ahead of time since I hardly spend any time here in the mornings and it would have been rude to turn them down." Gabrielle raised herself up and away from the window. "It's fine. I just woke up a few minutes before myself." Heading for the small table clearly intended for only four seats, Gabrielle took the opposite one to Elysia, as the witch placed a plate of food on the ground for Anand and Macha, with Badb joining them on the table, smashing her way through a few nuts set aside for her.

"Any news about last night?" Elysia snorted. "Lots of news. The MSF arrived on the scene a minute or two after they were contacted by Gringotts. They managed to find several kidnapping victims, a few being Veela, in the building and have been busy trying to identify them to see what can be done. The property belonged to an old money aristocratic family, the Labordes. Aside from the head of the family and the "guards" as they are being called right now, everyone else was found alive and well." Gabrielle swallowed the bit of food she had in her mouth. "I can imagine my father won't be too happy. I mean, he will be glad we were rescued, but it's going to bother him that Gringotts got involved in an internal matter of France." Elysia tapped her jacket. "That's what I was doing, trying to get some information to placate him and the MSF. Labordes financial records with Gringotts, property listings and some extra intel we got from a reliable source. Some of it will be inadmissible as evidence, but it should be enough to get the MSF looking in the right direction. I seriously doubt anyone can hide anything from your father if he knows exactly where to look." Nodding, Gabrielle and Elysia continued having a pleasant, if quiet breakfast. Once a Goblin attendant retrieved the tray of dishes from the room, and Gabrielle changed into more appropriate clothing, the two were getting ready to leave the room when Gabrielle wrapped her arms around Elysia's neck. "So how are you feeling?" Elysia's face turned red. "I am doing fine. Thank you for… for being there for me last night." Gabrielle smiled. "Good, though I was also asking about how you are feeling… about us?"

Those green eyes searched the young Veela's face, before Gabrielle felt those lips she had been fantasizing about for months pressed against her own, their bodies being pulled together. What started as a few quick pecks turned into deeper, fuller kisses that were leaving both breathless, before Elysia pulled back with a grunt. Gabrielle watched as the Allure immune Elysia fought with herself, before a few calming deep breaths allowed her to settle down. "Gabrielle. I want this… more than I can put into words. You have been… so patient, so understanding. Last night… last night you made me realize how much I look forward to seeing you everyday, how much your smile lifts my spirit. You made it very difficult for me not to join you in the shower, to show you… just how much I want you. But…" Gabrielle pouted. "I hope you aren't going to go on about your blood soaked hands. As long as they aren't stained in the blood of innocents, then I don't care. You are an incredibly kind, generous person Elysia. In spite of every horrible thing you have lived through, you haven't lost your desire to help others. That's why I can't help but admire you. From the moment you pulled me out of the lake to last night, I have seen you struggling against everything the world throws your way and still you think of others first. I love that about you. Nothing will change that." Elysia sighed, resting her head against Gabrielle. "Thank you, for saying all that. It means a lot to me hearing it from you. But that wasn't the reason I am holding back. There is one last thing you need to know about me." Taking deep breaths, Elysia looked into Gabrielle's eyes. "As you know, I was once a man and I underwent a magical process that changed that. Only… it didn't make me into a woman. At least, not completely."

Londinium District, Late Summer 2000

"Alright, Challenger Potter. It would be wise if you lay down for this. Unlike the Polyjuice Potion, this is less of a transfiguration and more of a physical transformation, more akin to the Werewolf curse. It is why we asked you to leave any other clothes besides your robe behind. Are you ready to begin?" Harry took one last look at his reflection in the mirror that had been brought into Gringotts Londinium's Ritual Chamber, before nodding, removing his glasses and handing them to Helstrud. Once he sat on the altar, he took the offered vial of the potion and, with one last deep breath, he chugged it back. Lying down, Harry closed his eyes and waited, the silence almost deafening in his ears as the change required no ritual to occur, only time. And soon it was time, as he began to feel his limbs shifting, bones extended or shrinking, his back arching and his skin stretching. While it wasn't painful, he could see why he had been asked to lie down, as he doubted he would have been able to stay standing on his own two feet for long. As the minutes ticked by, he began to feel his body settling into a new form, the skin no longer as tight or stretched, though his muscles ached. As he ceased feeling any changes occurring to his body, the first thing Harry did was to open his eyes, finding the potion had also repaired his damaged eyesight. Lifting his hands up, he was surprised to see them free of calluses, the fingers thinner, narrower than he remembered. Turning over, he sat himself up on the altar and looked into the mirror, his eyes fixed on his new appearance, feeling odd about what his eyes were telling him.

The moment his feet, so much thinner and smaller than he remembered, touched the ground, he felt himself stumble forward, landing on his knees to a small burst of pain. Fighting through it, he stood up once more and moved forward, closer to the mirror, until he was within reach. Tentatively, Harry reached out with his hand and touched the glass, his reflection mirroring his actions. Those thin fingers moved to cover his mouth as his eyes searched the reflection. The hair was long, longer than he had ever been able to manage even during his fourth year at Hogwarts. It was still the same black color, somewhat messy, but as he ran his fingers through it, feeling the weight of it in his hands and the tugging of it against his scalp, he couldn't help but feel that this was right. That this was what he had wanted for himself since his aunt kept trimming it unsuccessfully. Next, he looked at his face. It was narrower, more delicate than before, the chin a bit more pointed, the stubble that he always struggled shaving completely gone. The eyebrows looked thinner too, reacting a lot more to his facial expressions, and the scar, the thing that had marked his life since he was one year old, was gone. Standing up straight, he could feel the change in his body mass as well. The muscles he had been developing were gone, which made him very concerned about the upcoming Trials, though Helstreud did say the changes were temporary. Which was a blessing as he reached up, holding his chest in his hands, blushing at the way they felt against the fabric of the cloak. But, as he ran his hands down his narrower waist, the familiar sensation between his legs finally registered. His voice came out much more delicate than he had ever heard it before. "Helstrud… did you say that the potion only changed what the recipient wanted to change?"

The Goblin Healer stepped closer, her appearance reflected in the mirror. "On a conscious and subconscious level, yes. I take it that it wasn't a full swap in genders?" Harry blushed, this sight of his red cheeks in the mirror both satisfying… and embarrassing. "Yeah. I… don't know what this means. Did I only want to look like a woman? Am I a woman? Or am I still a man?" The Healer shook her head. "You are both and neither. You are a Transient, meaning that technically you could spend your entire life reshaping who you are, or you could find a form that well and truly satisfies you and remain in it for the rest of your days. Tell me, is this form not to your liking?" Harry looked himself over once again. "It's weird. Before when I used to look in the mirror, there was always this sense that something was wrong with what I was seeing. The Mirror of Erised made me think I was just missing my parents, whilst sometimes I thought it was the scar on my forehead. That the moment it was gone would mean that everything was right in the world. Yet, looking at myself now… I… feel… I feel like this is what I should be. And yet…" Helstrud nodded. "Yes, the potion has the unfortunate side effect of undoing any physical improvements one has done to one's self. Tattoos, uncursed scars, excessive musculature. All of that is reset to what the body would have developed on its own without external factors. Sadly, the potion cannot regrow limbs, but at least that isn't a problem in your case." Looking at the palm of his left hand, Harry noticed that accursed script engraved on his skin had been washed away too.

Rubbing that spot absentmindedly, Harry thought about what taking this form permanently might mean for him right now. He could have the body that his essence seemed the most comfortable with, though he was still trying to wrap his mind about the fact that he still had male organs between his legs, but it would mean all the training he and Dredhook had been doing for the last two whole years would be erased. Asking for and receiving the halbert from one of the Ritual Chamber guards, Harry spun it around and tried to use it as weapon, wincing as he realized that his posture was off and that not only was his body mass very different, but there was also the issue that he would have to alter his techniques to account for his chest being more pronounced. He could tell the very act of holding the heavy pole weapon was far more taxing on his thinner arms. "If I do this change now… it would mean delaying my next Arena Tasks for months, if not years." Golstrud, who had been quietly watching from further back in the chamber, spoke up. "That it would. However, you could remain in your previous form for the duration of the Trials, changing only after you are no longer required to take part in deadly altercations. You would then be able to train your new body at your leisure." Harry sighed but nodded. "Yeah, it's the only thing I can do. Still, thank you Golstrud." Looking back at the mirror, Harry smiled, the sight filling him… filling her… filling them with such a sense of correctness that he felt it would be difficult to not remain as he was. "Thank you for insisting that I discover this part of myself."

Turning back to Golstrud, she bowed her head softly. "Now that I know about this part of myself, now that I have seen what my future can be… I think I am ready now. Ready to take on the rest of the Arena Tasks. In fact, it seems fitting. The last act of Harry Potter will be to face off against every trial of the Arena, to earn his freedom from the world, so that he can live an entirely new life, one that I am sure will take me a while to get used to." Golstrud chuckled. "Indeed, I believe it will. Though, if the next six Tasks are to be the last great achievements of Harry Potter, who do you intend to be in the future? You will have to decide on a name for this new version of yourself." Harry nodded. "I will, and thankfully I will have plenty of time to decide on what my name will be. I suppose I will also have to decide on what I will refer to myself as… Having a few years to work this all out might actually be the best thing that I could have asked for." After Helstrud confirmed how much time he had left in his current form, the Goblins left Harry in the chamber on his own to give him some privacy. Taking off his robes, he blushed at what he saw of himself in the mirror. While there was a part of him that was disappointed that he couldn't have just experienced a full gender swap, he could feel that, as embarrassing and confusing the sight before him was… it was all him… all her. It would make going into the female bathrooms uncomfortable and he felt he would have to get a legal understanding of what this form would mean for him…her. Still, what she saw before her eyes was exactly what she wanted for herself. This was who she was supposed to be. Now she just needed to come up with a name that would exemplify just who she was. As she thought about names, she felt the peanut gallery in her head begin to offer their own ideas, with Harry realizing that it wasn't just her who needed a name. Her days in the library were about to get even longer, that was for sure.

Present Day

"You did what?!" Apolline crossed her arms over her chest, after having greeted her husband as soon as he crossed the threshold into the Peverell Reception Hall. As soon as they had returned to the safety of the Estate, Apolline had sent Ida to inform François about the safe retrieval of their girls, though unfortunately he had been forced to stay at his post as soon as Gringotts informed him of the situation at the Laborde Estate. It wasn't until now, the morning after, that he was finally able to return to Elysia's home to check on his girls, having delegated all the remaining duties to Aurors he could trust. Not that there was much for them to do except maintain a perimeter as the MSF's investigators documented the scene and collected the bodies. That was the part that had been the most problematic. When his Aurors arrived last night, mere moments after Gringotts had alerted them, what they had found had surprised all of them. The Laborde House had looked like something out of a medieval myth, the entire property littered with corpses, almost all suffering some degree of deep gashes, amputation or puncture wounds. The only people found alive were the individuals found in the cells in the cellar, with a few locked in rooms in the upstairs area, most of whom matched recent missing persons, and the Laborde family, minus the Family Head. His body was found torn to shreds in his study, bearing what his investigators believed to be bitemarks. Safe to say, the MSF were kept working long hours into the night trying to collect all of the corresponding body parts, identifying the deceased and contacting their next of kin. François knew, however, that this was just the beginning of the shit storm that was about to be unleashed, as he had seen some of the names of the deceased and knew that the families would demanding a full investigation into their deaths, looking for someone to assign blame to and attempt to paint as the real criminal, never mind what the deceased themselves were dong at the Estate.

While François personally couldn't care less that these individuals were dead, it was galling to him that they died in an operation that should have been handled by his Aurors, not some third party acting independently of the rule of law. Which was why he had asked his wife to repeat what she had just said, because it had sounded like she was partly responsible for the absolute disaster that was the Laborde Estate. Of course, Apolline could tell that he wasn't happy about what she had said but decided to repeat herself anyway. She was in no way ashamed about the decision she had made and wouldn't be apologizing for it, not even to her husband. "I hired Gringotts to retrieve our daughters and grandchild." Françous covered his face with his hand, feeling the frustration and exhaustion from last night settle onto his very being once more. "Do you have any idea what you did? The absolute mess that your hired help left for the MSF to clean up, let alone the consequences that will follow as soon as the next Convention is held?" Apolline shrugged. "To be fair, I had only intended for them to rescue our family, but since I couldn't use my authority as a Representative to simply request that they alone be rescued, potentially leaving other kidnapped Veelas at the location to be shipped off to who knows where, the contract was for the dismantling of the entire operation at their current location. I take it from your reaction, and the copy of the "Le Magie Parisien" that I retrieved earlier, that this involved a well off family and a bunch of now dead henchmen from even more well off families." François raised his voice in sheer frustration. "Why didn't you just wait for the MSF to handle the matter ourselves?!"

Apolline stared at her husband, restraining the sudden surge of anger in her veins. "When Fleur was born, I made it very clear to you, husband. I would do everything, absolutely everything, to protect her and any of our children, regardless of the consequences." François rubbed his face. "Including sanctioning the murder of dozens of criminals, violating their own rights in the process?" Apolline huffed. "Please, the order was anything but illegal. When Magical France incorporated the Veela Conclaves in its borders, it did so with the caveat that all Veela laws and treaties would be respected. As there were no issues regarding the common laws, the Assembly agreed to the incorporation. They simply missed the fine print in the treaties. At the request of the Conclaves, Gringotts could be hired to send out retrieval teams in regions where they had authorization to operate within. All nations with Gringotts Branches sign such an agreement, meaning that France was fair game. The deaths of these kidnappers and traffickers were well within the treaty's purview." François sighed, knowing that if anyone would know how to bend and interpret the law to its most ridiculous degrees, it would his wife. Whenever the Assembly tried to deny certain rights to the Veela, Apolline would quickly point to the language of the Convention's Bill of Rights, stating correctly that the language made any such exceptions illegal. When the Convention then tried to amend those laws, she eloquently demonstrated how the amendments could be used against every single denomination of the population, creating sufficient fear within the Representatives of reprisal from their own constituents, enough that all further talks about amending the law to exclude certain people from the general rights enjoyed by the entire magical community would cease to be part of the Convention's agenda. There was a reason the Veela hadn't recalled her after her election decades ago. She was simply their best candidate for Representative.

"Fine, you got our girls home and destroyed one facility where kidnapping victims were being processed before being shipped out. What about the others? You know as well as I do that there is no way they had only one such facility. With all of the major players killed, how are we-" The conversation ceased as the door to the Estate opened, with Gabrielle, covered in a thick coat, walking into the reception hall first. Once she was freed from the cumbersome coat, she rushed to her mother's side, hugging her, before hugging her father. "I am sorry I had to stay out for the night. I hope I didn't worry all of you too much. Trust me, I was perfectly safe with Elysia at Gringotts." François looked over at the aforementioned witch, his eyes narrowing as she calmly placed Gabrielle's coat into the closet by the entrance, before removing her own. Dressed in a warm looking sweater and jeans, Elysia approached the Head of the Delacour family and handed out to him a file. "I believe you might want to look through this." François took it before staring at Elysia. "It was you, wasn't it? You slaughtered all those people." Elysia shrugged. "I haven't heard of any decent sentients dying of late, only of a large-scale purge of criminals responsible for who knows how many decades or centuries worth of suffering for a great many victims that would otherwise have gone unavenged. Sounds to me like someone did this world a favor." François' mood began to shift again, something Apolline noticed, but Elysia simply pointed at the documents. "You will find it contains a few personal declarations, Gringotts receipts and lists of all known associates and business partners for the involved parties within the file. Some of it may be in-admissible in court, but I am sure your Aurors will have an easier time gathering viable evidence with what's in there as a guide."

The Matriarch of the Delacour family watched as her husband's ire deflated, knowing that the information he was just handed could indeed be of great help to his Department, with Gabrielle sporting a knowing smile. As François excused himself as he wished to see Fleur and Victoire, before having to make another run to the office, Apolline watched as Elysia passed by Gabrielle, watching the expressions on their faces. She stopped her youngest daughter before she could follow after François. "Are you sure you are doing alright?" Gabrielle turned to her mother, noticing her concern. "Yes, Maman. I am feeling fine. Why?" Apolline released her daughter's hand. "Your Allure feels… different. That's not exactly new, as all Veela's go through changes that affect their Allure, like Fleur's constantly shifting because of her being a mother, but it can also be a sign of something serious. If you are indeed feeling fine then… I take it you and Elysia got to talking? Or perhaps something more… intimate?" Gabrielle blushed. "All we did was clear up a few things. When she rescued us from the kidnappers, she was… she was terrifyingly efficient. She had warned me about this side of her and this was the first I saw of it, but afterwards, when she came back… I needed to know. I needed to see for myself if she was still the same woman I fell in love with." Apolline frowned. "The Director of Gringotts mentioned something that was concerning to me too. He was worried that by taking on my request… I would be unleashing The Morrígan onto the world." Gabrielle remembered that name from somewhere. "The warlike triple goddess of the Celts?" Apolline nodded. "Indeed. When he said that, something finally clicked in my head. Anand, Macha and Badb. Three of the names associated with The Morrígan."

Gabrielle wondered what that all meant. She had seen the powers of at least two of the creatures when Elysia had called them, but all she knew was that Anand was suppose to be strong enough to protect them from wizards and witches, and Badb could apparently go through walls and wards with ease, just as… just as Elysia had done. Seeing the look on her daughter's face, Apolline crossed her arms. "What is it?" Gabrielle shook her head. "Just a random theory." Seeing her mother raise an eyebrow, Gabrielle raised her hands. "I can't say anymore. I don't want to betray Elysia's trust in me. Not when she made it clear that she wants to start a relationship. I was… maybe a bit forward last night but she refused my advances, believing that it was inappropriate after what Fleur, Victoire and I had gone through. That's how I knew that Elysia hadn't changed. She can be this incredible warrior one moment but just snap back into a shy, socially awkward, but personally confident and deeply caring person the next. Trust me, everything is fine." Apolline searched her daughter's face before a soft smile grew on it. "Ah, that's what's changed. You feel that the stakes have been claimed and your Allure is no longer affecting others as much." Gabrielle frowned. "But… we haven't slept together. How…"

Apolline shook her head. "It has never been about what physical activities a Veela is a part of, but the deep sense of trust and intimacy that exists between a Veela and a prospective mate or friend, though these are usually preceded by physical intimacy because of our very nature. The Elder told you, after all, that the relationship didn't need to be physical or romantic, just an intimate one that allowed the two of you to reach a level of trust in each other that could help you reach a new level of control. That's exactly what's happened in your case. You stopped doubting her and yourself and, in so doing, your Allure has ceased being aggressive in its pursuit." Apolline rubbed her chin. "I suppose I should change my Christmas present for Elysia. Something that would be a bit more useful, particularly in the long run." Gabrielle was suddenly very afraid. She had seen the sort of gifts her mother tended to give to her father. "Right… well… I am going to go check on Fleur and Victoire. I will see you in a bit!" Fighting back the blush, Gabrielle eventually made her way to the room her sister and niece were inhabiting. It was a room that Victoire had fallen in love with the moment she first laid eyes on it. Apparently, while the Delacours and Charbonneaus had helped in decorating the common areas, Elysia had kept an eye on what everyone liked or didn't like, before applying this to the guestrooms. For the youngest of her guests, Elysia had covered much of the room in lighted garlands and wreaths, with a beautiful Christmas tree sitting in the corner of their room with loads of unique decorations, many being inspired from the children's stories that Victoire loved, with her bedside table having its very own small christmas tree that acted as a music box. Fleur had found her beautiful daughter asleep many a time with the music still active, with Elysia assuring her that the small tree was hers to take home.

Walking in, she found her niece lying on the bed, her favorite stuffed unicorn grasped tightly in her arms as she talked to her grandfather who thankfully was treating the little girl as just that, rather than as a witness to a crime. Fleur herself was lying on the bed next to her, her back against the headrest as she kept her daughter close. Her face was still somewhat drawn, probably still suffering from the effects of what had occured yesterday, something Gabrielle knew all too well as her first few days and weeks after the assault at Beauxbatons, she had many waking nightmares of being pinned down, the terror and shame of the moment feeling just as raw as it had been on the very day, if not more so. Walking up to her, Gabrielle kissed her sister on the head, hugging her to remind her that she wasn't alone in this, though she could also imagine that she was equally as worried about her daughter, despite the brave front she was presenting. A knock at the door drew everyone's attention, with Gabrielle moving to open the door. When she did, she saw three black shadows slip past her at great speed, all of them making a straight line for Victoire, though the girl received them with the same enthusiasm she always did, Anand even getting in a few licks in while Macha waited her turn on the bed while Badb simply perched herself next to Poleon, the two chattering away. Elysia poked her head in, giving Gabrielle a small look of embarrassment before focusing her eyes on Fleur and Victoire. "Sorry about that. They all wanted to see how Victoire was doing after last night." As Fleur told her not to apologize, Victoire stepped out of the bed and made her way to Elysia, wrapping her arms around her. "Thank you for saving Mommy. You are the best, Tante Elysia."

Gabrielle could see how the words from the little girl touched her housemate deeply as the embarrassment was replaced swiftly with a degree of trepidation before simply accepting what had happened, kneeling down so that she could give the little girl a proper hug. "And I am ever glad that I was able to be there in time for all of you." Watching the interaction between his granddaughter and their host visibly made François reassess his position from earlier. While he would have liked to have handled the situation purely by the proper deployment of the MSF, his wife had been right about that taking far too much time. The fact that none of them were injured or worse was a godsend, though even he knew that the incident would leave its own invisible scars on everyone. The fact that Victoire could smile and laugh eased some of the dread in his heart, before a familiar arm snaked its way along his waist. Those beautiful blue eyes that he fell in love with looked into his own, looking for something, with François' smile and nod being all Apolline needed to see, before she rested her head against his chest as she watched as Elysia returned their granddaughter to the bed, not once complaining about her being too big to carry. With the excitement she typically had, Victoire introduced Elysia to her stuffed toy unicorn with the raven haired witch playing along, the three watching animals in the room making noises that intoned jealousy, much to Victoire's playful delight. Elysia did make sure to order all three of them to do nothing to the stuffed animal, herself very much aware that they could get carried away, whilst Gabrielle watched on happily, her family back together in harmony and joy.

Holding the towel to her body, Gabrielle, with her hair pulled up and clipped into a bun, stepped into the communal bath chamber, only to find that it wasn't quite as empty as she had expected it to be. "Oh, um, I can step out if you would like to be alone." Elysia, already submerged up to her chest, looked towards Gabrielle and shook her head. "It's fine. It's not like it's our first time in the bath together." A bright red blush bloomed across her face. "Even if this is the first one we will be sharing it… alone." Seeing Elysia's embarrassment gave Gabrielle some much needed boost of conviction. Swallowing the lump in her throat, Gabrielle summoned up her courage and smiled. "Then I will be happy to join you," before removing the towel covering her body. The way Elysia's eyes remained glued to Gabrielle made the young woman extremely happy, as she had always felt somewhat self conscious about herself. She hadn't filled out as much as Fleur had when she had turned eighteen and that had made Gabrielle worry that she wouldn't be as appealing to Harry when compared to her sister. The fact that Elysia clearly seemed to find her attractive made so many sleepless nights feel pointless now, but it did leave her feeling happy all the same. Once she had washed herself in the shower, she joined Elysia in the bath, sitting down beside her, as Elysia raised an eyebrow. "You seem a lot more confident now." Gabrielle blushed softly. "Yeah. It's odd. I had lived the last few years feeling… unsatisfied with my own body, as if I wasn't measuring up to a standard that I had developed for myself. But when you were explaining your situation with gender dysphoria and how you had to change how you viewed yourself after over twenty years being described as a male… I don't know, it just made me appreciate what I did have."

A smile grew across Elysia's face. "Well… glad I could help somehow. And… if you need to hear it… I find you quite physically attractive. I just… never bring it up because it would feel inappropriate, particularly with my own preferences obviously affecting my opinion." Gabrielle raised her own eyebrow in question. "Oh, so you don't find the more voluptuous women attractive?" Elysia sighed, rubbing the back of her hair, which was also held up with a clip. "Yeah, that is a bit of a perplexing situation. I have always been attracted to leaner women, as seen by my tastes while I was at Hogwarts and yet, somehow, my subconscious saw this form as the one I more closely associated with. Don't ask me about the specifics. The way my body turned out wasn't entirely by my design… as I told you recently." Gabrielle nodded, before she scooted closer to Elysia, until their shoulders were pressed against each other, with both having the skin making contact growing redder. "Does it really trouble you so much now?" Elysia sighed. "Yes and no. I… have come to accept the fact that I am a Transient, so I was likely to never just be one gender or another. I have made peace with the way that my body is now, particularly because it just feels right. That said, I still feel uncomfortable being around others. I mean… I can't exactly use public restrooms as easily as anyone else. I obviously can't go into the men's room and if I ever do go into the women's restroom… I have to be careful not to draw attention to myself. And that's just on this side of the world. On the non-magical side, it's even more complicated as there aren't enough legal protections for someone like me in France, Britain or much of anywhere else. I know that the sentiment is changing and that eventually those like me will have the same protections as everyone else, but it's hard to seperate the fact that you are different enough that others could see you as… as a freak."

Leaning over, Gabrielle rested her head against Elysia's. "In some ways it's been the same with Veela and it still continues to be as such. We can only truly feel safe in the Conclaves, surrounded by our own kind while so many of the magical community looks at us as merely sexual beings. To them, we are just walking dolls that strip away the sanity of their men and ruin the prospects of women. Of course, this is the very sentiment that gave rise to the kidnapping and trafficking rings. For those who can afford it, they purchase Veela that they can treat as trophies, their abilities inhibited by collars, so that they can be used to satisfy the perverse fantasies that they could never get away with on their own spouses. The Conclaves had hoped that these operations had diminished since they gained greater rights and representation, but the recent incidents have proved them wrong. It's why I never leaned into my powers at the Academy. I didn't want to give anyone the excuse that I manipulated them, that somehow I used their weakened state to gain concessions out of them. I wanted to prove to them and to myself that I could graduate from Beauxbatons without ever having to use the powers they despised so deeply, and I did. Not that it mattered. Those two young men still managed to ruin our last few weeks of school and create the doubt that I had used my Allure on them, even though I never did. It's always going to be the same with our kind. Even if we develop the means to counteract the Allure, there will always be those who, out of jealousy or malice, will always judge us to be nothing more than temptresses, ruining the lives of "good" people like them."

As Gabrielle spoke, Elysia had moved her hand to the young Veela's waist, pulling only so that she could offer her friend a hug of support as Gabrielle vented. After clearing away a few tears from her eyes, the young blonde looked at her raven haired friend. "Sorry if I ruined your mood." Elysia shook her head. "You have nothing to apologize for. We both have had our struggles with who and what we are and I am sure those struggles will continue in the days and years to come. All I want you to know is that you will never have to hide or pretend to be something you aren't around me. Even if the rest of the world continues to see you differently, you will always be the same kind, dedicated and beautiful woman, who just happens to be a Veela, to me." The young blonde blushed as she looked into those beautiful green eyes, so warm and inviting. She had dreamt about them for so long and while the circumstances had changed… the person they belonged to remained the same person she fell in love with. Caressing Elysia's cheek gently, Gabrielle leaned forward, while Elysia, after a brief moment of hesitation, did the same. They had certainly kissed before in Gringotts, but this time there was no more hesitation from either of them as Gabrielle found herself stradling Elysia, her lips desperate to claim the witch's own, the two breaking apart at times to get a breather, their hands exploring each others bodies cautiously, learning and memorizing the shape and feel of the other. Blue eyes stared into green as they pulled away, both deeply blushed and bordering on overheating, with Gabrielle struggling not to grind herself further onto Elysia's lap, though she did look down as something became clear. "Uhm, didn't you say…?"

The head of the Peverell family went bright red. "I, ah, wear underwear and swimsuits that have specially designed Undetectable Extension Charms built into them. It helps me blend in… and makes wearing women's clothing less of a hassle." Gabrielle looked into Elysia's eyes. "Ahh. I am hoping… that one day you won't have to wear one of those while we share a bath." Elysia nodded shyly. "One day. Can we… maybe continue this outside of the bath? I think I might have been in it too long and my head is beginning to feel dizzy." Stepping out of the water while holding hands, Gabrielle pulled her housemate under one of the showers and pressed her against the tiled wall as cool water cascaded over them, washing away the oils from the bath, the two having locked lips again. Eventually, Elysia turned them over and pressed Gabrielle into the wall, the young Veela being reminded that her housemate was physically stronger than her. Though a part of her nature clawed its way into her mind, initially demanding to challenge Elysia for dominance, a sudden surge of magic made it swoon, retreating back into the recesses of Gabrielle's mind. Feeling as if she was drowning in desire, the moment Elysia slipped a hand between their bodies spelled the end for what control she had left. She was really glad all the rooms had some heavy anti-noise wards or she was certain that the scream she uttered would have drawn them a crowd. Thankfully, Elysia's strength was more than enough to keep her housemate pinned to the wall as she turned off the water, letting Gabrielle recover her faculties and the use of her legs. Once she did, she gave Elysia a massive smile. "So… what does this make us now?" The raven haired witch smiled back as she leaned forward to kiss those very puffy lips. "We can settle that after our brains are in working order. Agreed?" Gabrielle chuckled even as she pecked what she was certain was now her girlfriend on the lips. "Agreed."

Chapter 20: Joyeux Noël

"Enter." The guard pushed open the door, allowing Hermione to enter the Minister for Magic's office. It had actually been quite a while since Hermione had been in here, as she hardly ever visited the Minister's office, since she primarily worked in the office of the Prime Minister as their guard and liaison. Though "liaison" was a bit of a stretch, as for the most part all that entailed was telling the Prime Minister that the Ministry of Magic would "handle" the situation whenever an attack by the two belligerent factions had collateral or visible damage in the non-magical world. In the last few months, however, Hermione had opened up more to the PM about the growing issues within Wizarding Britain and the Ministry's difficulty in handling them. Seeing her honesty and the very same frustration that he felt, the PM was more than willing to accept her plan to retire, though it had only been after she had been training a replacement for herself in Downing Street. Now that her replacement was ready to take on the full responsibilities, including the "liaison" position, Hermione had decided it was time to speak to Shacklebolt directly. Said wizard was currently looking over the piles of documents on his desk and for a brief moment Hermione pitied him. Having been the designated Order member with the most experience in the Ministry that survived the three years of Death Eater hostilities, there had simply not been a better person for the job, and while he did well in certain regards, his handling of the situation and excessive micromanagement of the Ministry wasn't earning him much support, particularly from those that felt that change was not only inevitable, but necessary if there was to be a chance at a better future for Wizarding Britain.

Looking up from the pile of parchements, a brief smile flashed across the man's face, his eyes certainly marked by more wrinkles than Hermione remembered seeing on him before, though his dark complexion made it harder to notice them. "Ah, Miss Granger. What can I do for you?" Hermione took the envelope she had been carrying and handed it to Kingsley. "I wanted to deliver this in person. I wish to resign from my position in the Ministry's Muggle Liaison Office by the end of the year. I have already made the arrangements for my replacement in Downing Street and they are fully prepared to take over my position." Shacklebolt took the envelope but didn't open it. "May I ask why you are resigning?" Hermione sighed. "Because as fulfilling as it is to serve in the highest political office of Great Britain, the growing issues in the magical side of things are making it impossible for me to just sit there and do nothing, while my family and I have a target painted on our backs." Kingsley dropped the envelope onto the pile of documents. "Miss Granger, the DMLE is doing everything it can to resolve the situation." Hermione stared into Kingsley's eyes. "Just like they were after Fudge was chased out of office? Minister Scrimgeour said the same thing and yet many of the non-magical families were targeted and killed. Even now, the target on my back is no less significant than it was seven or eight years ago. I have taken every possible security measure for me and my family but, at this point, it doesn't feel like we are living anymore. If anything, it feels like we are the ones in prison rather than the newest generation of Death Eaters."

Shacklebolt tapped his desk with his fingers. "You are right that you haven't exactly become a lesser target than you had been before. If anything, you're an even greater target now, with Harry Potter missing and you being the only one of your trio to take up public service. That being said, I can't just let you resign for that same reason. With Potter gone, if not dead, your very presence has become a rallying cry for all muggleborns. If you were to resign, public morale would be greatly affected. We need you now more than ever, Miss Granger." Hermione crossed her hands behind her back. "I understand that, sir, but I have to think about the wellbeing of my family in all this as well. I can't continue to work in Great Britain with the security situation being what it is and I can't keep asking my parents to sacrifice their own lives just to hide in a heavily warded home. Sooner or later, something will happen, and I refuse to watch my parents get killed or me dying with the knowledge that all your office will do is to send them a condolences letter in the event that the Death Eaters get a hold of me. I am sorry, but I refuse to remain in Britain any longer. By the end of the year, you either accept my resignation or I quit." Kingsley was quiet for a moment as he considered all his options. "What if there was a position you could fill that was in service of the British Ministry that you could carry out outside of our borders." Hermione blinked in apparent confusion, so Kingsley sat up on his high back chair, glad that he had found a way to keep her interested. "Prior to the first Wizarding War, the British Ministry of Magic had Representatives that acted as liaisons between our Ministry and that of another country. These posts, sadly, have gone unfilled, the international matters being handled by our ICW Delegates and Ministry personnel on a case by case basis. It would be in my power to appoint you to be such a Representative."

Hermione bit her lip. "I see. And to which country would I be posted to and what would my responsibilities be exactly? I don't think a blanket "the Ministry will handle it" excuse will work on the international stage." Kingsley sighed but nodded. "You are not wrong in that regard. Still, there is a situation where you may be able to actually participate in an international matter. Now where was that parchment…" Shacklebolt searched his unsigned but read stack of parchments, and pulled one out, reading over it again. "Yes, this is the one. There was a report of a massive sting operation in Magical France that resulted in the deaths of several smugglers and human traffickers. Some of the evidence on site suggested that the criminals were making trips in between France and Britain, though we are unclear as to what was coming in or out of the country. As we are quite short staffed in the DMLE, I am hesitant to send an Auror to assist in the investigation. You, on the other hand, would be perfect for the role, as you could observe the French investigations, contact myself or the DMLE when necessary and inform us of any potential criminal bases of operation on this side of the Channel. With this arrangement, you can continue to be an active member of the Ministry of Magic, while still being able to take your family and move them to a safer environment for them. What do you say?" Hermione was pensive for a moment as Kingsley presented her with her own letter of resignation. She took it apprehensively. "Can I get this all in writing and have my new position ready in January?"

Kingsley nodded. "Of course. That said, I only have so much funding available, so you will have to handle the transportation fees, housing and living expenditures. You will, of course, be receiving your paycheck in your Gringotts London account." Hermione held the letter in her hands. "My parents and I are well versed in French and… I think we can scrounge up enough money and find a residence in France on our own, so it should be fine." Shacklebolt smiled. "Excellent. Tell you what, give me a week to get everything else in order and then come see me to get your new posting with all the correct paperwork in order. That said, do try to keep this information on the downlow. I don't want to cause a scene and I am sure you wish to keep your family out of trouble." Hermione nodded. "Very well, sir. I will see you in one week to the hour." Shacklebolt shook his head as Hermione left his office, well aware of how thorough Granger was when it came to scheduling, before he started writing down a few notes for himself regarding the reassignment. As she made her way out of the Ministry, Hermione decided to head for the DMLE, stuffing the resignation letter into her miniature shoulder bag. Showing her credentials, Hermione was allowed to enter the office space for the Aurors, most of it being free standing desks where each individual Auror could work from. She waved at a few former classmates such as Seamus Finnigan, as well as Tracey Davis and Adrian Pucey. While the latter two had been in Slytherin, neither of them had acted as part of Umbridge's Inquisitorial Squad or on behalf of the Death Eaters, which permitted them to enter the Auror academy and graduate without issue. Seated at her desk, Hermione found Susan, who gave her a smile when she walked up. "Hey, it's not time for our lunch appointment, is it?"

Hermione shook her head. "No, but I felt compelled to see you. Do you think we can get some privacy?" Susan nodded and stood up. "Seamus, you take the next walker. I will be in the File Room for a bit." Seamus waved at them. "Still can't get each other out of your systems, huh?" Giving Seamus a not so friendly gesture, Susan led Hermione to the back of the Office Chamber, unlocking the door and closing it behind them. Hermione raised an eyebrow. "They still think we are dating?" Susan nodded as she waved her wand around, finding no eavesdropping spells. "To be fair, we do spend our lunches together whenever you visit the building. Besides, we haven't exactly had the typical breakup." Hermione chuckled. "True." The two of them had dated briefly up to Susan's first year as an Auror, and while both had no complaints concerning each other, they discovered they simply lacked that spark that made things special. This meant, however, that their relationship ended peacefully, though as the situation in Wizarding Britain deteriorated, said relationship allowed them to interact freely, with no one batting an eye at them being together. With the privacy wards up, Susan turned to Hermione. "So, what couldn't wait for a call?" Hermione shrugged. "I got Kingsley to give me the liaison role with France. I will be getting the assignment in a week." Susan gave her a soft, bittersweet smile. "So, no more luncheons. Still, congratulations. You got what you wanted." Hermione looked towards the door. "Yeah, but I wanted to ask if you could manage to snag the smuggling case that is attached to the French investigation. If you take it before I am assigned, it will look less suspicious and we would be able to contact each other with minimal issues concerning the case, without letting anything leak out to the other parties involved."

Susan rubbed her chin. "They will probably have me double up on cases but I think I can manage it. The Head Auror trusts me enough that it won't be a problem." Hermione smiled at her. "Good, then we have something to work with. I will see what the French MSF is like and look for potential allies over there. Hopefully this case can bring the ICW in to investigate the situation in Britain. With their help, the current incidents should be resolved rather quickly." Susan wiggled her eyebrows at Hermione. "And I am sure you will be on the lookout for that lovely Miss Delacour now that she is divorced. Looking for some hot single mother action, my friend?" Hermione blushed as she glared at Susan. "I am not going to dignify that with a response. Besides, you're one to talk. You have been pining for Daphne Greengrass since Hogwarts and you still haven't built up the nerve to ask her out. What are you waiting for, exactly, a crime scene to open up in her bed chamber that doesn't involve her getting hurt?" Susan gave a dramatic sigh. "One could only hope. Now then." The short haired brunette found herself pressed into the nearest filling cabinet, with Susan's lips tantalizingly close to her face. "If we are going to sell this, we can't exactly leave this place looking the same as we entered." Hermione sighed, but nodded, before the two pressed themselves against each other, kissing deeply as their hands went wild over their cloth covered bodies. A few minutes later, the two exited the room, blushed and with their robes and hair slightly disheveled, with Seamus giving them a wolf whistle, which was followed swiftly by Susan's silent hand gesture. Once she was as presentable as possible, Hermione left the DMLE offices, satisfied that she had maneuvered herself where she wanted to be. And if she came across an old friend in France while she was working… she wouldn't say no to making something of the situation either.

"You have had a very busy December, François." The older of the two men grunted as he neared the desk between them. "Not by design, Brion." The Minister for Magic of France took the offered report and began to leaf through it. Over the past few days, the information the MSF had received had led to the investigation of several properties and warehouses, with the detection of several apparitions and portkeys over far too short a time warning them that something was wrong. The MSF had been able to move against the warehouses easily enough, as these were not registered as being owned by magicals, despite the heavy wards that protected them. With the help of ICW Aurors and Warding Experts, they had been able to break through the wards and conduct raids, most resulting in the immediate capitulation of anyone trapped inside, as the ICW used the deployment of temporary wards designed during the war against Grindelwald to prevent any criminals from slipping past their nets. A few, unfortunately, did fight back, resulting in the deaths of two Aurors and the hospitalization of several more. As Director, it was up to Delacour to draft letters to the families of these victims, this time being able to deliver them in person with their Head Aurors at his side. It was a part of his job that he never cherished but never hesitated to do. When it came to investigating the properties that actually belonged to Magical Families, however, these were a bit more tricky. Most still remained under observation whilst the investigation team searched the Registry for warding receipts and building schematics. While François wanted to investigate these more thoroughly via in person inspections, he was hesitant to tip his hand, hence why he was approaching Minister Béranger.

Looking up from the file, Brion raised an eyebrow. "There is a lot of redacted information on here." Delacour sighed. "As much as I would like to be open about this investigation, we need to keep as much information as isolated as possible. If you really wish to review the names, it needs to be in one of the Department of Mysteries' secret chambers." The Minister rubbed his face. "You know that if it's this serious, what you are proposing is likely to upend the political landscape." François nodded. "Believe me, I know. At the same time, the evidence suggests that a shadowy organization has been seeking to do the same, since the days of Napoleon. When his Empire fell and the European powers restored the French Monarchy, the Magical Convention was the only vestige of the revolution that remained intact. It was just too powerful to challenge, after all. However, that didn't mean that the old magical aristocrats would simply sit back and do nothing. This organization is likely to be operating with the intent to roll back the progress of the last two centuries. In either case, the status quo will be changed. The question therefore becomes which result is the most agreeable and which one occurs within the realm of the rule of law." Brion sighed as he closed the folder. "The rule of law, huh? We ourselves will have to walk the tightrope if you want this investigation to proceed into a trial without having the case dismissed for impropriety." Delacour received the file from the Minister. "We are working on that. We have isolated all the inadmissible evidence and are only using it as a peripheral resource, while all evidence acquired via legitimate investigations, court orders and handled adequately is being filtered. Fortunately, all the raids of late have had legitimate reasons for the MSF to carry them out."

Taping his fingers pensively, Brion looked over his desk, before finding a missive he received from his British counterpart. "Your investigation turned up evidence that part of the organization was helping the Neo Death Eater movement that threatens to destabilize Britain, correct?" François tried to recall what had been in the report concerning the NDEs. "There was evidence that some of the warehouses, which seemed to operate more as money laundering operations, were sending Galleons that were then being deposited with Gringotts London. The various Branches of Gringotts were beginning to suspect that a large operation was occuring when they began to receive requests to exchange foreign currencies for Galleons in one region and then having those same Galleons either deposited in bulk or exchanged for payments out of pocket. They aren't sure exactly who is behind the operation, but with Laborde, they did supply us with all known business associates of the family… in exchange for keeping quiet about their involvement in the… incident." Brion tapped the letter he had in his hand against the desk. "I had the lawyers review the treaties and they all agree that while unorthodox, the operation was well within Gringotts' rights. That said, as soon as word gets out, there will be calls to re-negotiate for a less open treaty." François snorted. "Right, that will certainly go over well with the Goblins." Béranger waved his hand. "I will speak to Director Fueruk and see if we can get them to refrain from exercising their right… for anything short of a life in danger. Believe me, were I in your wife's shoes, I would have done the same. Now, the reason as to why I brought up Britain is because of this. What do you make of it?"

Receiving the letter, François opened the envelope and read the contents. "A British Representative for Magical France? They haven't filled that posting since after the war." Brion steppled his hands. "I find it suspicious that Shacklebolt would appoint someone so soon after the raids were advertised to be occurring. It's possible that my British counterpart is aware of the entanglement between our two countries in this trafficking and smuggling operation. Kingsley says that it is to "assist in the investigation and to facilitate communications between our governments in a situation that involves both sides of the Channel." Now I am hesitant to grant them permission to any sensitive information, as this may be a ploy to have insider knowledge that the British could use to obfuscate evidence of either their involvement or that of the Wizengamot members. At the same time… we could really use a more in depth understanding as to the current status of Magical Britain and its "Troubles". This Representative could be a valuable source of information. Shacklebolt refused to name them and suggested that they would contact me or the MSF directly. If and when you get their identification, I want a full background check and evaluation. I want to know if we are gaining an asset… or a liability." Delacour handed back the letter. "Understood. Thank you for your time and Happy Holidays." Brion raised an eyebrow. "Since you escaped the typical invitations, I imagine they will be quite merry for you and your family." François chuckled. "I will let you know after the New Year. By your leave."

"How could this have happened? You told me your facilities were all secure!" The man with the french accent looked at his British counterpart with a measure of irritation as he stood before him from across his desk. "They were secure." The other man tapped the newspaper, the Daily Prophet reading the headlines out of France. "Then what do you call this? How many of our resources were lost because of all the raids? How many shipments will never make it to our shores?! Do you have any idea how much my people rely on them?!" The French man sighed. "I will say we lost plenty. Right now the organization is reshuffling our bases of operations while monitoring MSF movements. Since we can't afford any more raids, we will have to take matters slowly. As for how this fiasco started… it would seem some of the Snatchers in Paris made a serious error in judgment. They saw three Veela, one guaranteed to be unspoiled and another possible one and got greedy. Within minutes it became clear that they had nabbed the youngest Delacours, which sent the MSF into panic mode." The British Wizard pulled himself up to standing at his full height. "So you're telling me that after you were clear that the Delacours needed to be handled delicately, some morons on the streets kidnapped them and brought the entire weight of the MSF on them?" The French Wizard grunted. "Had it been the MSF, it wouldn't have been anywhere as near as disruptive as it turned out to be. The grunts would have been arrested, sure, but Laborde would have made bail and dragged the courts into a near standstill. They would never have gotten anything out of him."

Turning to look out his window, the man continued. "Unfortunately, a third party intervened, rescuing not just the Delacours but all the products in the Estate, before slaughtering all of the grunts and high level bodyguards Laborde had at his disposal. Based on the coroner reports, Laborde was tortured extensively, which would explain the vast amount of information that was leaked. The organization is doing everything it can to minimize the damage but the MSF have been… overly eager to capitalize on the situation." The British wizard rested his cane on the ground before resting his weight on it. "Third Party? What third party?" The other wizard rested his chin on his arm. "An unknown. Our contacts are certain that they operated via a Gringotts Treaty, but there is no evidence that the attack was carried out by the Goblins themselves. We believe they hired a mercenary group, which would explain the unexpectedly violent response, though we have yet to identify them. Regardless, who attacked us isn't the problem right now. With the operation compromised, our suppliers and buyers have gotten skittish and have slowed down all transactions whilst the possibility of interception remains high, not to mention we are in an unprecedented man shortage." He turned his gaze to his guest. "I am afraid you and your Death Eaters will have to get used to a supply shortage for the next few months until we can manage to figure something out. We can continue the raw material, potions and wand making supply shipments, but they will be at a reduced capacity and only through our more secure routes." The British Wizard was quiet for a moment. "And the personnel that are already in Britain?"

The French Wizard grumbled. "You can keep them for now. Transferring them back now under the heavy scrutiny will only make matters worse, and even then, our initial plans for dealing with the more problematic members of the French Ministry have all been curtailed. Someone found the gaps we were creating in the wards of our targets and the Ministry has placed the Étienne company under government control as it investigates the source of the sabotage. Gringotts Paris has won the contracts for the warding of the homes of the newer members of the Convention and is currently carrying out the reviews and reinstallations of all the previously sabotaged homes. Not only has that lost us capital, we have also lost our edge against our enemies." The British Wizard snorted. "Sounds like your real problem is with the Goblins. First the wards then the mercenaries. Why not do something with them first?" The French Wizard slammed his hands on the desk. "You don't have to tell me that! Our homeland has hosted those parasites for centuries longer than yours has and we have tried to eliminate them at every turn. We were almosted freed from their grasp until the blasted Revolution disrupted all of our plans! The masses rallied behind Gringotts because of how many people were employed with them and because they were the only other bank not operated by the aristocracy. Now, this incident will have ramifications in the next Convention, but the Delacour whore will be on their side and she will be even more inflamed to keep the treaties that kept her family safe from being modified. I will try to get as much fear of the Goblins kicked up about this incident but there is little we can do about them just yet. If you want to avoid a similar situation, I suggest you and your Death Eaters begin to plan your Goblin Bank's elimination as well."

The wizards quietly stared at each other. "Very well, seeing as we won't be able to operate as extensively as we had before the Laborde fiasco, I will have my Death Eaters focus more on reconnaissance and strategic planning. A bit of quiet will also help our members get into better positions in the Ministry and other sensitive targets. That said, we will not be quiet for long. If you want Britain to help destabilize your own country's government, we will need your continued support." The French Wizard steepled his hands after sitting down. "And you will have it, as soon as you do better than attacking an old graveyard and an abandoned house." It was the British Wizard who growled this time. "We are trying to destroy the Boy-Who-Lived's legacy! That filthy fairytale has ruined our people's plans for Britain for years now, but with him gone, there is only so much we can do to ruin his reputation. Either we successfully drag him back into the open and kill him or we hit everything that mattered to him in order to show that he is truly gone. We have a few more targets in mind to hit but until we have all the information available to us, they are simply too risky to pursue." The French Wizard raised an eyebrow. "Then it seems we are in agreement. Focus on gathering your intelligence while we focus on recovering our operational security to be of better assistance. Until then, you best try and minimize your travels here." The British Wizard grunted, before he reached into his pocket and pulled out a file. "Fine, but I want you to keep an eye on this person. We are not sure, but we believe she is planning to leave the country. If you spot her in France, let us know." The French Wizard took the file and watched as his British counterpart was escorted out, before tossing to the side of his desk. He would look at it later when he had less important matters to attend to.

"Weee! Again, again!" Gabrielle walked up to her niece and helped her up from the sled, before taking her hand. "Ok, you can go again, but dinner is almost ready to be served so after this we are going to take a break." Fleur, who had accompanied her daughter on the sled, thanked her sister before brushing off the bits of snow, deciding to take a rest after being Victoire's companion for the last few hours. Their stay at the Peverell Estate had so far been exceedingly pleasant, with the rooms that Elysia had set for them being comfortable and well decorated, with her mother even commenting on the excellently decorated tree in her and François' room, as it was the only tree in the house that was both a live tree and decorated in the more traditional style, with her husband even bringing the decorations from their home to help spruce it up after their wards were discovered to be faulty, which helped the couple feel more comfortable after imposing so much on their hostess. Though Gabrielle could tell that Elysia didn't see it as imposition at all, let alone Ida, who was delighted to be serving so many different culinary palettes, which allowed her to truly test out her skills as a cook. The biggest surprise whilst living in the Estate, however, came this very morning, as all the guests found out why Elysia had requested the house be emptied a few weeks back. When they opened their guest room doors, they found the corridors covered in what looked to be snow, though the head of the Peverell family confirmed that it was a particularly strong enchantment. The snow would feel and behave accordingly, but rather than turning into water, it would simply vanish, with the ceiling being enchanted to continuously produce more every once in a while to replace what was lost on the ground, maintaining a somewhat even layer, though there were points that had thicker piles, which Victoire used to make snowmen out of.

Victoire's obvious delight at being able to play in the snow, as this year had proven to be rather scarce with it in most of France, denying her the ability to do so outside, clearly had the intended effect on the girl, and an unexpected but welcomed effect on Fleur. While the swiftness of Elysia's rescue helped her stave off having any recuring nightmares about the kidnapping and her own attempted rape, it was clear that she still bore some scars from it, feelings of inadequacy when it came to protecting her daughter being high amongst them. Victoire's ever brightening mood since the event had certainly helped in chasing away those ill feelings, with Gabrielle noticing how her niece also seemed to gravitate more towards Elysia, being more open with her and feeling safe in her presence. This, of course, initially surprised Elysia, though Gabrielle had a hard time seeing how she couldn't see that she was so great with kids. The very fact that she had turned half of the grand staircases of her very home into a snow covered ramp for the little Veela to enjoy herself had certainly been inspired, and François had been fine with it after he personally tested the wards that were built into it to make sure that his granddaughter was safe. The entire Reception Hall itself had been turned into a winter wonderland, with only the small area around the regular chimney remaining free of snow, a warm place where those weary of playing for so long could take off their coats and just relax, which is where Apolline, François and Jeanne were currently seated, chatting amongst themselves as Fleur removed her coat to join them.

The two Charbonneau women had joined them every once in a while, though Adeline had tended to be busy preparing for her trip in January, making sure she had her clothes and equipment all packed up. The young woman had declined to spend her Christmas Eve with her father this year on account of his behaviour during the end of the school year and had spent much of her free time with her mother, the two having grown closer in the days since, with Jeanne now more comfortable with her daughter's decision to go on the six month long expedition, though Adeline was currently in the kitchen with Ida, getting used to sharing cleanup duties with a larger group of people, as the expedition would have all the apprentices and interns doing their part in looking after everyone. Having reached the top of the second floor, Gabrielle and Victoire found Elysia just seated in the small overlook that jutted out over the reception hall, her three companions resting either on her shoulder, her lap or her feet, as she read through a book in her hand, her fingers twirling as she silently uttered a spell. She briefly looked up and smiled at Gabrielle and her niece, the former feeling butterflies in her stomach. While they had yet to explore their relationship further, they had been a bit more comfortable with displays of affection. Elysia seemed to take delight in kissing Gabrielle's hand, knowinging exactly what that did to the young woman, though Gabrielle did tease her right back by hugging her and kissing her on the neck or cheek. While her father didn't seem exactly pleased with their relationship, he made it clear he wasn't opposed to it. For the rest of the Delacour Veelas, there was simply no doubt in their minds that the relationship between Gabrielle and Elysia was a welcomed one.

Even in the Dumont Conclave, the general feeling towards Elysia was one of acceptance, as was seen when she had been invited to observe their Yuletide Mass. For Veela, their religious practices were mostly kept isolated from the world, only ever permitting those mated to Veela to listen and observe, if not eventually convert. Though there were many in the conclaves that were considered true believers, the Elders did not chastise the rest for holding onto their faith as more of a cultural aspect of their race, as they understood that duty to preserve the faith, its traditions and values, was with the priestesses, not the masses. Much of Gabrielle's family would fall into that category, participating in the rites and festivals as an act of solidarity and community, rather than a strict adherence to faith. Even Apolline, the most traditional Veela of the family, wasn't a strict believer, though Gabrielle did notice that she was far more attentive to the words this year as the priestesses began the hymns this time around, the majority of the congregation joining in as a chorus. Because of her actions in liberating not just the Delacours but all the other victims in the Laborde Estate, Elder Ligia had extended the honour to Elysia to observe the mass, who accepted it, knowing that to decline would be poorly received. Whilst seated next to the Delacours in the grand cathedral, she observed the building's design, finding it similar to that of Catholic churches, with far older engravings and oculuses where the light filtered into the inner sanctum, though as it was winter, there were torches lit to compensate for the weaker sunlight. Whilst they listened to the Elder Ligia as she recited an old tale of Nantosuelta, the goddess to which all Veela Conclaves worshiped, Gabrielle noticed that Elysia's attention was suddenly drawn elsewhere. As the Elder ceded the next part of the Mass to the next Priestess, she looked to Elysia, giving her a brief smile, before retreating to her seat beside her fellow Elders on either side of the altar.

That had been much of what Elysia had been up to this past few days, participating and observing as the Delacours and Charbonneaus showed her what their versions of the Yuletide celebrations were like, with the raven haired witch taking it all in with a smile, helping out with the dishes despite Ida's protests and listening to everyone's stories of different times. Gabrielle had worried that she would remain aloof for the rest of the day, but after taking Victoire on the sled a few more times, everyone was called to dinner. The dining room was as pristine as ever, the walls adorned with wreaths and garlands and the table well set, but it was in no way grandiose nor presumptive as the main dining hall. The smaller table allowed for everyone to pass around their plates, getting a bit of the apéritifs, with Gabrielle trying and failing to convince Elysia to have some of the salmon. She smiled as she watched Victoire's excitement over the desserts, despite still having to go through the rest of the meal, with her sipping on the non-alcoholic apple cider, as everyone picked and ate from the menagerie of cheeses, cold cuts and canapés. Once the soups were consumed, the roasted chicken that Jeanne had worked on with Ida was brought out, along with trays of vegetables, with Victoire originally making a face at the sight of them, though she did enjoy the glazed carrots and the mashed potatoes. Eventually, the late dinner moved to the adjoining living room as the cheese platters and desserts were passed around, while the group waited for midnight to come around. As expected, the first to start dozing off was Victoire, so they had her open her presents first, many being a combination of books and toys, the latter for both her and Poleon, though she did get a small broom, with Fleur looking around the room, trying to determine who's bright idea it was, being surprised to see her father looking a bit guilty behind his flute of champagne.

The young mother was next, receiving some beautiful chemises from her mother and sister, a handcrafted decoration from Victoire that she promised to place on their room's tree. She watched as her father scooted closer as she opened his present, her eyes fixed on the beautifully crafted crystal star. "It's free of enchantments so you can have a go at it with your own work. I have also noticed that you have been looking over the property listings, so I thought it would be fitting… a star that you can set up on your own tree the day you decide to move into your own home." Feeling tears in her eyes, Fleur kissed François' cheeks and thanked him. Her next present was an old book, which caused her to look towards Elysia, who scratched her chin. "It wasn't easy to get permission to give this to you, so you best thank your department head the next time you go into work." Visibly puzzled, she opened the book, finding the familiar script of the Goblins. Reading the title had her jaw fall open. "These… these are Goblin Enchantments. I don't get to work on these at all back in Paris." Elysia leaned back. "Well, your supervisors were quite pleased with your performance these last few months and with the team being in full agreement, they have decided to begin your instruction in how Goblin enchantments work. That said, everything they teach you is to be kept in house. You can teach them to Victoire when she's older but she can't go around teaching anyone without getting them into Gringotts' Enchanting Division. This book will give you the best starting point." Fleur smiled at Elysia. "Thank you so much! I can't wait to get started on this."

As Victoire finally succumbed to sleep, François lifted her up in his arms and carried her out of the sitting room, followed by Fleur, who was calling it a night as well. As Elysia stepped out momentarily as well, Adeline scooted closer to her friend. "Soo… do you have a special gift planned for your lovely housemate later in the evening?" Gabrielle went bright red. "I… I mean…" Adeline blinked in surprise, before smiling. "Well, whatever you decide to do, I am glad for you both. The two of you have come a long way in these last few months together, finally coming out of your shells and just having fun." The young woman looked towards the other sofa, where Jeanne and Apolline were having their own quiet discussion, a soft smile breaking out across her face. "And so far this has been one of the best Christmases my mom and I have had since father cheated on her." Giving her friend a side hug, the evening continued as the large grandfather clock on the wall ticked on ever closer to midnight. As the tones finished declaring the time, the remaining people in the lounge began gathering their presents. After going through a decent variety of clothes that would make Adeline's next six months exceedingly comfortable in Guiana, she unwrapped a book, the front of it taking her breath away. "Is this?" Elysia smiled from her seat. "An advanced, hardcover copy. Aside from getting one for you, I wanted it to be special, so the print made the cover from wood and had the image we settled on for the cover engraved onto it." Adeline ran her hands over the engraving, the image having been one of the sketches she had made as an experiment, a flight of fancy. She had never intended for it to be the cover of the book, but when Elysia had been flipping through the sketches, it had caught her eye.

Depicting a figure next to a cauldron, a cloud of smoke billowed out to the left, where within the smoke could be seen a collection of herbs, roots, flowers and animal parts, all moving in through the smoke and into the cauldron. On the right stood a feminine figure in a coat, holding a ladle and a large glass beaker, stars or sparks jumping out of the contents, a satisfied smile on the figure's face clear for all to see. "A Collection of Medicinal Potions and Draughts by Elysia Peverell with illustrations by Channelle Dore." Gabrielle scooted closer as Adeline opened the book, watching as her illustrations could be seen on almost every page of it, adorning the edges as Elysia's extremely thorough instructions provided the reader with everything they needed to complete the potions safely and successfully. Jeanne, who had walked around from behind, wrapped her arms around her daughter and kissed her on her head. "Congratulations, my dear. It looks perfect." Adeline brushed away some tears from her cheeks. She closed the book and held it to her chest. "Thank you, Elysia. Both for the gift, and for the opportunity." The raven haired witch raised her warm mug of cocoa. "And thank you for the exceptional work and the idea for a second book. Though don't worry, I will be working on that one a bit more sporadically so you can focus on your own career." As the exchange continued, eventually a gift was handed to Elysia who, upon reading the title of the wrapped book, looked towards Apolline. "The Fiery Hearts of the Veelas. Is this a romance novel or that legendary book that shouldn't exist that actually portrays what lies in the hearts of women?" After swatting François' shoulder as he muttered "If it is, I need to get me one of those…", Apolline smiled at her hostess.

"Clever, but no, this is merely a book the Conclaves have been working on for some time, in the hopes of dispelling some of the more… exaggerated views regarding our people. Gabrielle mentioned you don't really know all that much about us, so I hoped to remedy that… particularly if you intend to be… romantic with one." Seeing the bright red cheeks on Elysia and Gabrielle appear at the same time, most of the witnesses teased them and though François looked on with concern, he didn't voice any dissent. Thanking Apolline for her gift, Elysia grabbed a similarly sized gift and passed it to her. "Had I known you would be giving me a book, I might have looked for something else." Raising an eyebrow, Apolline pulled away the wrapping, her face turning thoughtful as she stared at an old looking leather bound text. Flipping open on the first page, her mouth dropped open, as Elysia explained. "It's a copy since the original is almost 900 years old, but Gringotts is certain they managed to replicate its contents fully. All I know is that it's written in a language I have never seen before, though they identified it as one used by the Veela." François looked over his wife's shoulders as she tried to decipher it. "It's… one of the oldest variants of our mother tongue. 900 years ago it would have only been used by the priestesses and the nobility for the preservation of secrets. I can't interpret all of it but it does seem to say… "The Journals of… Cateline Peverell… de Brocéliande?" Gabrielle blinked for a second. "Brocéliande… as in the Paimpont Conclave?" Apolline nodded. "It's one of the oldest Conclaves West of the Rhine." Apolline looked towards Elysia. "Are you sure you wish for me to have a copy of this?"

Elysia sighed, rubbing the back of her head. "I wasn't sure what it was, only that it was from your kin. Gabrielle mentioned that you were particularly fond of history so I thought it would be great if someone could get it translated, after all. Seeing as it was written by a member of my family, I wouldn't mind a copy of the translation at a later time but maybe there is something there for you as well. At the very least, it should offer an interesting perspective on the world nearly a thousand years ago through the eyes of one of your own." Apolline nodded. "I will speak to the Elders in both Dumont and Paimpont. They wouldn't deny you the right to the translation but getting someone to actually translate this… they might eventually ask for it to be made public knowledge. The Conclaves have endured centuries of sieges and we have lost many texts from this era. To get one back…" As the last of the gifts were handed out, Gabrielle found one last small present with her name on it. Peeling off the wrapper, she was initially confused as it looked like a pocket watch, chain and all, but when she popped open the lid, it revealed a small mirror. "This… is a scrying mirror, right?" Apolline looked at it and frowned. "It certainly seems to be but I have never seen this design." Looking towards Elysia, the last of the Peverells gestured at it. "Unscrew the bottom and see for yourself." As Gabrielle removed the bottom layer, Elysia elaborated. "From what I heard, most portable scrying mirrors are either bound to another or can only connect to predetermined mirrors, as anything that can have its view altered would need to be the size of a dinner plate or greater. However, some first generation magicals in MACUSA were experimenting with these to see if they could match the portability of cell phones. This one is an early prototype, but it should let you connect to any mirror that has the right sigil sequence."

With François peppering Elysia with questions on the device, she handed him the manual that came with the mirror, before looking at Gabrielle. "I already connected it to the wards here and once it's connected to the new ones at your family's home, it should work from there too. It has a safety feature that prevents it from activating without someone holding the mirror and people would only be able to see or hear you when the lid is opened, so it isn't a privacy hazard, but the designers are still working out a few issues with its range, but it should cover much of France, if not Central Europe." François looked over the specifics. "I may need to call the Ministry to check on these devices. These could come in quite handy for the Aurors to carry on their persons at all times." Closing the mirror, Gabrielle smiled to herself. "And for a MCH too. Getting calls through this can mean getting to a creature that much faster in order to save their lives." She turned to Elysia and smiled at her. "Thank you." After hiding the growing blush on her face, the gathering eventually dispersed as everyone made their way up to their bedrooms, with Elysia and Gabrielle reaching their own rooms. Watching as Elysia entered her chambers, Gabrielle spoke up. "If… if you would like to… to spend a few more minutes chatting… could I join you? Though… I think I need to freshen up first." Elysia's face went red slightly. "Uh… sure. I will leave the door open then since I feel like I need to freshen up too. See you in a moment." As Elysia entered her bathroom, she looked in the mirror, breathing heavily, her thoughts running wild. And, for the first time in a long while, her three companions were being uncharacteristically quiet. She wondered how long that would last for tonight.

Closing the door to Elysia's Suite gently, Gabrielle held her robes closed tightly over her chest, her hair loose though dry, as she took a calming breath. She wouldn't lie in saying that she hadn't dreamed of a moment like this one several times, where she and Elysia were alone, expecting to get something more out of it than a kiss on the lips. That day in the communal bath had left her body aching with the echoes of Elysia's touch and magic and she had resisted as much as she could, but something about tonight felt different to the young Veela and she intended to make the most of it, even if they held back from going all the way once again. Walking deeper into the room, she found it odd that none of the animals seemed to be present, though she did notice that Elysia's bedroom door was ajar. Swallowing the ball of nerves that had appeared in her throat, Gabrielle pushed the door open, only to find the room itself was empty, though she could hear movement in the adjoining bathroom. While Gabrielle had been in Elysia's Suite many times, this was the first time she was in her bedroom. Like with the sitting room, the windows in this bedroom were grander than the one's in the guest rooms, with thick green curtains only partly opened, revealing the crescent moon in the dark night sky. The room itself had similarly smooth wooden furnishings, including the massive bed, though this one lacked any posts. Gabrielle ran her hands on the sheets, feeling the familiar softness of the linens in her room, though these were in green and white. Aside from the furniture, though, there were only a few photo frames to be seen, one of a witch and a wizard that Gabrielle assumed were the Potters, whilst another one was of Sirius Black, this one with a softer, almost tender look on his face. Gabrielle smiled, realizing why these were the only photos on display in her room. Even a photo of Hermione with another blonde girl wearing ravenclaw colors didn't bother her at all, knowing that the former Potter had cared about her greatly, but never romantically. These were, after all, the only people Elysia saw as family.

The door to the bathroom opened slowly and the room's occupant stepped out, her wet black hair contrasted with her white bathrobe. Gabrielle gestured at Elysia's hair. "Would you like some help with that?" Elysia sighed, the blush on her face receding slightly. "Sure, but I think I have some tangles in there." With Elysia seated on the ground beside the bed, Gabrielle pulled the long raven black strands back over the bed, drawing her wand from her wrist holster before casting an untangling spell. After that, she placed the wand on the bed, before using the brush and comb that she had spotted on the bedside table. The two were quiet for a moment as the tangled hairs sprung free, with Gabrielle enjoying the feel of Elysia's locks on her hands. "What's your routine with your hair?" Elysia shrugged her shoulders. "I just use a standard shampoo and conditioner. Nothing special. I already tried using magical ointments, but none helped in taming my hair for long, not even Sleekeazy. Based on a few journals, the hair is a sort of inherited magical trait, so it tends to resist alterations." Gabrielle hummed to herself. "Then maybe it should just be about how you care for it. I take it you don't know the untangling spell I just used?" Elysia was quiet for a moment. "I did look over a few pamphlets about female care but a lot of the potions and spells sounded wrong, so I never tried them." Gabrielle chuckled. "Yeah, those don't usually do much. The best spells are those passed down the… families. Sorry… I… just realized…" Elydia sighed. "It's fine. Even if my mother had survived… there was no guarantee she would have understood what I was anyways. I might never have learned the spells regardless."

Gabrielle turned her attention to Elysia's scalp, brushing the softening hair. "Well, I can certainly teach them to you… though I wouldn't mind taking care of it myself every other night." The soft groan from Elysia reignited Gabrielle's skin. "I… wouldn't be opposed to it." Eventually, however, Gabrielle's ministrations came to an end, with Elysia joining her on the bed, the two now sitting besides each other, with the raven haired witch placing her hand on Gabrielle and lifting it up to her lips. "Thank you." Gabrielle blinked her. "For brushing your hair?" Elysia shook her head. "For everything. Letting you live here with me was the hardest decision I had to make in the last seven years of my life, but these last six months… these last few weeks even… they have been some of the best of my life. Even just today… I can't remember a single Christmas Eve that was just so… special and ordinary at the same time. Even the one I spent with Sirius was overshadowed by Voldemort's threat." Gabrielle lowered her eyes. "I just wish I had gotten you a better gift." Elysia lifted her housemate's chin up so she could look her in the eyes. "Gabrielle, you don't always have to measure the things between us by what you bring to the relationship. I read the reports from Gringotts' Market Observers and decided to join in the investment program for the communication mirror because I could see its value, particularly to you. But that doesn't mean that your gift was any less special. I… am actually wearing it right now." Pulling her robe slightly open, Elysia revealed the chains around her neck, one holding a familiar green stone with markings on it, while the longer one beneath it had an amulet in the form of angel with three pairs of wings, one resting, one open and one flared, the figure itself holding a sword in their hands, even as these were held as if in prayer.

Elysia touched it, a smile breaking out softly on her lips. "I have never been fond of people giving me names like protector, hero or angel. It always feels like they are placing some greater responsibility onto me that I do not wish to carry. But with you… when you called me your angel… It felt different. You saw all of who I am, the violence that I am still very much capable of. You saw it and can still call me your angel and so much more. Coming from you… it feels less like you are setting down an expectation onto me and more like highlighting what you see in me. And I like that. A lot. So it might not have been as expensive as the mirror, but I am very happy with your gift to me." Gabrielle, hearing those words, took a deep breath, her heart beating heavy but steady. "That means a lot to me as well. Though… I did have another gift in mind as well." As she reached to untie her bathrobe, Elysia's hands held hers gently. "You don't have to do this. You don't owe me anything." Gabrielle looked up into those beautiful green eyes, her heart singing in joy. "No, I don't have to. But I want to. I want… to be with you… in every sense of the word." Elysia's eyes searched Gabrielle's. "Are you absolutely sure?" Seeing her nod, Elysia closed her eyes and rested her forehead against Gabrielle. "If at any moment you feel uncomfortable or you wish to stop, just say so." After those words, Elysia's hands released the young Veela's, who turned towards the woman next to her as she stripped off her robes, revealing her naked form. She then reached forward and began pulling at Elysia's robes as she kissed her, the kiss being deep and genuine in its passion.

With a speed that Gabrielle could not hope to match, the young Veela found herself splayed out on the bed, the robe fully spilled open behind her as Elysia loomed over her. Those blue eyes devoured the naked form above her, finding the stronger musculature a lot more appealing than she remembered, any traces of jealousy about the chest on her housemate having evaporated as it was all laid bare before her. Said body was soon pressed into her's, as Elysia's lips kissed Gabrielle's with barely repressed hunger, before she pulled back, breathing heavily. "This… this is… my first time…" Gabrielle blinked in surprise. "Really?" Elysia nodded. "My… fling with Cho was only a few kisses and Ginny… she tried for more but something kept pulling me back. I… I may need you to give me a few pointers." Gabrielle's face went red as well. "This… is my first time too. I… know what's supposed to happen so I can guide you, but… we will essentially be figuring it all out as we go along. I am also on the potion… so… you don't have to worry about… that." Elysia closed her eyes for a moment, before leaning in, her mouth just inches away from Gabrielle's ear. "I hope… you aren't in too much of a hurry… because I am going to make sure you enjoy every moment of tonight." After speaking those words, her lips then began to explore every inch of Gabrielle's body, the young Veela both astounded and thrilled by how meticulously Elysia seemed to explore and revere it. Even her chest, which she had been disappointed in, received plenty of affection from her lover, leaving Gabrielle's body covered in sweat, her legs shaking from the desire building inside of her.

Even exhausted after her first release, she was aware enough of the moment their bodies became one, the pain shattering through the haze in her mind. Elysia, however, proved herself the attentive lover, using salves she kept at her bedside to ease the pain, the two then taking it slow as Gabrielle grew used to the intrusion. The slow, deliberate pace the two settled on was making the flames under Gabrielle's skin grow hotter and hotter, her hands gripping Elysia's back tightly, as those lips brought that delightful haze back into her mind. Soon, both grew desperate for release as their pace quickened, with Gabrielle's legs refusing to release Elysia's waist. Gabrielle's release arrived first again, momentarily blinding her senses as the surge in the fires in her soul sapped all strength from her frame, before her mind began to be flooded with sensations and emotions. The bond that had remained closed off for so long had suddenly opened, with Elysia's feelings coming in loud and clear, from the lust that drove her currently, to the love that simmered underneath, the tenderness of it delighting Gabrielle, as her partner soon followed her into bliss. The young blonde held her raven haired lover tightly, kissing her neck and shoulders lovingly as the lust ebbed, the two breathing deeply, before Elysia pulled back, those wonderful lips returning to Gabrielle's neck, reigniting her skin. The two turned over so that Elysia was now spooning her from behind, those hands back at work, tormenting Gabrielle in delight as they found new and exciting places that left her squirming in her lover's grasp. When the young Veela felt Elysia taking her again, she allowed her to once more set the pace, with her wakeful memories of the night fading soon after, as both eventually succumbed to exhaustion, their bodies still tangled in a warm and intimate embrace that neither was particularly motivated to end.