The Lion Cub Chapter 52: Parties and Werewolves P1 (Patreon)
Content
One thing Harry realized after spending so much time with Fleur is that the French witch has a habit of planning things out in advance. Harry liked to think he was also like that but Fleur took planning to a whole new level. That’s why he was not surprised by how prepared Fleur was in moving to Britain for her new job. However, he was quite surprised to learn Fleur has been preparing for this shift for a long time. She has been preparing to move to Britain long before she even came to Hogwarts for the Triwizard tournament.
So, his assumption that Fleur moved to Britain for his sake was way off its mark.
He glanced at Fleur’s bare back, partially covered by a white sheet up to her waist. He was in bed with Fleur in her apartment in muggle London, no less. He had offered Fleur a room in Grimmauld Place, but she had rejected him flat out without even giving it much thought. He knew she was fiery and free-spirited in bed, but it was the first time he was seeing that behaviour manifesting outside the privacy of their bedroom activities.
Picking up his glasses from the bedside table, he looked at the time. It was 8:30 in the morning, and he was supposed to return to Grimmauld Place by 9:00. Letting out a sigh, he reached across the bed and pressed his lips against Fleur’s navel, earning a soft purr from the French witch. He smiled against her skin and trailed a flurry of kisses along her smooth skin up to her neck. He breathed in the rosy smell of her silver-blonde hair, which made him nuzzle against her all the more snuggly.
XXXXXXXX Lemon scene (available in discord channel for patrons) XXXXXXXX
It was much later than they both preferred when they finally left the bedroom. Fleur rushed to get ready for her part-time job at Gringotts while Harry cleaned himself up to make his return to Grimmauld Place in time.
“‘Arry, make sure Brigitte returns to France.” Fleur called out to him from the shower.
Harry paused while tying up his shoelaces for a second before it clicked in his mind. Fleur’s cousin Brigette wound up travelling with them from France, all thanks to Sirius. Well, more like she travelled with Sirius and him as Fleur took a legal international portkey out of France. It was not like he could join Fleur as he was not legally inside the country. International portkeys tend to be monitored closely as magical nations are very keen on knowing who goes in and out of their borders.
That’s why Harry and Sirius took the freight train through the English Channel to cross into France. It was a smooth ride and less risky than taking a flight to France. There were no pesky security cameras, at least, not to the extent of an international airport. The train ride to France was quite smooth but the return journey was not so smooth for Harry. Mostly because Brigitte Leroy, Fleur’s excitable cousin who was a full-blooded Veela took a shine to Sirius’s dark charms and decided to accompany them on their journey back to Britain. The mere fact that Sirius had him travel in a separate compartment keyed in Harry what those two were doing on their ride to Britain.
“I’ll try.” he yelled back before calling for Dobby and teleporting away from Fleur’s apartment.
Harry could feel the wards simmering as they accommodated his presence.
“Thanks, Dobby.”
“Dobby is happy to help Harry Potter sir.” Dobby happily crowed.
“Has there been any trouble with the snake in the Chamber?” Harry asked absently, as he found the Black manor eerily silent.
“Oh no, sir. The bad snakey is sleeping away as Harry Potter sir ordered.”
Harry smiled amusedly at Dobby’s colourful language but he appreciated the effort Dobby was putting into the matter.
“Tell me, Dobby. Are you confident that you can look after matters in the Chamber on your own? I mean, do you require Winky’s help in the Chamber because you see I’ve another job coming up for Winky and I wanted to check with you first.”
Dobby bounced on his heels for a moment before looking thoughtful.
“Dobby be a good elf Harry Potter sir. Dobby can look after sir’s mean snakey and the Chamber.” said Dobby.
“Okay, Dobby. I believe you.” Harry patted his elvish friend on the shoulder while thinking of sending Winky over to help with Fleur.
From Christmas eve, Dobby and Winky were engaged in a job of sorts that was intended to destroy the Dursleys’ ‘perfect’ life. Dobby would mess with their food by adding substances that’d leave Vernon quite busy in the bathroom. Winky would mess with their car every day by making sure the vehicle does not move an inch from the garage. In a short period of time, Vernon lost his job and the Dursleys were without a stable income. Then he left an anonymous note on the nearby police station in the guise of a concerned neighbour about the ‘abusive and sexually deviant’ Vernon Dursley. He also implied that Vernon may have killed off his wife’s poor orphan boy. When the cops launched a small enquiry, they must have inevitably come across the recent hospital records and the ‘injuries’ the Dursleys suffered thanks to his prank.
The rest could not have happened any better as the forensic team the cops sent into the Dursley home recovered his DNA samples from the cupboard under the stairs. That was the nail in the coffin for Vernon and Petunia as they could not explain the signs of Harry’s extended stay in the cupboard nor could they exactly say where he was. Their usual story of Harry being sent to a school for special delinquents didn’t hold for long before the incisive interrogation from the cops. Before they could so much as squeak the Dursleys were taken into custody and charged with several crimes that should keep them away for quite some time. Seeing as he was not going to return to Surrey anytime soon, he was sure more severe charges will be heaped on the Dursleys and that’d be the end of the story. Even Dumbledore with all his resourcefulness would be hard-pressed to facilitate the release of Dursleys from the muggle authorities.
With the Dursleys out of the picture, Winky and Dobby have less work and elves without work are more trouble than Harry imagined. The few days he stayed at Grimmauld Place were spent breaking fights that broke out between Winky, Dobby and Kreacher. Their competing nature to garner more praise for a job well done was a disaster waiting to happen. So, having Winky help out Fleur in her apartment was a temporary solution to the current ‘labour upsurge’.
There was another more permanent solution but that required some work from his side and he needed Sirius’ aid before opening that particular can of worms in the Ministry.
“Where is Sirius?” he asked, looking around the house but finding it deserted.
“The blood-traitor master is in his room with his guest.” said Kreacher, who was suddenly standing behind Harry looking at him with his old grey eyes.
Harry nearly jumped in surprise at Kreacher’s sudden appearance.
“You like sneaking upon people don’t you Kreacher?”
“Kreacher does not know what young master says.” Kreacher mumbled, moving towards the dining table pretending to polish the silverware.
“Kreacher be a bad elf Harry Potter sir. Dobby saw Kreacher take away master Black’s magic from the mean portrait.” Dobby ratted Kreacher out pointing one long grey finger at the old elf accusingly.
Harry rolled his eyes as Kreacher began extolling the virtues of Lady Black and Dobby began countering them which led to a full-blown argument between the two.
‘I definitely need to find some heavy work for the elves or I’ll go mad.’
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Percy Weasley was quite a happy man. The last few months after Sirius Black’s trial was dark days for him. Mr Crouch was on the run and the whole Department of International Magical Co-operation was under the shadow of its absconding head. The days that followed were quite difficult for him and the Department as Minister Fudge had unleashed a full investigation into the workings of the Department. As the personal assistant of Mr Crouch, he suffered the most in the inquiry. But he cooperated to the fullest capacity and he even managed to assist the Commission Minister Fudge set up the departmental inquiry.
He must have really impressed many people because not only was he kept in the Department he was even given a raise and a promotion to boot which landed him in the office of the Minister of Magic. A few days ago he was worried about being fired from the Ministry and now he was working directly for the Minister of Magic. It was surely an unprecedented jump as far as his career was concerned and he was quite happy about it. Which was why he was in the Burrow with his family joining in for a family dinner. And it seems he was not the only one with some good news to share.
“Oh, it’s wonderful Bill dear. You finally managed to get transferred to London.” Molly Weasley hugged Bill and pressed a kiss on his head. “Now, if only Charlie could find a job in Britain, I’ll happily praise Merlin all day.”
‘Yeah, that’s not happening.’ Percy thought as he exchanged a look with his older brother discreetly.
Charlie was the most free-spirited among the Weasleys. There was no way Charlie was going to come back when his older brother was having an enjoyable time abroad away from their overbearing mother.
“Congratulations Bill.” Percy nodded respectfully to his older brother. “I know how badly you wanted to return. I’m happy for you.”
“Thanks, Perce.” Bill smiled.
Out of all his siblings, Percy found Bill the most tolerable. Maybe it was because Bill was the most serious about his career and hard-working to the bone.
“I also have some good news to share.” he said excitedly, giddy that he was going to share this wonderful news with his family. He’d have preferred Charlie present when he breaks the news but a letter should suffice.
“Oh, no. Don’t tell me the Ministry finally decided to fix the cauldron bottom thickness to five inches.” George mocked.
Percy frowned at the twins as they snickered and behaved like the hooligans they were. It has always been this way and he doubted these two were ever going to stop behaving with some responsibility anytime soon. His eyes strayed to Ron who was joining in on mocking him which made him frown a little more intensely. At least, Ginny was behaving far more composed and she was the youngest!
“George!” Molly warned, quieting down the twins and Ron with a sharp look.
“Go on Percy dear. Tell us the good news.” Molly smiled encouragingly at him.
“Well, you know things have not been better at the Ministry thanks to the whole business with Crouch and his son…” started Percy, his parents nodding in understanding. “The whole department was under inspection and I thought I’d be… you know, let off for being too close to Mr Crouch. But, I got a letter yesterday inviting me to the Minister’s office and he personally handed me a promotion and a new job in his office!”
Percy could see the absolute befuddlement on the faces of his parents. He became all the more giddier at seeing that.
“You are looking at the new Junior Assistant of the Minister of Magic himself.” Percy said proudly, grinning from ear to ear.
“Percy, that’s wonderful. You did well.” Bill reached out and patted him on the back proudly making Percy sit straight with his shoulders back basking in the praise.
“Well done, Percy.” Ginny smiled at him.
The Twins gave him a thumbs up and Ron just waved at him indifferently. But the reaction that he expected from his parents didn’t come. Instead, his parents were looking rather concerned.
“Father?” he asked, confused by their eerie silence and concerned looks.
“Percy, there have been certain developments concerning Headmaster Dumbledore and Minister Fudge. Dumbledore is convinced that You-Know-Who is back and the Ministry is trying its best at covering it up.”
“Mother… What are you saying?” Percy frowned.
“I think what your mother is saying is that the Minister knows our family is close to Dumbledore and is perhaps planning to use you…”
“You think I’m a spy!” Percy thundered, standing up from the dinner table. “You think that’s why I got the job not because I have the ability to do the job!”
“Percy dear Arthur didn’t mean it like that.” Molly tried to placate him but Percy shook her hands away.
“Then what exactly did he mean by that?” Percy screamed at his father with anger boiling in his mind.
“Percy, just think about it. The Ministry has been trying to isolate Dumbledore for spreading the word about You-Know-Who before it’s too late. Minister Fudge has been looking to discredit the Headmaster and he might be seeing you as a means to that end.” said Arthur.
At that moment, Percy felt shame and anger. Shame because of how low expectations his father had for him. Anger because of seeing the blind piousness his parents were showing the Headmaster.
‘Does he think that I can’t get a job on my merits alone?’ Percy thought.
“You two fools are believing the lies that old man is spouting without caring what it is doing to the public? Have you all forgotten what happened two years back when Ginny was taken into the Chamber of Secrets? Where was your precious Headmaster then?”
“Percy, that’s enough.” Arthur butted in sharply standing up from his seat.
“I don’t think so, father. That man was lying then and it took only an untrained second year to save my sister from whatever was down there. And we were all supposed to pretend nothing ever happened because that’s what the Headmaster wanted. And you, father, bent over backwards for that twinkly-eyed bastard son of a…”
“Percy! Get out!” Arthur shouted, his face red with rage.
Percy reeled in his anger and looked coolly at his family one last time.
“Gladly.”
“No, wait Percy. Your father doesn’t mean that.” Molly pleaded, her eyes watering at the edges before turning on Arthur. “Tell him you do not mean that Arthur.”
“Time will show that I’m right and prove that Albus Dumbledore is nothing but a disease to our society. Goodbye, mother. I wish you all the best of luck. You are all going to need it if you are following that delusional old man.” Percy spoke up before his father could make up some empty platitudes thanks to his mother.
He turned on his heel and apparated on the spot. As the twisting motion set in he could hear his mother’s pleading voice but he didn’t care. All he wanted was some respect and for his family to acknowledge his abilities. If they were unwilling to see his worth then he has got a girl waiting in London that appreciates him.
‘I’m coming Penny.’ Percy thought as he apparated away from the Burrow.
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Damien stood by in silence as Lady Lilith patiently listened to the report Lucius was delivering. The Dark Lord was acting brazenly if the man was truly leading by using werewolves as his muscle. But it was so unlike the Dark Lord to behave this way. Even at the height of his power the Dark Lord never unleashed his werewolf allies on the magical populace indiscriminately. There was always a purpose to the attack from the Dark Lord. This recent plan of unleashing a bunch of rabid werewolves on Godric’s Hollow during a full moon didn’t make much sense.
‘What am I missing here?’ he pondered in the safety of his mind.
Damien looked suspiciously at Lucius. For a moment, he suspected the man was lying but then he remembered the Unbreakable Vow and the oath the man took. Magic would strike down Lucius if the man was misleading Lilith.
“You may leave Lucius.” Lilith ordered.
Damien watched dispassionately as Lucius bowed low before taking his leave. The man was living on borrowed time. One small mistake and Lucius could die a painful death either at the hands of the Dark Lord or thanks to the penalty of breaking a vow on magic.
“What do you make of this my dear?” Lilith asked, turning to his wife Evelyn who was standing beside the armchair.
“A distraction?” Evelyn said, looking unsure of herself.
“What do you make of it Damien?” Lilith asked, turning her green eyes on him and looking searchingly.
“I do not know. If it is a distraction then I don’t see why the Dark Lord would choose werewolves of all creatures. The Ministry seems hell-bent on denying Dumbledore’s warnings. Why would the Dark Lord stir up the pot with werewolves that’d only strengthen the veracity of Dumbledore’s warnings?” Damien mused aloud.
“Why indeed?” Lilith trailed off thoughtfully. “Make sure Harry Potter reaches your home without fail for the party.”
“Of course, my lady.”