HP: Dance of the Veela

December 25, 1997

Paris, France

The ballroom had been set up for the wedding. It was small, only about two dozen people here. Most of them were the Delacours, the Tonks and Lupins.

Harry sat next to Gabrielle with Fleur and Bill on his other side. Gabrielle was in a lovely light blue dress that wrapped up and around her neck, leaving her shoulders and arms exposed. He had spent several minutes admiring her as she had helped with a few last-minute details. Gabrielle just gave him a sly smirk when she noticed, wagging her bum and her maman had chuckled at his reaction. "To be that young again," Apolline had muttered when she walked over to Harry with her daughter, leaving Harry to escort Gabrielle to the ballroom.

As the music started, they all got up and turned to see Renée led to the Bonder and Sirius by her papa. Sebastian had a regal face, but it was hard to miss the pride in his eyes, especially as he handed her off to Sirius. His godfather winked and Renée gave a soft giggle.

"Thank you all for coming today to see this union. If you would all be seated, I would start the ceremony," a man in a white cloak and stole embroidered in silver runes spoke up. Harry could read the runes as various types of bonds.

He sat and Gabrielle took his hand. Harry wove his fingers in hers. Someday that would be them up there.

Once everyone was settled, the man spoke again. "We are gathered here to witness the bonds of marriage and the joining of these two, Lord Sirius Orion Black and Renée Agnes Delacour. Does the father of the bride consent to this union?"

Sebastian stood tall, pride on his face. "I consent to this union and give her the blessing of our family."

The man nodded and Renée beamed. "Is there a representative of the House of Black that would consent to this union?"

Harry stood. It was his or Aunt Andi's responsibility and she had told him he was doing it. It didn't matter that Sirius was their Lord, in this instance, it was the only way any member of his house could protest. It only mattered in terms of inheritance, but Harry didn't need or want anything from Sirius that way. "The members of the House of Black consent and give our blessing to this union."

Sirius winked at him.

"Are there any other blessings or objections?"

Alain stood up. "The Lord of the Delacours adds his blessing and boon for a happy and prolific marriage," he said solemnly, showing almost as much pride as his brother.

Harry stood next. "The House of Potter add their blessing and boon."

Ted Tonks stood after him. "The House of Tonks gladly gives their blessing and boon. We wish you a lifetime of happiness."

Sirius nodded. Bill stood last. "The House of Weasley passes on the blessing and boon of our Head of House, and my own." Fleur gave him an appreciative nod and peck on his cheek as a reward.

When no one else stood, the man took the two sides of his frock. "As the couple has requested to be accepted by magic and the laws of Ancients, I would ask them both to take this and wrap it around a hand, then take each other's."

Sirius and Renée did as instructed. Harry had never seen his godfather so pleased. Much like Alain had told him, once Sebastian had met his Artemis, it wasn't long for her sisters to find their matches in Alain and Pierre. It wasn't uncommon for a line of veela-blood to attached themselves to the same bloodline. Technically, the Weasleys were a long relation away from the Blacks. Six generations. Harry was only two generations away. Alain thought that was why there had been such a strong attraction to him and Sirius once Fleur found Bill. The Weasleys were powerful, wonderful people, but they were not the same as the Potters or Blacks.

The Bonder started to chant and many of the rune chains lit with a pleasant silvery light. After a moment, the Bonder turned to Renée. "Renée Agnes Delacour, do you accept the magic of the House of Black, to be melded with your own?"

"Oui."

"Do you swear to honor Lord Sirius Orion Black, in sickness and in health, through hardship and joy, and to provide heirs who shall be the blood of the Blacks?" the Bonder asked her.

Renée nodded. "I swear to honor Lord Sirius Orion Black, in sickness and health, through hardship and joy, and to provide him any heirs I can bear."

The rune chains for fertility, blessings of happiness and the bond of blood to a new line shown a little brighter.

"Lord Sirius Orion Black, do you accept the magic of this woman into the House of Black, to be melded with your own?"

"Oui."

The bonder went on. "Do you swear to honor Renée Agnes Delacour, to accept her as the Lady of your line, to honor her in sickness and in health, through hardship and joy, to provide for her and any heirs she shall bear, and to claim her and any heirs as the Blood of the Blacks?"

Sirius smiled, his eyes locked on Renée's, before saying, "I, Lord Sirius Orion Black, swear to honour and love this woman, in sickness and in health, to accept her as my Lady and all heirs she shall bear as blood of my blood. For as long as we shall live, I shall provide for her and my heirs, through hardship and joy."

The rune chains of binding, blood acceptance and fidelity shown, matching the brightness of others.

"Magic and the Laws of the Ancients acknowledge your pledges. Do you, Renée Agnes Delacour accept the oaths and bonds freely offered?"

"Oui. With all my heart," she said, giving Sirius a heated look. Gabrielle moved to be pressing her side against his. Harry liked having her this close.

"Lord Sirius Orion Black, do you accept the oaths and bonds freely given?"

"I would be a fool to say no," he said with a smirk. A few around the room chuckled or laughed. Gabrielle hit his arm, though she was smiling too. Renée giggled. "Oui. I accept the oaths and bonds freely given."

The light in the runes sank into the cloth and then onto their conjoined hands.

"All bear witness to the joining of these two by magic and the Laws of the Ancients. From this moment forward, recognize them as Lord and Lady Black, bound in love, fidelity and honor of the other. You can now share your first kiss as husband and wife."

There was clapping as Renée moved forward and they shared a kiss that was a little steamy, but not indecent.

Gabrielle moved to whisper in his ear. "I want the same vows."

Harry felt his heart skip a little. He knew what that magic had been about. They had not decided on a date yet, but she was adamant she wanted to be married soon after they got their NEWT's or IAWL's. "Aren't we a little young for heirs?"

She kissed his cheek. "If magic decides it is time, it is. Until then, we keep protecting ourselves. You are coming to my room tonight?"

He had a goofy smile on his face as Sirius and Renée were hugging Sebastian, Artemis and others. "I could go to your room sooner than that."

She wrapped her arms around his right arm. "You can wait a little bit."

He laughed as they stood to make it to his godfather. "Oui, I can. Can you?"

She gave him a little growl. "Today is about my cousin and your godfather. Not us."

They had woken in each other's arms this morning in his bed. That was followed by a very pleasant Christmas morning before someone knocked on his door. Alain had been right. A sated veela-blood was a happy woman. She could also be very persuasive when she wanted to be sated...

-oOo-

December 29, 1997

London, England

It was a quiet, very upscale restaurant along the Thames. She watched muggle tugs and barges moving by. Her Grandmaman had been old enough to remember when this river used to support ships that ran up and down the river by sail or oar. The few pictures around the restaurant spoke to this once proud center of commerce and rough men. Her grandmaman had fallen for a sailor. He had become a captain and had been gone for long tines, sometimes years. Apolline was unsure how her grandmaman had endured it. She was a full Veela, like her own maman. If Apolline had to be separated from Alain for more than a week she found herself missing him to the point she would pine. After two weeks, she would fall into a melancholy. One time he was gone for three weeks, and she thought she was losing her mind.

Maybe it was the fact she had decided to stay half-human. All those born of a veela had a choice when they matured. Apolline, Artemis and Athena had four other sisters and two brothers. Those sisters had chosen to ascend to be full veela. Apolline never really felt like she fit in fully. She had become too attached to her papa and liked the normal world too much. Her decision had led to meeting Alain when she was twenty-four. Fleur had come when she was thirty, and Gabrielle almost three years later.

That pull she felt towards Alain, was the same pull she had to keep her family close. To know Fleur was coming back to the nest and adding to it had her still feeling as happy as she had several nights ago. Having Gabrielle, as young as she was, to have such a fine young man was better. She had a feeling they would be spending much of their year in Paris.

She made a mental note to ensure the villa was ready for them in the summer, maybe even Easter. Gabrielle had mentioned she would like to get married in the country.

As she was starting to go over what would be needed for a grandchild and a wedding, the woman she was here to meet was obvious the second she was led towards the table. In a high-class muggle restaurant, someone in garish witch's robes, gemmed glasses and a wild hair style stuck out. The obvious dislike of being in such an establishment had the hostess look at her coolly.

Apolline already disliked this woman and was growing even less fond as she sat. "Your finest gin with ice," the woman said dismissively. Before Apolline could say anything, a parchment and acid green quill was already coming out.

"If you don't put those away, I will burn up your whole bag and report you to the Aurors for breaking the Statute of Secrecy," Apolline warned.

The woman gave her a disgruntled look and did as instructed. "You wanted an interview. I am meeting your conditions."

Apolline glared at the woman. "I want a conversation. I never said I was going to give the likes of you an interview, Ms. Skeeter."

Skeeter crossed her arms. "Then talk. I have other business to get to today."

Apolline very much disliked this woman. Taking a folder out, she placed it on the table. "I am here representing a son of my family and the betrothed of my younger daughter. Two men that mean much to me already, and two woman of my house I have loved since the day they were born."

Skeeter pursed her lips. "If you are trying to blackmail me, I will let you know I will bury you and all your 'family'," Skeeter said, not sounding afraid.

Apolline just smiled. It was a predatory smile. "Oh, it is not blackmail. You will find that a Solicitor will be contacting you soon. In that envelope is your contract and terms of loans and stock. There are certain clauses about those that own parts of the Daily Prophet and Teen Witch Weekly that reporters of such publications are not to disparage or to print falsehoods about the owners. I believe you will find that certain articles and even books," she said significantly, "that were published under pseudonyms have violated your contract and the terms of loans to your publishers. Your publishers shall be visited by the same solicitors."

Skeeter suddenly looked worried and grabbed the folder. Her drink was brought over and a meal was delivered to Apolline. She started to eat the exquisite fish while Skeeter looked over the documents and muttered. "Bloody fuck! They own ten percent each," she heard the woman mutter.

After a few Skeeter put the folder on the table. "What do you want?"

She finished chewing and took a sip of her wine. "Well, that is the question, isn't it?"

"We are both woman that know you didn't just meet me to threaten me. You want something," Skeeter said in a cold tone.

"I do want something," Apolline agreed, taking another sip of her wine. Skeeter's gin had not been touched yet. When the Skeeter bitch gave her a glare, Apolline just shook her head. "I know more secrets about you than you can imagine. One does not often see water beetles in the snow."

Skeeters eyes widened. "How could you..."

Apolline gave a smug smile. "I am a veela-blood. Family and those I love is everything to me. I am also Lady Apolline Delacour, and daughter to Princess Tamira Wagner, of the Austrian princes. I have ways to find out information and family in many places, Ms. Skeeter." The woman's eyes were wide. Not many knew that her line ran through the Royal magical lines of the old Austrian Empire. Her papa was the second husband to her mother. Both approved of her sisters to bind themselves to the Delacour line, a royal line of roughly the same peerage. It had been something her papa had been very happy for. Her mother was also, but since papa passed, she had returned to the enclaves. Veela, true-veela lived for two to three hundred years. Apolline knew she would outlive Alain one day, and would enjoy every day she could with him. Maybe she would join maman in the enclave if she was still alive when that happened. Her daughters may have a more normal life-span of a witch, but it was not uncommon for a quarter-veela-blood to live twenty or thirty years more than a typical witch.

Skeeter licked her lips. "What do you want?"

"I want to reclaim all the profits you have made off certain childhood books of Harry Potter. Your backer shall also be contacted on this. Next, you are to stop reporting anything on my family unless I personally give you an article or interview. I will be talking with your Editor soon. Barnaby Cuff, I believe his name is."

"Barnabas Cuff," Skeeter supplied.

"Lastly, you shall only report on verifiable information for as long as you are employed by the Daily Prophet and Teen Witch Weekly. If you can do this, I have your first article," said Apolline, taking out another envelope.

Skeeter took it apprehensively and paled soon after. "You want me to go after the Malfoys? Lucius Malfoy would kill me."

Apolline gave a demure shrug. "From my understanding, Lucius Malfoy and others have left the country. Are you saying you know something the Aurors do not?"

Skeeter paled. "I never said that."

"Then I fail to see the problem, Ms. Skeeter. Everything in that folder is verifiable. I doubt you even need to spend a hundred galleons and I even noted the sources you can contact, or use your own. If you have other articles that meet these conditions, then by all means write them. I will not give you any other information until I see a valid story based on that information printed. It is your choice when my Solicitor arrives and presents you with the new contract and to retrieve the funds you have illegally withheld from Scion Potter."

Skeeter was between scared and livid at her. Apolline secretly reveled in it, but her smile was pleasant, not showing the vindictive joy she felt. No one messed with her family.

-oOo-

December 30, 1997

Stockholm, Sweden

Harry glanced at the Aurors and other guards. From his travels with Sirius, he recognized the blue and white soldier garb that would have been more prevalent in Napoleon times than now. Wands were visible in holsters on their left arms and swords were at their sides. He also recognized the green robes with a similar type of outfit and weapons. He leaned over to Gabrielle, who was looking excited. "Aren't those the Austrian Prince guards andRomanov guards?"

"Oui. I have not seen them since the last time I saw grandmaman," Gabrielle said. "Maman, who is here?"

Her maman shook her head. "I am unsure, my little golden bird. Perhaps my Uncle Dagmar? It would be nice if you could finally meet him."

Harry rose an eyebrow. He couldn't keep the surprise out of his voice. "You are related to the Wagners?"

Gabrielle nodded. "Oui."

Apolline spoke as she looked around. "Mon papa was not well received after marrying my maman. He was not expelled from the family. No Wagner would do that. Their blood is too pure and powerful. It did mean, though, that he was stripped of all his titles, except his Prince hood. He never regretted it, but it has meant Fleur and Gabrielle have never really known my family. Well, what is supposed to be my family. Uncle Dagmar and Aunt Romilda were the only ones to still talk and see papa. Unfortunately, since he has ascended to head of the Austrian Magical Empire, he has been forced to leave us be."

Harry was feeling dazed for a second. They stood in the large central hall of the ICW. Hundreds of dignitaries, family members, and other high-ranking officials littered the hall, waiting for the ball to start. From what he understood this was a annual tradition, but tonight the Champions of the Triwizard Tournament were going to be honoured. "Remember, Scion Potter, you are the betrothed to Heiress Gabrielle Delacour. You have been named heir to our house, titles, and responsibilities. You stand equal or above to any person in this room. Even my uncle."

He nodded. "Why haven't you told me this?"

"Like maman said, we do not associate with them," she replied a little sadly.

Harry reached over and grabbed her hand for a moment before going back to standing tall. The fact this stunning silvery-blonde was on his arm helped to stabilize his squeamishness of being here and know they would be the center of attention. It was already happening as people around them realized they were here.

Soon it was a line of well-wishers from all over the globe. The fact that they were betrothed and now the heirs to a Senior Council seat and everything else had many looking towards them. About five minutes into it, the crowd that was gathering around them started to mutter and a moment later it had parted. Four green robed guards and a family of five were coming towards them.

Harry tried to keep his eyes from growing comically large.

The patriarch of the family was a tall man with sharp cheek bone, an aristocratic air, finely trimmed beard and sharp, brown eyes. His robes wreaked of wealth and power. Harry knew this man had that power and more. Russia was split into two governments. There was the Ministry, which controlled all the far east and down through Crimea. The Romanovs, much like their ancestors, still ruled one of the few magical kingdoms left.

The Romanovs controlled much of the original homelands. Minsk the west to Kazan in the east, and St. Petersburg in the north to Rostov in the south. Being able to hide from the Muggle world had saved them from the downfall of their Muggle royal line.

The woman next to the man was a honey blonde with very attractive features. Her grey eyes looked very familiar, like Sirius', and her figure, even at her age, would catch the eye of almost any guy. The two girls, well, more like young woman about their age, looked very much the same as the mother. The younger man, who walked next to his father, was a spitting image of him, except for the eyes. They were grey like his mothers.

Gabrielle stood straighter, and Alain and Apolline moved in next to them.

"Good evening, Prince Dmitri," Alain said, bowing deeper than Harry had ever seen. Technically, they were about the same rank in magical society, but the man was essentially a king. Harry copied Alain, as Gabrielle and Apolline curtsies.

The man gave a quarter bow to them. His family did the same. It was a great honour to receive such acknowledgement. The man spoke in very good French. "Good evening, Gentilhomme Alain. It has been two years since we last met."

Alain inclined his head. Harry had not seen his future-father-in-law so conciliatory before and made note to act the same. "Oui, it has. Not since we worked together to change the tariffs."

Prince Dmitry gave a magnanimous nod. "Yes. That was a bill that has proven quite profitable for my country and yours. I have come to meet who I hear is your new heir in hopes of striking a friendship that is as amicable."

"Of course, Prince Dmitri. May I assume you remember my wife, Madam Apolline Delacour?"

Harry was genuinely shocked when Apolline extended a hand and the man brushed his lips over the back of it. "How could one ever forget such beauty and poise?"

"Thank you, Prince Dmitri."

"And this is my younger daughter, Heiress Gabrielle Delacour and her betrothed, Scion Harry Potter."

Gabrielle received the same treatment as her mother. "A pleasure, Heiress Delacour. May I say you are just as striking as your mother. And you, Scion Potter, even your fame and exploits reach our ears." The man gave a lower bow to Harry. Harry felt a little flustered.

"Thank you, Prince Dmitri. It is an honour," Harry replied, bowing back.

"I would also like to introduce Lord Sirius Black and his wife, my niece, Lady Renée Black."

The man bowed his head, but he didn't take Renée's hand. She hadn't even extended it. Sirius was an important member of their family, but, apparently, he wasn't at the same level. "A pleasure to meet you all. If you will, this is the Princess Elizabet Romanov. My two daughters, Duchess Natalia and Duchess Adriana. And this young man is my son, Prince Svetozar."

Alain and Harry kissed each of the woman's hands, Adriana blushing a little as he did, and then they bowed to Svetozar.

"It has been a pleasure to meet you. The Russian Empire wishes you luck, good fortune and many children in your new betrothal. I do hope you will call in at the palace soon," the man said, and then was gone.

They were left a wide birth for a few moments as the man and his family walked away. "Uhm, what was that?"

"That was you and me being formally recognized as the new heirs to papa's seat and to our family. Papa, I feel like I am missing something," Gabrielle said, turning to her papa.

He just shook his head. "Later, my little golden bird. I think you and Harry will be thrown into the arena sooner than I had hoped. Now, come on. The doors have opened and you are some of the guests of honour."

They all went towards the doors. Many walked in, looking for their seats. Sirius and Renée joined the general crowd. They were important dignitaries, but not like the ones that found themselves at the back of the hall. There were a good three dozen people. Harry had a feeling it was all the Senior ICW Council, the Romanovs, a man and woman surrounded by the Austrian Guards, Headmaster Dumbledore, an older man that acknowledge them with a nod of his head and the Sorensens with Millicent Bulstrode.

Apolline frown at the two from the Austrian Empire. He didn't question why there were not introduced.

They were put at the end of the line again, Alain and Apolline before them, who were just behind Sorenson and Bulstrode, and who were just behind his parents. It was almost fifteen minutes before Gabrielle and him were introduced and they joined a table front and center to a large dance floor. Like at the Yule Ball, it was the Delacours, the Sorensons, Headmaster Dumbledore - though he was Supreme Mugwump tonight -, Bulstrode and himself.

Dinner was taken out to them by actual servers while a litany of people got up onto a podium and gave short speeches about how nice it was to see everyone, or how they all had to work together, or the rant by the Albanian Representative about werewolves. He felt like he was falling asleep by the time dinner was done and Dumbledore took the podium as the last speaker of the night before there was a small ceremony for the Triwizard Competitors and a dance. That was the one part of the night Harry was looking forward too. A chance to have Gabrielle dancing with him was always worth it.

She took his hand as they turned to look up at Dumbledore.

"I will not try to keep you much longer. We have already sat through many good speeches and I only wish to build upon the sentiments of comradery and cooperation," Dumbledore started.

"As always, thank you for all the fine dignitaries..." Blah. Blah. Blah, Harry said inside his head as the man spent a few minutes thanking and pointing out important people. He was about to get into the main body of his monologue when someone started to clap in the center of the hall. Harry had the hairs on his neck stick up as he turned. His wand jumped to his hand and Gabrielle squeezed his hand tight.

There was a stir as the guards around the Romanovs and Wagners pulled wands and swords. Other Aurors in the blue robes of the ICW pulled their wands.

In the center of the tables, on a floating disk that had the figure floating a good ten feet off the floor was a man in green robes and traveling cloak. A deformed wooden mask covered the man's face. He was still clapping. "Ah, as rousing a speech as I am sure that would have been, I must admit myself absolutely bored from all those that preceded you."

Many gasped as they took the man in and there was a scurry for people around him to get up and back away. There was a scream somewhere and the man laughed. Harry had heard of the men in green. They had been the ones to attack Alain. He stood, moving to put himself between the man and Gabrielle.

"I am afraid you have us at a loss, sir. May I ask who you are?" Dumbledore said from behind him.

The man's chuckle sent a chill down Harry's spine. "I am sure you would like to know, Dumbledore. All you need to know right now is that I am a man that wishes to see a change in our world."

"Harry, get Gabrielle and Apolline out of here," Alain said, pushing Apolline behind him. Some had moved to the doors and looked to be struggling to open them.

"And what kind of change is that," Dumbledore asked, standing tall against the man.

"Our demands will be made soon. Right now, I don't really feel inclined to tell you," the man said, a hint of mirth on the masked figures voice. "Ah, where are you going, Mr. Potter? We have unfinished business."

Harry had started to push Gabrielle back. Her wand was next to his shoulder and her mother standing next to him. There was lots of murmuring in the crowd. Harry had a very bad feeling about this. Most eyes turned to him. "I'm not aware of any business we might have," Harry said back loudly.

Dumbledore spoke before the man could answer. "Are you the leader of the ones they call the Woodmen?"

The floating man in green robes, looked away from Harry. "We are Woodmen."

Harry pushed Gabrielle back more. Most people had moved to the edges of the room, while the Aurors and bodyguards had moved to surround the man. Harry could feel the power from Dumbledore expand out. "I must place you under arrest for suspicion of attempted assassination, the assassination of several Wizengamot representative and the murder of several others over the last few years," Dumbledore insisted.

The man laughed. "You are under the impression you are in control here. I assure you, that is not the case."

The man made a hand signal and it was a blur of what happened next. Almost every Auror cast a stunning or disarming hex at the same time. The Romanov and Wagner guards looked to cast much deadlier spells. The figure's disk disappeared and he fell to the floor, landing in a crouch as the spells collided in sparks and flashes or missed him.

As he hit the floor, maybe two dozen streams of green smoke appeared from nowhere, about twenty feet up, near the ceiling of the massive hall, and streaked to the floor. Yells, screams, spells and panic ensued.

Harry reacted by using the floor to conjure a wall a good fifteen feet wide and seven high before them. It kicked over table several tables, knocking a few people over and caused more screams. Several sickly green flashes and the resultant explosions came next. The wall was only wood, so it threw out splinters and left holes. It saved many around him though.

Alain, who had been about to duel the two closest Woodmen, had been thrown off his feet. "Get your maman and papa out of here. I need to find Sirius and Renée," Harry told her, not waiting for a reply before he took off.

"Harry!" Gabrielle cried out after him.

It was chaos as more spells began to fly everywhere. People were trapped and it was apparent that many didn't really know how to fight. Harry charged around the wall, knowing Sirius had been towards the back of the room. He had to duck a stray ghastly purple spell. He had just enough time to see that more than half the Aurors and guards were already down, as where a few of the Woodmen. Others were trying to shield, duel or falling to the assault.

Harry, incredibly angry at the sight, stepped forward. Sirius, Moody and Remus had taught him that the only way to end a fight was to make sure your opponent was down and would not get back up. As such, the first spell that left the glowing tip of his wand was a massive blasting hex. It landed at the feet of four green cloaked men. None of them were suspecting it, and a few screams were the last thing they did as wood, rock and magical energy tore them up. This caught the attention of three others, and he was soon in a desperate fight.

He shielded. Launched counter spells and shielded again as the three pressed their advantage of numbers and apparent experience. He was being pushed back when one of the men fell to a cutting hex that opened up his chest. He fell to the floor screaming. Harry used the distraction as another looked to the blood fountaining out of the man's chest to get in two bone breakers before he could react. The third one tried to shield a string of spells from Harry's side. He brought this one down with a severing charm to the man's wand arm and then ropes.

he turned quickly to see an irate Gabrielle. "Oh, bugger," he whispered to himself to see her glaring at him. "You need to leave," he yelled at her.

"If you think I am leaving your side, you are mistaken, Harry Potter," she said back.

A spell passed between them and he jumped to drag her down behind a table. "We don't have time for this!"

The table was hit and she started as part of it blasted away behind her head. "Either you leave with moi or I stay."

He let out an aggravated sound. "Fine. You stay on my side."

She nodded and he jumped up, catching one of the green cloaks by surprise and knocking the mask of the figure. The man threw up a shield and blocked the next few from him and Gabrielle. Harry stopped after a second as the man just stood there, the silvery shield deflecting anything they threw. There was a satisfied smile on the man's face and Harry recognized the man from Hogsmeade. "I was hoping we might have a minute to talk, but the little party here is almost to an end."

Harry just stared at the man for a moment before saying, "Tom? Tom Riddle?" The man looked very much like the handsome shade of a boy he had killed second year, only older. Like he was now in his early to mid-twenties.

The man's scowled. "Don't ever bring up that abhorrent name."

There was an explosion nearby and Harry acted. The man dropped his shield and dodged. Harry's spell just managed to clip the man's cheek. There was another snarl. The spells that left both their wands were meant to maim and kill. Gabrielle screamed from behind him and he moved to shield her. In that act, a severing hex caught Harry's leg and he fell to his knees, willing his magic to protect them. A very solid looking golden shield sprung up around them and resounding gong echoed throughout the hall and caused the ground to shake.

Harry knew he had to get up. Pointing his wand at his leg, he willed it to heal, like Gabrielle had taught him, and the deep wound closed and left an angry red bubbly line a few inches long.

"Harry," Gabrielle yelled as she dropped to his side.

He looked at her quickly. There was some blood on her neck. "Gabrielle, get out of here. I don't know how long this shield will last."

"I will not," she spat angrily.

"It is done," Tom yelled and a moment later, it was silent. Then there were more screams and cried of pain.

Gabrielle was holding her neck. "Harry! Gabrielle!" the voice of Alain came to him. Harry let the spell drop. It was apparent the fight was over. The battle rage he felt was starting to fade and he really took in the blood that was on her neck and her dress. "You're hurt," he said, scrambling to his knees as Alain fell besides them, his wand still up.

"How bad are you hurt?"

Harry was pulling her hand off and his wand touched her skin. It was cut at the base of her neck. It wasn't deep, but it was letting out a good amount of blood. Doing the zigzag pattern, her skin knitted back together. She let out a hiss of pain, but soon only a thin pink line showed where she had been clipped. "I will live," she told him when her father asked again.

He met her eyes. They were more purple than blue and he felt her magic radiating off her. Alain pressed something into his hand. "An emergency portkey given to Council members. It will get you past the wards and home. The password is 'Goblin. Veela.' Get Gabrielle home and I will be along shortly."

"But Alain, if they are still around..."

"Harry, protect my daughter. You swore to do that when you gave her that ring. Now, keep your word," Alain said with no room for Harry to argue.

Gabrielle took his hand, her hand holding over the badge. "Goblin. Veela," she said quickly and they were out of the hall.

When they landed in the center of the hall at Delacour Manor, a frantic Apolline was soon on them, checking them over and ordering her elves for salves and potions. Sirius and Renée joined them a moment later. Sirius was holding his arm, looking sallow and grey. Renée was looking scared out of her mind.

"Aunt Apolline, Sirius is bleeding and I can't stop it," Renée said in a panic. Sirius sat on the floor.

"Merde!" She had Sirius take a blood replenisher as she worked to reverse the spell. It was a good ten minutes, Harry having grabbed Gabrielle and they just held each other. Sirius had passed out by the time Apolline had slumped. "It is done. He will survive, but he will need more blood replenisher and we should have a Healer just check him over."

Renée gave a sobbing cry as she leaned over Sirius and kissed his cheek. There was a pool of blood next to his godfather. Apolline vanished it and sat on her bottom. The five of them just too shocked to do much more for a moment as Renée cried over his passed out godfather.

After a moment, Gabrielle buried her face into his chest.

-oOo-

January 1, 1998

Paris, France

The cold and cloudy morning fit Alain's mood perfectly. He sat in the dead garden that was surrounded by the buildings that enclosed this space from the rest of the world. After checking the wards, and ensuring the elves had done the same, he felt relatively safe here. More importantly, his family and the almost hundred magicals that called this block of buildings home were safe.

The door opened and Alain sighed. "Esmeralda, I have told you I will eat when everyone else is up."

A voice he had not suspected replied. "Last I looked, I didn't think I was a girl," Harry quipped.

Alain chuckled to look over at his future-son-in-law. "I thought you would still be curled up with my daughter. She didn't look pleased with you last night."

Harry had two cups of steaming coffee in his hands. "To tell you the truth, I didn't think she would let me go either. I am in a little trouble with that girl."

Alain let out more of a laugh. "You and me both," he told the boy. Apolline had not been pleased that he had forced a portkey into her hands and activated it.

Harry handed him the cup and took the cold, wrought iron chair across from him. "I take it, like daughter, like mother?"

"Gabrielle tends to be a little more like me. She rushed off after you."

Harry ran a hand through his messy hair. "Yeah, well, Sirius and Renée were in there and I couldn't let others get hurt."

Alain took a sip of the coffee. One of his elves must have prepared it because it was strong and sweet like he liked it. "You saved a few, last night. The ICW Aurors will be stopping by, or sending you a summons. I am sure you and my daughter dropped a few of those psychopaths."

Harry sighed. "I talked to him for a few seconds."

Alain pursed his lips and looked at Harry questioningly. "Who? The man you were fighting at the end?"

"His name is Tom Marvolo Riddle. I killed a shade of him in my second year and banished him in my first. Most say I killed him when I was fifteen months old. I just don't get it. He looked like he was only in his early twenties, but the insane wanker should be over seventy by now," Harry told him, looking lost for an explanation that he didn't have.

Alain took it in. He mulled it for a bit. "Are you talking about Voldemort?" There seemed to be a chill that ran through the still air courtyard. Harry shivered as well, cupping his cup with two hands.

"I told Gabrielle everything I know last night. Everything, Alain. Everything I have ever seen, known or speculated about Voldemort. I even told her about my life before Sirius. Sirius has told you everything too, I am pretty sure. How is he alive again and how is he so young?" Harry asked him. The normally confident young man was looking scared and a little lost at the moment.

Alain took a few seconds to steady himself. After a moment, he sighed. "I do not know if Sirius has told you, I only found out a few weeks ago myself. Voldemort has used a very dark magic known as Horcruxes. It is a magic that is not used anymore. At one time it was thought it would keep a wizard alive, no matter what. All it does is keep you from becoming a ghost or passing to the other side. Through certain rituals you can be resurrected, but the homunculus body will only have that bit of soul that was used to create it. If you say that was Tom Riddle last night, then I would say it was a soul shard created when he was about that age," he told Harry.

Harry frowned. "I know about that. That wasn't a homunculus, Alain. He bled when I cut him. It was red blood. Fresh blood. He was also different. His eyes weren't red. He didn't look deranged except when I called him Tom." Harry shook his head. "He is different than the two times I have faced off with him before."

Alain took in what Harry was saying. He had to trust this seventeen-year-old. For four years now he had been trained by some of the best fighters Alain had seen. Sirius was injured while he fought four others. Harry had taken down six, his daughter one, when all was said and done. If he hadn't already known Harry to be a good person, he might worry about Gabrielle being with him. A veela-blood would not choose someone that was dangerous to them though.

"I need my brothers here and we need to have a talk with Sirius as soon as he is able."

Harry nodded to Alain, and they both looked up as three owls came down to them. Two landed before Harry, and the third on his chair. Harry had his wand out and was already checking over the letters before he could suggest it. Alain did the same and took the thick envelope with his name on it.

"Apparently the ICW recognizes that Gabrielle and I are engaged," Harry said, holding both parchments. There was a certain sadness and pride to know his daughter was leaving the nest and who she would be with.

"You are betrothed and heir to both houses. The ICW will recognize you as her mate, essentially her husband. Magic will recognize you are her Lord because of that," Alain said.

Harry nodded and opened his letter. Alain did the same, slumping as he read it. "Merde," he said softly.

"Nothing good, I assume?" Harry said, already having read and folded his mail.

"The ICW and half the governments of Europe will be calling for blood," he said, feeling a surge of sadness as he looked at the list of names of the deceased. Sudra had been among them. Her eldest son would be taking over her seat now. Alain was not on as good of a relationship with the thirty-nine year old man.

"How bad?"

Alain let out a sigh. "Thirty-three dead, including two Senior Council members, five Representatives or family members and Julien Sorenson. The rest were Aurors or guards. Another forty are still in hospital. Eight of the attackers were found dead. They tried to capture three others but they committed suicide."

"FUCK!" Harry yelled out.

Alain echoed the sentiment. Both were quiet for a few as they digested everything and drank their cooling coffee. After a few, Alain said, "I don't want you and Gabrielle leaving here until we know what is going on."

Harry pursed his lips. "We need to get back to Hogwarts Sunday."

He shook his head. "You are not going back anywhere until we know how that terrorist group got control of the ICW wards and it is safe."

"I must disagree, Alain. We have the second task in just under two months. Gabrielle and I need to train for it and my NEWT's are at the end of the year," Harry argued.

"You have agreed to be my heir with my daughter. As Lord of this House, I am exercising my rights to protect my family. I will provide any tutors you need, and if it comes to it, you and Gabrielle shall take the IAWL's. One of the champions is dead. Last night proved to be far more than we thought was out there and I will not see either of you join the dead," Alain proclaimed.

"But if our magic is bound because we don't compete, how can I protect Gabrielle or beat the Death Eaters and whatever Voldemort is doing?" Harry said heatedly.

"Your magic shall not be bound. If it comes to the worse of it, you shall be transported to Hogwarts for the task and brought back here," Alain told him.

Harry looked very upset. "I am seventeen now. You can't order me to do this."

"I can and I will, Harry. Until I know you and Gabrielle shall be safe, you are not going anywhere. As Head of this House, I declare it," Alain forcibly stated. Harry held his gaze for a moment. The boy's green eyes burned with a fury and magic that was akin to his veela-blood girls. He had never felt fear for that power before. The green fire in his future-son-in-law's eyes was fierce and determined. Alain Delacour was Gentilhomme Delacour, Lord and Head of House to the Delacours. No one in his family had questioned him before when he put his foot down. He did so very rarely. Harry's magic was challenging his and was winning. For a brief second Alain thought Harry's will would overpower him for control of the family then Harry looked away.

The boy huffed. "If this will keep Gabrielle safe, I will give you one week, Alain. If we are to stay, I want us to be tested as soon as we can. You will accept us into the internship you promised right after or I will look to join the Aurors. I am going to do all I can to hunt Tom Riddle and his psychopaths."

When the boy turned his eyes to him, Alain knew his daughter had chosen well. He had no doubts before, but he was even more certain now. He had wanted a strong Head of House when he stepped down and Harry would not disappoint him. He was just wondering if he could restrain Harry long enough to teach him the ways of politics and to channel that power in him into something constructive, instead of the destruction he saw now in the boy's eyes.

"Two weeks. Give me two weeks. I doubt the Unspeakables at the ICW will have an answer to the current issues in less than a week and it will take at least that long to get the paperwork completed to have you and Gabrielle tested next month," Alain told the boy.

It was another staring contest for a moment, Harry's will challenging his again before he felt the pressure lesson and Harry nodded. "Two weeks."

Alain nodded his head. "Thank you."

Harry nodded back and slumped back into his chair. He put his cup down and rubbed his face. "We should go to the funerals," Harry told him, sounding tired and more like the boy Alain had come to know, not the hard young man that had just been challenging him.

Alain sighed. "You will be going to Madam Sudra's and Seigneur Dorsey's funeral. They were part of the fifteen on the Senior Council. I am not sure of the others. It will depend on security and what the Unspeakables find."

Harry nodded after a moment. "I should go see if Gabrielle is still sleeping."

"Did you sleep at all last night?" Alain asked concerned.

Harry just shrugged. "I meditated to work through things while Gabrielle had her head on my lap," he responded truthfully.

Alain looked at him. "You should get some real rest today. I understand occlumency can help, but it does not replace real sleep."

Harry chuckled. "You sound like my Aunt Andi."

Alain gave a small smile. "A very wise woman then."

Harry chuckled some more. "Just don't tell her that. She already thinks highly of herself."

Alain shared a chuckle with Harry. "A man knows when to dig a hole and when to walk over one."

Harry laughed and then sobered after a moment. "I'm sorry if you lost anyone you cared for last night."

"Madam Sudra and I have been friends for a very long time. She and my father had almost convinced me to take one of her daughters as a wife before I met Apolline. I still don't know why she didn't throw me away after that, but she was my mentor for many years after my father died. I owe her and her family much," Alain told him sadly.

Harry got up. "If House Potter or Black can provide anything, you know Sirius and I will."

"I will keep that in mind. Now go to our little golden bird. If she is up, I am sure she is panicking that you are not with her," Alain said affectionately.

Harry blushed a little. Alain remembered those days. "I really don't want her any more upset with me than she was last night."

Alain nodded knowingly. He was sure to have his own veela-blood unpleased that he was not by her side this morning, but he needed to think. "In a few days it will have blown over."

Harry groaned. "A few days?"

Alain chuckled at the young man's stricken face. "Veela-blood are very passionate, and when roused, can take a while to cool down."

"Bloody hell. Just great," Harry muttered as he walked off towards the house. Alain had a silent laugh. Harry would grow to understand the moods and passions of his daughter. Alain had almost thirty years and still was caught off guard or learning at times with his own golden bird.

When Harry closed the door to the kitchens, Alain put his head on a hand. He had a lot to think about and Harry was at the center of much of it.