CHAPTER FIFTY-FOUR: CHANGE IN DIRECTION
SUNDAY, AUGUST 4th, 1996 – a cave in Western Romania.
"My Queen," the Scout said, bowing in deference to the Head of his Clan.
"You have a report?" she replied.
"We have found it," he said proudly, "although it is further away than thought and the trip would require four nights without hunt or forage due to the lack of isolated resting spots at ideal distances."
"Still, it can be done?"
"We shall need to deal with our captors," the Scout said. "While I and the others are free, much of the Clan is not. Still, it would seem that is the hardest of our tasks, at least until we get there."
"I am confident that it will go well when we arrive."
"He is a wizard, my Queen. They have hunted us, killed us, driven us and penned us for centuries!"
"He is not like the others," the Queen said. "The others to not hesitate to curse us with their magic. He, on the other hand, never even bothered. He fought me as an equal and to achieve that silly task. He respected me and my children and for that he is unique and may well be the only one of his kind with whom we can treat."
"You have said this many times, my Queen. He was but a human child himself. Could it not be possible they grow vicious as they grow to adults?"
"Not him," the Queen said. "I feel it here," she said indicating her heart, "and here," she added pointing to her head.
"We do not speak his language," the Scout said.
"No, but the Fates tell me that he will understand us and we him, My Child. He is our last hope."
The Scout nodded. "Assuming he is one at all, that is true, My Queen."
"Are there others of our kind there?" the Queen asked.
"Two very different Clans. One lives by the sea and is unmolested by them. The humans there come to watch, not hunt or hurt and the Clan ignores them."
"That may work for us as well," the Queen nodded. "And the other?"
"Never saw or heard of their like before. That Clan is even more penned than we. They cannot speak. The free Clan says they are 'domesticated' and are no longer of the race but provide the humans all they need so that the free Clan remains unmolested. The free Clan says that strange group cannot live out of their pens. They know not how to hunt or fly. Only how to eat and breed."
"If the humans have such, if they don't need us for their hunts because they have all they can need of such, this might be a good thing?" the Queen thought allowed. "And if they are no longer truly like us, then our fate and their fate are not intertwined."
"Indeed, my Queen," the Scout replied. "So we are going?"
"We have looked and waited for a safe home for us and our young long enough, don't you think?" the Queen replied. "Our young are old enough to journey and none of our hens are grabbed. Now is the perfect time, is it not?"
"I would have to agree, My Queen, but it is a terrible risk."
"It is either that or die here and lose all the old memories forever," the Queen replied.
"We must leave," the Scout agreed. "And the Penners?"
"You know the two I wish spared," the Queen said. "I want them unharmed, brought with us and well cared for. The wizard seems to understand us and may well speak on our behalf and his mate as well. Those two must be well tended for during our journey, but must not escape. I want them unharmed and healthy when we arrive."
"And the others?" the Scout asked.
"Inform the others any who resist may be dealt with as they please."
"When do you wish to begin?"
"After the sun has set. We travel at night. No foraging along the way except as need to feed the humans."
"It will be done, my Queen."
"You shall lead the flock once we take to the skies for good, Grendel. You have earned the honor."
"Thank you, My Queen!"
MONDAY, AUGUST 5th, 1996 - RAF Pottersport, Charenwell
It had begun as a good morning. As with the preceding Monday, Mallory announced the weekly winners in the Baby Boom Draw. Hermione was having twins, a boy and a girl, which prompted her to ask for a load of books from the library. She said there was no history of twins in her family and wondered how she had been so blessed, conceding it could be luck, but Hermione did not really believe in such things. The Weasley families also found out about their new additions. Bill's Mary (Howard) was having a son while Fred's Danielle (Carter) and George's Shelly (Parker) were having daughters. In addition, Luna was now expecting as was Alice Longbottom, so in addition to having his own sons and daughters, Neville would now have a brother or sister. Neville's Miriam (Riley) was also expecting now, as were Bill's Carla (Masterson), Fred's Elisa (Stout) and George's Roberta (Larson).
But the celebrations were short lived as Harry was called to the Air Base as Duke (so he'd be here twice, once as Duke and once as a student.) An irate Ground Staff was waiting for him at one of the Hangers.
"They want to re-engine all these planes!" Mr. Jenkins exclaimed. "Are they bloody mad?"
"Feasible, maybe," Mr. Jasper said. "Not terribly practical."
"They said it would improve range and safety," Harry replied.
"Aye, it might," Mr. Jasper said. "Might also be a right disaster. It's not like you can just pull one of these Merlins out and stick a totally different power plants in, bolt it up and there you go. They practically have to redesign the entire engine mountings and build from scratch, assuming it works at all! Merlin knows how much it'll cost. Those engines don't come cheap and the redesign and rebuild won't come cheap either, assuming it can be done at all!"
"It'd be quicker and probably less expensive to build them from the blueprints up," Mr. Jennings said. "Lot of unnecessary time and money just for a few miles additional range. This isn't upgrading and existing aircraft. For all practical purposes, these would be entirely different aircraft and there's no telling at this stage what the new planes' handling characteristics might be."
"They were saying at least a fifty percent increase in range," Harry said.
"And we'd be without an Air Force for years," Jennings said. "They tell you how long this scheme of theirs would take?"
"I assumed it wouldn't happen today, but they do know our timetable."
"And they'd be bloody lucky to meet it, Sir. What's more annoying is we could probably achieve most of their goals in a matter of a few hours, not years."
"Oh?"
"They're thinking like mechanics and engineers, assuming they're thinking at all," Mr. Jennings said. "What they are not thinking like are wizards! You want to increase range? Magically expand the fuel tanks! You want to increase payload as well? Feather Weight Charms could do the trick! Our lads can achieve all they promise from a range and payload standpoint in a few hours."
"I hadn't thought of that," Harry said.
"Neither, apparently, did they," Mr. Jennings said. "Forces me to wonder if there's a Defense Contractor out there driving this. It's not like there're companies in Britain that deal with Rolls Royce Merlins and Pratt & Whitney Twin Wasps all the time. We need those Air Force types for tactics, operations, avionics and weapon systems. We don't need them to get these planes to fly!"
"We've been keeping these planes flying since before any of them were born," Mr. Jasper said. "I bet not a one of them even saw these planes outside a war museum or air show. When it comes to these birds, we're the experts, Sir."
"If you want the Air Force to be ready when the Army is, let them stick to what they do know," Mr. Jennings said.
"And the fuel issue?" Harry asked.
"Aviation gasoline is more volatile, but not significantly more so," Mr. Jennings said. "The cost of their fix far outweighs any benefit gained in terms of the fuel."
"Might want them to dash that idea in favor of figuring a way to rearm these planes," Mr. Jasper said. "The twenty-millimeter canon was questionable when built and the Vickers machine guns are pea shooters."
"Very well," Harry sighed. "Show me. Double range and payload of some of these birds with magic, and we'll tell them thanks but no thanks."
"Sir!" the two men barked.
MONDAY, AUGUST 5th, 1996 - Misuse of Muggle Artifacts Office, Ministry of Magic, London, U.K.
Arthur Weasley had no way of knowing that the Quibbler Article was only about half of what was published in Charenwell. The Article was about Concubines, an all but forbidden subject in Britain. It was, to say the least, disturbing. The article focused on the illegal sale of "foreign" witches by Dumbledore and their fate, to the extent that it was known. It was graphic, describing the stark brothels most girls found themselves in and the universal lack of concern for them has people. It spoke of their abuse and mistreatment at the hands of supposedly upstanding members of society, men who it would seem would be more than willing to sell their surplus daughters into such a hell. Arthur knew the Ministry would be in an uproar and would send Aurors to shut down the Quibbler most likely. What Arthur did not know was that the Articles dealing with the Auction and Dumbledore's recent efforts to sell off as many Muggle Born girls as possible would be in next month's issue. (A special issue was being delivered to target Muggle Born families that week, which detailed the Auction and who had been sold. It was timed to reach the recipients on Thursday, after the last Muggle Borns sold at the Auction had been relocated to Charenwell.)
The whole article was clearly a denunciation of Magical Britain and was sure to inspire a new wave of investigations from the I.C.W. Being a Pureblood, Arthur was not entirely unaware of Concubines. While no one talked about that openly, it was only truly a secret from the Muggle Borns. But the article stressed that was nothing more than Pureblood bigotry. The reason for the bond was to make multiple marriages work, not create a slave class. The article outlined the origins of the bond and the original laws enacted to encourage the bonds. It was not to enslave Muggle Born witches, but to strengthen magic. Purebloods tended to become weaker magically each generation without an infusion of new blood in their lines. Magically, on average, Muggle Borns and Half Bloods were more powerful than Purebloods and always had been. The Bond was to ensure witches gave birth to magical children, lest the entire system collapse.
There were even lengthy quotes attributed to none other than Salazar Slytherin who seemed to advocate the bond as a way to ensure wizards took witches as mates, and preferable Muggle Born or those modern elitists called Half Bloods. Slytherin, if the article was to be believed, did not advocate keeping Muggle Borns out of society. Quite the opposite in fact. He argued magical education should be compulsory for all Muggle Borns and highly encouraged for the rest. Basically, Britain had used something that was meant to better their world and perverted it into a slave caste to justify the false belief of Pureblood Supremacy. That last bit Arthur knew was true, which was why he had never acquired a Concubine as he felt to do so would only justify what he saw as a vile practice.
But, he now had his own doubts about those beliefs. After his meeting with Bill on Friday, he received letters from Ginny, Fred and George. That Ginny was allowed to write him said that not all Concubine situations were vile. Moreover, Ginny used several code words and phrases she was taught as a child. Those words let Arthur know she was not being forced to write the letter and that what she wrote was the truth as she saw it. She was happy in her new life! Then again, she stressed, she was in Charenwell and not Britain and bonded to Harry and not some vile Death Eater spawn. There was even a picture of her with Luna and Hermione. She was dressed like a princess, Arthur thought, as were her two friends. Arthur knew from the Will reading that Hermione and Luna were Harry's Consorts, but aside from the different dresses, all were easily more that Arthur could afford, they all looked elegant and were wearing jewels fit for a princess. He even noted the wedding band and engagement ring on Ginny's left hand.
I do love it here, Daddy. This place is wonderful, and it's not just because I live in a big, big house and have no want for things. It truly is wonderful. Harry's such a dear to all of us and we're all friends, well family really, so I have all kinds of things to do and friends to do them with. Not much of a Holiday in some ways. We're really busy here, but it's loads of fun to and I'm learning so much!
We won't be going back to Hogwarts. With what we've learned here, why bother? But don't fret about my education. It's well in hand. Minerva (Professor McGonagall) is here and one of Harry's Potter wives (as am I). She's been a Potter for over fifty years! Anyway, she's got a plan for us so we'll get our educations and she's in charge of setting up a school system here as well. So, while she's quite busy, she'll still be teaching Transfiguration. But she gets to teach what she wants and not what the Ministry says and, as there are no laws here about it, we can train to become Animagus!
Minerva has also gotten us other good professors. Frank and Alice Longbottom got better after Neville killed Bellatrix LeStrange and they'll be teaching Charms and Potions. Dora Tonks will be teaching us Defense with Remus Lupin (although as he's like the Minister of Magic here, we'll probably see more of Dora.) We'll learn Herbology at a place called Charlestown which has the largest magical greenhouses anywhere (at least until Neville Longbottom gets his up and running!) For Magical Creatures we'll go to a Preserve where there are all kinds of them. Hagrid would have kittens here! Luna's been there and says it's amazing! I can't remember his name, but there's a bloke in Pottersport who's well respected in Astronomy and will be teaching us both the magical kind and Muggle as well! Minerva has her eye on a magical history professor, but there's and Elf named Marta who knows loads as well. Arithmancy and Ancient Runes are still up in the air, but the Twins are considered experts so there you go. Minerva is working on getting some dedicated Professors and Fred and George are wicked busy. We won't have Muggle Studies as you know it because we live Muggle already. But William will be teaching us about Art, Literature and Music. (He's another Elf and in charge of our Library which is HUGE!) Divination is right out! You either have the gift or you don't so unless you have the gift, it makes no sense to teach it. Finally, we'll also be learning Healing. Madam Pomfrey would not have been as over worked if we were taught basic Healing and here we have Mallory (one of Harry's Black wives) who's totally brilliant at it!
The letter went on to say that her new "school" would be at her new home and for Harry and others. It turned out that Ginny was Harry's eight "Wife" and since she had bonded to him, thirteen more had joined the Potter-Black family, most of whom had not finished school either because they were not much older than Ginny, or because they had been denied further education when they too were first made Concubines. The School would not have seven Years, but three levels. Juniors would be those who had finished First or Second Year and maybe some older ones who wanted additional tutoring or to take different courses than they had. At the end of Juniors Study, they would be around the middle of Fourth Year. Intermediate Study was O.W.L. preparation and ended with those exams and this was where Ginny would begin. Finally, Senior Study was for N.E.W.T.s.
She also told him about some of the other families in their area. It seemed that Susan Bones and Neville Longbottom were not missing as everyone believed. Susan was now Lady Longbottom, Neville's Consort and part of a family that now had fourteen "Wives." He still didn't understand that term. Concubines could not be wives, could they? Bill also had fourteen now, including Fleur as Consort. What stunned him even more was that Fred and George also had such families.
Still, the letter was easily the longest he had ever read from his daughter and reminded him of a more mature version of the Ginny he remembered from before her First Year: chatty, upbeat and carefree, as opposed to the far more moody girl that had returned from that horrible year. Arthur sighed. It might not have been the life he wanted for her, but she sounded so happy. He folded the long letter and placed them and the photos in a hidden pocket in his robes before opening another letter he had also received, also with a Gringotts postmark.
Dad:
Things are happening here faster than I expected. Enclosed are your identification and travel documents. Touch your wand to them to activate them. Keep all of them with you at all times. You need to be at City of London Airport, Gate 14 at nine o'clock Saturday morning. Pack everything into a travel bag and shrink it down if you need to and be sure to look like a real Muggle!
Oh, and don't forget to buy Ginny a present. It's her birthday on Sunday after all.
Bill.
MONDAY, AUGUST 5th, 1996 – Potter Manor, Charenwell.
After the meeting at the Air Field, Harry was stressed. The meeting was a bit of a shock, but it made sense to him and he now knew that the Muggle folks would need to work more closely with his people if this was going to work. The stress only increased as he was next scheduled for a meeting at the Manor with Fleur. Fleur was not going to be there as an employee of Gringotts or as Bill's wife, but as the daughter of the Magical Minister of France whose parents wanted her to negotiate something with the Duke of Charenwell. Harry had no idea what this something was, only that it had been discussed with Hermione and Luna yesterday and they would be there as well. He really needed to relax before the meeting, and fortunately Cissy had become very adept at that since she had bonded with him. It was a nice break before he had to recompose himself and lead Cissy, now back in her Executive Secretary to the Duke role and not Harry Stress Reliever, to the conference room on the First Floor where the others were waiting for him.
"To understand what my parent's wish to discuss, you must understand a little about Veela," Fleur said. "You may recall my grandmother was Veela, yes?"
Harry thought about it for a moment and then remembered something from the Tri-Wizard Tournament almost two years ago: Fleur's wand core was Veela hair from her Grandmother. "Your wand?" he said.
"Indeed," Fleur replied telling the others about its core. "My grandmother was Veela and she bonded and mated with a wizard. It is rare, but not unheard of.
"Now, true Veela are not human, but are related to other magical beings such as Sirens. The males do not ever look human at all. The females can look human, although their true form is not. There is a reason for this. To understand, you must know that Veela magical cores are different than human ones. The human core is self generating, it is always generating magic and, as a result, it always radiates magic at some level. Veela, on the other hand, do not to this. Their cores absorb magic."
"Like lizards and mammals?" Hermione asked. "Mammals generate their own body hear while lizards have to absorb it from their environment?"
"A good analogy," Fleur replied. "The differences between male and female Veela is that they prefer different magic. Males prefer more chaotic, animalistic magic while females prefer more organized magic. As a result, male Veela prefer to be around magical creatures while females prefer certain magical beings, in particular humans and true elves. Both males and females have a magical Allure that attracts the magic they prefer."
"So they feed on magic?"
"They can, but rarely. They will actively deplete magic from an attacker or when they are enraged or in rare instances when they are magically starving. As Veela absorb all kinds of ambient magic, starvation as such is usually associated with certain illnesses. However, they usually don't drain magic, so much as absorb that which is in their immediate environment. Veela females prefer human magic and their Allure attracts humans, in particular human males. Moreover, humans leak more magic when they are emotional, so the Allure also elicits emotional reaction. Lust, passion, anger, jealousy, pleasure and ecstasy all release large amounts of magic, but not enough to harm the human. Thus getting the males to lust after them and the females jealous of them results in a large 'feed' for lack of a better word. Sex releases even more which is why Veela are known as seductresses. Most female Veela like it when wizards cannot restrain their lust and give in to the wizards' advances because the magical release is so large. Then again, should a witch have a similar emotional reaction, the Veela will enjoy that too.
"On rare occasions, however, a Veela may develop a 'taste' as it were for a particular wizard's magic. She becomes addicted to his magic and needs to be around it and eventually may even need to bond with it and him. When this happens, she ceases to be truly Veela and can mate with the wizard. In fact, should she develop such an addiction, she can only mate with that wizard and can never mate with Veela.
"The children of such a mating are far more human than Veela. Their core will be that of a human as in it will generate its own magic so there will be no need – or ability – to absorb background magic. The children of such a pairing are almost always girls. The rare boy is always born without magic, but the girls are always witches. The children of Half-Veela are the same. The boys have no magic, the girls are witches. The children of quarter Veelas are considered fully human and will generally all be magical as well.
"Two aspects of Veela in Half and Quarter Veela children: one is the Allure, although it is much weaker than in Pure Veela. The other is the Veela Bonding, although that's not truly accurate as it is different. But it is a bonding ability none the less and it is unique to them. It also is not common, although it is far more common than the Pure Veela bond. Certain things are necessary for this bond to form. First, a part Veela can only form such a bond with a wizard who is more powerful magically than she is. Second, it can only form with a wizard who is at least as magically, physically and sexually mature as she is. Third, it can only form with a wizard who is not affected by her Allure. This can be a problem as while the Allure will not affect a Wizard who is in control of his emotions, it also will not affect a wizard who is in a love bond with another. Fortunately for me, Bill was not in a love bond when we met. Next, the bond requires the part Veela to either be in love with the wizard or be very capable of falling in love with that wizard. There must also be a compatibility between they're magics such that they complement each other or at least her. In this, it is not that she is absorbing his magic like a Pure Veela might, rather the presence of his magic heightens hers. Part Veela can feel this even at a young age. Finally, the part Veela witch must accept the Bond."
"And the Wizard?" Hermione asked.
"Can accept the Bond or not," Fleur said. "I accept my Bond with Bill very early on. I was fortunate he fell in love with me on his own so I could become his Consort."
"And if he didn't?"
Fleur shrugged. "I would not lose my magic. But accepting the Bond meant I could neither bond with nor love another, ever. Had he not taken me as his Wife and Consort, I would still be very pretty, but I would be a Spinster or would have to choose to be married in an arranged sense. Moreover, once I accepted the bond, my Allure changed, just as it would with a Pure Veela under similar circumstances."
"How did it change?"
"Whereas before most men affected by my Allure would desire me, now only the most self-centered and shallow and with serious self-esteem issues can and they are the easiest to reject since they pretty much expect to be rejected. Right now, the only male I've met who truly lusts after me is Bill's brother Ron."
"Ouch!" Hermione said.
"It was annoying," Fleur said. "Fortunately, he's no threat to Bill and I have no desire for him whatsoever just as I have no desire for any other man."
"So why is this necessary?" Harry asked.
"My parents are going to ask you to take my sister Gabrielle into your family, Harry."
"WHAT? WHY?"
"Whether you agree or not," Fleur said, "Gabrielle is to be moved here. My Papa is Minister of Magic in France and is now a target for Dark Forces and they wish Gabrielle to be safe. We both know she would be safe here in Charenwell."
"But why my family? Surely you would prefer your sister to be with you?"
"True, but she needs to be with you more."
"How…?" Then Harry gasped! "You're telling me she's bonded to me? But how? She's what? Nine or ten years old? Are you telling me being part-Veela means she's already of bonding age?"
"Gabrielle will be ten in November," Fleur said calmly, "and actually her being part Veela means she will reach bonding age later than most witches. Bonding age is when the Wizard can bond with her, Harry, not when she can bond with him. That is one difference between her and normal witches. If the conditions are right, she can Bond to a wizard and that bond is for life, but remember it is not a Bond that affects the Wizard at all. He could live his entire life never knowing the bond existed. All this means for Gabrielle is you are her only true shot at love and a true husband or Bond Mate."
"But how can there even be a bond like that if I don't agree?" Harry asked. "I had to agree and have sex with all the others to complete the bond!"
"Sounds more like a loyalty bond," Hermione said.
"It is, although like the other bonds between a man and woman, it might one day be more," Fleur said.
"I don't understand," Harry began.
"Loyalty bonds can be done without both parties knowing," Hermione said. "It usually doesn't work that way, but it can happen that way."
"Why did no one say anything about that?"
"Harry, we told you about the bonds that are relevant to you," Luna said. "You know of the Concubine Bond and probably more about that bond than most all of Magical Britain and you know because it is important. The same is true about the maturation of that bond and the Consort Bond, as those are important too. We've also discussed what we think happened with Cissy and this Coven Bond. And we did discuss Loyalty Bonds to some extent, just not this facet as it has not come into play yet."
"Besides," Hermione said, "I would argue this is not yet a true bond. It sounds like a precondition for a true bond, although one that binds one of the future parties to that potential bond, not unlike a Life Debt. But it doesn't sound like it is one either."
"This is true," Fleur said. "The Bond merely identifies her one possible mate. Had she not Bonded, nothing would say if Harry could have been her one possible mate but it seems certain he would have been a candidate. Having Bonded, my sister chose him above any other contenders. For love it can only be Harry now. For children, she can accept another should Harry let her."
"A precondition for a bond?" Harry asked.
"Well, a precondition for a life or long term bond," Hermione said. "A magical bond between two people that can or will last a lifetime can't just happen. They all have their own preconditions that if they do not exist prevent the bond from forming. Despite what happened to us, Harry, you can't truly enter into a Consort Bond by pure accident. Likewise, you can't accidentally take a Concubine Bond. And Cissy's bond was not accident either. Each had preconditions."
"Okay…"
"The Consort Bond is a natural bond between a witch and her life mate," Hermione continued. "For it to form, the witch and her husband must be physically old enough to have children as the Bond is about love and having a family. The couple must also be healthy enough to have children. If either is unable to make a baby, the Bond would never take hold. Next, the couple must be emotionally mature enough at least in regard to their relationship with one another for the bond to take. You and I were pretty young. Then again, our bond had been five years in the making, hadn't it? You didn't bond with me out of lust or raging teenage hormones, not I you. We were not crushing on each other were we? No, this was a mature form of love. Then there is the actual rite which finalizes the bond. I offered myself to you in every respect and without reservation. You accepted me in the same vein and we consummated the relationship. It probably helped that we were both virgins. It certainly helped that we had not been physically intimate like that before. In that regard, our first time together like that is immensely magical. Had we been lovers before, it is possible the Bond may have formed, but less likely because the magic is not as strong then. Had any of these conditions been lacking, we might still have had a wonderful relationship and life together, just not the full Bond."
"Okay," Harry said, "but what about the Concubine Bond? All I needed to do was buy the witch right?"
"That Bond is far more complicated, Harry," Hermione said. "It too has loads of preconditions that must be met before a witch can first be bound. Once they are bound, transferring them to another Master is easy. The first of which is only her magical guardian can even offer to sell her. Remember, unlike the Consort Bond, the Concubine Bond is not natural but wizard made. It has all sorts of preconditions which must be met before the bond can form. The Magical Guardian must offer to sell her. If she is part of a Noble House, then there's that magic to consider as well as the Head of House can prevent the sale, regardless of the magical guardian's wishes. There must also be a willing buyer and consideration for the sale. Even then, not all the conditions are met. The contract, whether written or oral cannot be fulfilled unless the witch is of bonding age, that is at least six months past her first menstrual cycle. She must be physically turned over to the seller…"
"But most were not," Harry said. "I merely summon them with the contract or title!"
"True," Hermione said, "but that was not the case with Ginny, was it?"
"No," Harry nodded. "Her Dad sent her to me that day, but the others?"
"Excluding those who were already Concubines when you acquired them, the Trace is how you were able to summon them."
"But some of them didn't have their wands," Harry protested.
"We've learned the Trace isn't on the wand, Harry," Hermione said, "it's on the person. Not only that, for most of us, we don't get the Trace until we start school. I know I wasn't under it until after I started Hogwarts."
"Oh?"
"Remember the day we first met? I fixed your glasses?"
"With your wand," Harry nodded. "It was really impressive."
"I'd had my wand since Christmas," Hermione said, "and had been learning spells from books since then. I practiced every chance I could get. And, I never got a letter about underage magic. The Trace is an ancient and complex tracking charm places on people, not objects. It detects when the person does magic or when it's done near them, not when the wand does magic, although indirectly that is what it does. It is tied in to their status as a Ward of a Magical Guardian. Once that relationship ends, the Trace is dispelled. But so long as the Trace is in place, the Magical Guardian, Ministry, Schools and such can 'track' the child. And in regards to underage magic it is really vile as children growing up in magical homes don't get letters unless they do magic in a Muggle area. If we live in a Muggle home, any magic detected by the trace is attributed to us."
"You said they put it on you at school?"
"First week," Hermione nodded, "although that's not what they told me at the time. Like everyone else, I had a 'routine' examination by Madam Pomfrey. That's when the spell was performed. She said it was a diagnostic spell, but I've seen enough of them to know she never used that one again."
"I never had an exam," Harry said.
"Ah, but think about it Harry," Hermione replied, "when you were much younger the bad people came whenever you did magic, wherever you did magic and Dumbledore modified your memory. How do you think they found out?"
"But that means…," Harry began angrily.
"I think he put it on you or had it put on you before he even left you at the Dursleys. Remember, you were left there a full day after your parents were attacked. You had to be somewhere else."
"Bastard!" Harry said. "That meddling old bastard!" He took a calming breath. "So the Trace is how we can summon them?"
"I don't really know how it all works, Harry," Hermione shrugged, "but it is part of the bonding requirements. If the Trace is broken, such as when I became your Consort, any Contract to sell me wouldn't be worth the parchment it's written on. But, Combine the Contract by a Magical Guardian, the sale, gaining possession of the witch while she's under the Trace and the Bonding Rite, and she's a Concubine. Arguably, once a young British witch is placed under the Trace she's at risk of being sold until the Trace is dispelled."
"I see, and where were we?" Harry nodded.
"Preconditions to a bond," Hermione said. "It seems Gabrielle has chosen you as a Bond Mate of some kind, but also that the two of you are not bonded."
"That is correct," Fleur said. "Gabrielle has chosen Harry as her Bond Mate and can have no other. But the Bond cannot be completed for some time and then only if Harry and his Consorts agree to it. Remember, Harry, because of our Bond, Consorts control who else you can Bond with or even have relations with."
Harry nodded. Hermione could have vetoed any of the Concubines and Luna for that matter, but it was she who convinced him to bond with them. Luna had the same authority as Hermione once she became his Consort and, while she did select the two Ravenclaws who would join his family, she had approved all the others without much question including Cissy. As a Coven Bond, Cissy also had to be approved by all the others as well, something that did not apply to the Concubines who were yet to join. Harry also knew he was in too deep to get out now. If Hermione and Luna told him to do this, he had no excuse not to.
"How did this happen?" Harry asked. "When?"
"The Second Task," Fleur shrugged. "You saved her life and earned my respect, something which had not happened before with another boy. But more important was when she thanked you. She sensed your magic and knew it fit her perfectly. It of course was also helpful that you were very kind to her, however briefly. And I know how you are concerned about your fame. Don't be. You are famous in Britain, not in France. Before that day, she didn't know of you at all and since then all she knows is what I have told her about you. There are no silly Boy-Who-Lived books in my Country. The War which made you famous barely made our papers."
"A Life Debt?"
"No Harry," Hermione said. "While you did pull her from the lake, it could not have created that Bond as her life was never in danger."
"It did make her pay attention to you," Fleur said, "but Hermione is right. Had you done nothing, she would not have died."
"We didn't know that…"
"True. But the debt is incurred by actually saving the life, not by believing that had happened."
"The only ones who truly owed you a life debt before they bonded to you were Ginny and me," Hermione said. "By bonding to you for life, the debt is fulfilled."
"I understand Ginny," Harry said. "Chamber of Secrets and all, but you? If anything I owe you one for keeping me from doing something stupid! Oh! The Troll."
"Yes, that did incur the debt," Hermione said.
"But Ron was there too! He was the one who knocked the bloody thing out. Does that mean you owe him one two?"
Hermione shook his head. "No Harry. A person can only owe one Life Debt at a time. Moreover, you can't acquire such debt because you did something that put a person in mortal peril. The reason my life was in danger was because of Ron."
"He didn't let the Troll in…" Harry began.
"No, but he was the reason I was all alone in that bathroom. Moreover, do you honestly think he would have come and looked for me if you hadn't?"
Harry shook his head. "I don't think he would have cast that spell had I not told him to do something."
"Exactly. You were the one who came for me, Harry and you were the one who made sure I was safe. Ron was the reason I was in danger and only did what he did because of you, not me. Even then, even assuming I might have possibly owed him a Life Debt, what happened at the end of Third Year cancelled out the Troll incident. You saved Sirius and me from all those Dementors. Had you not cast your Patronus, we'd be dead most likely. The more recent debt controls."
"So you fell for me…"
"No Harry! It doesn't work that way. The Debt gives you the right to control my life, but can't make me fall in love if that was never in the cards. Pettigrew owes you a Life Debt, after all, and he also was the one who nearly saw you killed by Voldemort."
Harry nodded. "Are you sure Gabrielle isn't…?"
Fleur shook her head. "It is the Bond, Harry. While she is immature magically, Maman and I can perceive her Allure and it has changed into the Bonded Allure. She wants to be your friend, but knows that one day she may be asked to be more than that and she accepts that as what the Fates had decided she should be."
"So why does she need to live here? Why not with you and Bill?"
"She should be with her new family," Fleur said. "It will be years before she'll be anything more than a little girl, but she's already Bonded to you and it is best for her and her magic to be here. Besides, Bill and I will see her quite frequently, more than I have since she was a baby. That and if I were around all the time, she might not be as motivated to learn her English. She knows a little, but the best way to learn is not from books but from having to use it."
Harry looked at Hermione and she nodded. She did it to him again, he thought. He then looked at Luna.
"The shifts support this," she said, just as she had after Cissy. "It moves you further to the right, not massively but further. The shift for Fleur is far more impressive. I cannot speak about her sister, but I'm pretty sure given Fleur's shift it would be similar. I think you should do this."
"You're not suggesting I should sleep with her?" Harry replied in shock.
"No Harry," Hermione said. "That would be illegal given her immaturity. You will not be expected to take that step until she is a woman who is mature enough to be bonded as a Consort or Concubine."
"Which won't be until she's about sixteen," Fleur said.
"Why that long?" Harry asked. "From what I understand all of my girls were of bonding age by the time they were thirteen, most were even younger! Dora Bonded when she was twelve and one of the girls coming to my House this week is only twelve!"
"They are not Part Veela," Fleur said. "Pure Veela females do not begin the change from child to adult until they're about twenty. Part Veelas begin earlier, but much later than true humans. For me, I was almost sixteen when the changes began. Until then, I was a few centimeters shorter, as we still grow in height, but I still looked like a tall, little girl. School was difficult because I was not as – er – advanced as my classmates. I also had no interest in sex or boys nor any need for such things. Even as Part Veela, we are like witches that way. When we begin to change, we need releases to stabilize our magic. But at fifteen, I was not there yet and was teased mercilessly for it. Then it began and it was swift. I went from girl to what you see now in four months and it was not comfortable growing that fast or needing a release as often as I did. It will be the same for Gabrielle. She will be taller, but still a girl for some time. Here she can be with those who understand and will not humiliate her for her differences. I wish to spare her the pain and loneliness I experienced in school."
"And what about living arrangements?" Harry asked.
"We were hoping she could use the spare bedroom in Cissy's apartment," Hermione said. "Cissy and I both speak French fluently, but having her room with us might be inappropriate."
"I don't mine, Harry," Cissy said. "It would be nice to teach a child untainted by my ex and his mania."
"And the rest of it?" Harry said. "Under House Rules, she would be technically family."
"Harry, this is a Coven," Hermione said. "When you agreed – and you're so sweet – she became a member as all of the others have already agreed as well."
"I didn't…"
"Are you going to say no?" Luna asked.
"N-no, I suppose not. I'm in too deep as it is. But she's not a member, is she? I can't Bond with her."
"She's more like Betrothed to the Coven," Hermione said. "But she would still be a part of everything not involving sexual intimacy."
"I believe that's my point," Harry said. "It's not like we hide that unless there are guests…"
"She is aware of those things, Harry," Fleur said. "When I was with my family last Thursday to discuss this, we had a long talk with her about what it might be like."
"So you're saying we don't hide it from her?" Harry asked in shock.
"She can leave if she wishes or stay if she wishes, but so long as it's not time for her to be asleep, she should have no more restrictions on where she spends her time than we do," Hermione said. "One day she will be a full part of it. Until then, she can't participate, but we shouldn't treat her like she's otherwise not a part of this. In the end, though, it is her choice about such things. Besides, I don't see that big a deal. I never told you this, but I did walk in on my Mum and Dad when I was about her age and I don't feel totally scarred for life. And this won't be her parents, but her betrothed and his other wives, right?"
"French magicals are more open about sexuality," Fleur said. "While we do not condone it with children, neither do we feel compelled to hide it from them either. She has seen it before although I don't think she is a voyeur. She'll probably me more interested in reading a book. Besides, she is Part Veela. We are not as affected by seeing such things as most."
"Am I the only one who thinks this is off?" Harry asked.
"It would seem so," Cissy said. "I won't say your daughters should be around for our Coven Times, but she is or will be a part of it, not a product of it."
"I suppose," Harry resigned himself. "But on one condition. No one will make or ask her to be there!"
"Thank you, Harry," Fleur said. "You may come in now, Gabrielle."
Harry was stunned. The blonde girl entered in a travelling cloak carrying two magical suitcases and wearing a broad hat. She looked a little taller than he remembered. The girl put her suitcases down and ran over to hug her big sister, jabbering away in French. After a few words, she walked over and hugged Harry.
"Good Afternoon," she said in awkward and accented English, "my 'uzban' to be."
"Er, welcome Gabrielle," Harry said standing just before she ran over and hugged him as well.
MONDAY, AUGUST 5th, Cambridge, U.K.
Cho Change was seventeen years old and looking to start her final year at Hogwarts where she was Captain of the Ravenclaw Quidditch Team. Her parents were born in Hong Kong and their parents had fled to Hong Kong in 1949. Her father was a Muggle and owned a business in Glasgow. Her mother was a witch. In China, such unions were hardly unexpected as, at least until 1949 when the magically intolerant communists took over; magic had been quite in the open for as long as their long history could remember. Magicals had been suppressed by the new regime as reminders of their failed, imperialistic past. After six years at Hogwarts, Cho wondered which was worse: the failed Chinese anti-magic campaigns or the Pureblood nonsense here.
Cho was spending the week with her best friend Marietta Edgecrombe. She was what one might call a borderline Pureblood as she had a couple of Muggle Born great-great grandmothers. Under the law, this made her a Pureblood. To the bigots in Slytherin, she was still a Half-Blood. Then again, the only people in school who liked anyone from that House were in that House and even then it was questionable. Marietta thought it was a bunch of nonsense. Then again, she judge a woman based upon their skills in the bedroom and not their bloodlines and had no use for wizards at all. True, Marietta was betrothed to another borderline Pureblood, but Cho knew Marietta would sleep with him to perform her wifely duty of bearing his children and otherwise be with her Witch. Cho was not her witch. Marietta might be that way, but Cho preferred guys when it came to emotional love and romance. Girls were just for the adolescent witch needs and Cho had to admit, Marietta had skills. Marietta was arguably the most experienced Girl Sex Girl at Hogwarts.
Marietta had come to Hogwarts about a month after she had her first period and after having a long talk with her Mum about the needs she would need to deal with now that she was becoming a young woman. Her first night, she had shown the other girls in her dorm what her mother had shown her, which was how to meet those needs by oneself. But it was clear that first week, Marietta would be a Girl Sex type. While Cho and the others watched in shock at what went on in the upper year dorms, showers and Girls' Loos, Marietta seemed to drool.
Marietta's first time was her second week at school when she offered herself to a Fifth Year and wound up spending that weekend in the Fifth Year dorms as their "Plaything" learning all about how to have sex with girls. She even slept with a couple of them at night, or so she said when she bragged about it when she returned to her own dorm the following week. Neither Cho nor any of her other roommates knew what to make of Marietta at first as none of them felt the urges the girl had yet. The next weekend, Marietta spent with the Seventh Year Girl Sex girls. By Halloween, Marietta proudly told her first years she had shagged every Girl Sex Girl in Ravenclaw and had even gotten lucky and been the first time for a Second Year who wanted to try it too.
It was spring term when one of Cho's other roommates had her first period. By then, thanks to Marietta, they all knew that when that happened, they would need a release frequently. Marietta was more than willing to provide that release. She had been a first time for three Second Years by then and now offered to be her own Year's first time, if they wanted. In September of her Second Year, Cho had reached that point where she needed to be like the older girls and her first orgasm was thanks to Marietta. In fact, Marietta was responsible for every one of her roommates' first times. Cho dreamed of boys whenever she had that kind of sex. She knew Marietta dreamed of girls. She was the first in that room to have a true lover, not just a helping hand or tongue, and that lover was an older girl in their house. While Marietta was available to any girl during the day, bedtime was for her lover who, like Marietta preferred girls to the exclusion of boys in both her dreams and her reality.
As much as Cho enjoyed Girl Sex, she was really into boys. She had a huge crush on Cedric Diggory, who was two years older than her and in another House. She also thought Harry Potter was a real possibility, even though he was a year younger. Cedric, she always figured, was an unattainable fantasy. He'd never notice her. Potter, on the other hand seemed much more likely, especially on the train for the start of their Fifth Year. That was a bad time in their dorm. Marietta's girl lover was the Second Year Girl she had been with their First Year and she had not returned to Hogwarts following her O.W.L.s. The girl was a Muggle Born and Cho began to note that it seemed that Muggle Born girls were the only ones who seemed to drop out after their O.W.L.s.
For Cho, her love life seemed to improve when Cedric asked her to the Yule Ball. He was a Tri-Wizard Champion, so in addition to having what she thought of as the best looking wizard at the ball as her date, she was also going to be in the spotlight. It was perfect! Cedric even took her on several "dates" leading up to the ball, including a Hogsmeade Weekend to shop for robes. By the night of the Ball, she already could well imagine what Cedric looked like naked, having been close to that with him many times in broom closets and he was almost as good at Girl Sex techniques as any she had experienced. That night, he took her to the Prefects' Bathroom, and she learned that Boy Sex was even better than Girl Sex, four times!
The Winter and Spring Terms had been wonderful as she was with Cedric as often as possible. They even spent their Hogsmeade visits in a room he rented over the Three Broomsticks where they had all the time in the world and no fear of getting detentions! She was sure she was falling in love with him. Then came the final task. When it was over, her wonderful lover was dead.
From a dating standpoint, her sixth year was a disaster. She knew a lot had to do with Cedric's death. She spent a lot of time in Marietta' arms crying about that between their magical therapy sessions. Her only good memory was kissing Harry Potter under the mistletoe following a meeting of the outlawed Dumbledore's Army. Harry asked her out for the Hogsmeade Weekend that followed Valentine's Day and she was certain she was going to end that day as more than just Harry's first kiss. But it wasn't meant to be. He was more interested in meeting up with Granger than in her attempts at seducing him. She was all but ready to give up on boys altogether after that.
She had agreed to spend a couple of weeks with Marietta this summer. She still was not into girls, but needed a good shagging a lot and no one was better than Marietta. Marietta understood. Cho wanted a real husband. Marietta wanted a real witch, and Cho could never be that for her. But Cho was more than willing to sleep with her as a summer fling and that was fine too.
Cho was lying on the bed dreaming in her post-coital state about a man. Marietta was naked in her arms. Whenever Marietta did that to her, she remembered how good Cedric had been at it and dreamed of finding another man who could push all her buttons, and not just be a substitute for masturbation. Still, it had been a relaxing week with more sex than Cho had ever had, even if it was with just a girl. She learned that Marietta had been invited to join a secret club at the beginning of the summer for witches like her who wanted lovers with the same plumbing. Marietta said it was loads of fun with loads of sex and a few promising possibilities. Cho was happy for her friend, but had no idea what her love life would be like next year.
Suddenly, she felt the need to go to the loo, although it was also very different. She woke out of her half slumber, kissed her sleeping friend on the forehead and walked into the loo across the hall and found herself somewhere very, very different.
A/N: RELATIONSHIP SCORECARD:
If you didn't read the Intro, you missed that. This is so you can keep up with who's with who and how.
Key:
Names in Italics = OC
Gr – Gryffindor, Hu – Hufflepuff, Ra – Ravenclaw, Sl – Slytherin.
SG – St. George's School, PE – Prince Edward School, SA – St. Andrew's, SP – St. Patrick's, SD – St. David's.
(Number indicates last year completed. No number means they finished all seven years.)
P = pregnant.
Harry James Potter, age 16.* HOUSE POTTER
1. Hermione Jane (Granger) Potter, age 16 (Gr-5); CONSORT.*P - boy/girl (twins).
2. Minerva Grace (McGonagall) Potter-Black, age 68 (Gr).P - girl.
3. Astoria Lynn (Greengrass) Potter-Black, age 14 (Sl-3).*
4. Ginevra Molly (Weasley) Potter-Black, age 14 (Gr-4).*
5. Stacey Marie (Campbell) Potter-Black, age 17 (SA-5).*
6. Laura Teresa (Oliver) Potter-Black, age 21 (PE-5).*
7. Rhonda Kaye (Lester) Potter-Black, age 17 (SD-5).
8. Katie Anna (Bell) Potter-Black, age 17 (Gr-6).
9. Padma (Patil) Potter-Black, age 16 (Ra-5).
10. Sally-Anne (Perks) Potter-Black, age 16 (SG-5).
HOUSE BLACK
1. Luna Celeste (Lovegood) Black, age 15 (Ra-4); CONSORT.*P
2. Dora (Tonks) Black-Potter, age 22 (Hu).*P – girl.
3. Mallory Michelle (Grant) Black-Potter, age 39 (Hu).P - boy.
4. Daphne Renee (Greengrass) Black-Potter, age 16 (Sl-5).*P
5. Tabatha Simone (Collins) Black-Potter, age 16 (SA-5).*
6. Fiona Michelle (Simpson) Black-Potter, age 22 (SD).*
7. Karen Maria (Green) Black-Potter, age 18 (PE-5).
8. Constance Maria (Plumber) Black-Potter, age 16 (SG-5).
9. Parvati (Patil) Black-Potter, age 16 (Gr-5).
10. Kathryn Marie (O'Fallon) Black Potter, age 16 (SP-5).
1. Narcissa (Cissy) Black, age 33 (Sl-5); Coven Bonded.
2. Gabrielle Collette Delacour, age 9 (11/23/86). Veela Bond (~ 6/17/95) (full bond pending.)
Bill Weasley, age 25.
1. Fleur Patrice (Delacour) Weasley, age 19; CONSORT.P – girl.
2. Mary Ellen (Howard) Weasley, age 18 (Hu-5).*P - boy.
3. Samantha Christine (Johnson) Weasley, age 17 (SG-5).*
4. Peggy Louise (Nolan) Weasley, age 17 (9/6/78) (Hu-6).*
5. Elizabeth Olive (Nolan) Weasley, age 14 (Gr-3).
6. Lana Catherine (Powell) Weasley, age 22 (SA).*P
7. Carla (Masterson) Weasley, age 20 (PE-5).*P
8. Donna Lynn (Roselle) Weasley, age 19 (SG-5).
9. Christine Celine (Paulson) Weasley, age 17 (PE-5).
10. Mandy (Brocklehurst) Weasley, age 16 (Ra-5).
11. Wendy Seline (Hendricks) Weasley, age 15 (Gr-4).
12. Agnes Gabrielle (Martin) Weasley, age 15 (Hu-4).
13. Morgan Laura Carlson, age 14 (Hu-3).
14. Francine Sally Broadmoor, age 14 (Ra-3).
Neville Algicyrus Longbottom, age 16.*
1. Susan Marie (Bones) Longbottom, age 16 (Hu-5); CONSORT.*P – boy, girl (twins).
2. Amber Selma (Harker) Longbottom, age 33 (Sl-5).*P - boy, girl (twins).
3. Penelope Ann (Clearwater) Longbottom, age 20 (Ra).*P
4. Annette Lucille (Harper) Longbottom, age 24 (SD).*
5. Deborah Leigh (McLean) Longbottom, age 20 (SA).*
6. Miriam Olivia (Riley) Longbottom, age 18 (SG-5).P
7. Amanda (Kennedy) Longbottom, age 16 (SP-5).
8. Hannah Suzanne (Abbott) Longbottom, age 16 (Hu-5).
9. Patricia Faye (Abbott) Longbottom, age 14 (Hu-3).
10. Megan Allison (Jones) Longbottom, age 16 (Hu-5).
12. Leanne Lucille (Tinker) Longottom, age 17 (Gr-6).
13. Lavender Sue (Brown) Longbottom, age 16 (Gr-5).
14. Natalie Mae McDonald, age 14 (Gr-3).
Fred Weasley, age 18.
1. Alicia May (Spinet) Weasley, age 18 (Gr); CONSORT.*P
2. Verity Nicole (Smith) Weasley, age 21 (SG-5).*P – boy.
3. Danielle Louise (Carter) Weasley, age 20 (SG-5).*P - girl.
4. Victoria (Vicki) (Peters) Weasley, age 17 (Ra-6).*
5. Rachel Francine Peters, age 15 (Ra-4).*
6. Coleen (Harrington) Weasley, age 23 (SP).*
7. Elisha Susan (Stout) Weasley, age 21 (SD).P
8. Helen May (Ivey) Weasley, age 20 (SG-5).
9. Caroline (Folsom) Weasley, age 18 (SD-5).
10. Annette Maria (Barnes) Weasley, age 15 (Gr-4).
11. Simone (Fanning) Weasley, age 15, (Hu-4).
12. Jessica (Jessie) Bates, age 14 (Gr-3).
13. Jennifer Lynn Faulken, age 14 (Hu-3).
14. Patsy Tennyson, age 14 (Ra-3).
15. Mary Simone Tennyson, age 14 (Ra-3).
George Weasley, age 18.
1. Angelina Olivia (Johnson) Weasley, age 18 (Gr); CONSORT.*P – boy.
2. Shelly Ann (Parker) Weasley, age 22 (SG).*P - girl.
3. Ellen Suzanne (North) Weasley, age 20 (SG).*P
4. Anna Melissa (Jenkins) Weasley, age 17 (Hu-6).*
5. Roberta Elaine (Larson) Weasley, age 25 (PE).*P
6. Georgina Emma (Parker) Weasley, age 22 (SG).*
7. Eileen (O'Malley) Weasley, age 21 (SP-5).
8. Isabel (Tate) Weasley, age 19 (SA).
9. Tammy (Grey) Weasley, age 15 (Hu-4).
10. Pamela Ray (Adams) Weasley, age 15 (Ra-4).
11. Selene Adams, age 13 (Ra-2).
12. Betsy (Watson) Weasley, age 14 (Gr-3).
13. Elaine Lucinda Manning, age 14 (Hu-3).
14. Michelle Eliza Graham, age 13 (Gr-2).
Lord Mayor Remus John Lupin, age 36.
1. Stephanie Mia (Rogers) Lupin, age 24 (SG); CONSORT.
2. Sarah Michelle (Hanson) Lupin, age 21 (SG).*
3. Amelia Renee (Carpenter) Lupin, age 21 (SG).*P
4. Tara Frances (Marks) Lupin, age 20 (SG-5).*
5. Christy (Matthews) Lupin, age 19 (SG).
6. Ellie Beth (Mitchell) Lupin, age 18 (PE-5).
Frank Longbottom, age 41.
1. Alice Maria (Pierson) Longbottom, age 40 (Ra); CONSORT.P
2. Sandra Ellen (Butler) Longbottom, age 24 (SP).*
3. Veronica Helen (Riordan) Longbottom, age 23 (SP).*P
4. Gretchen Lee (St. James) Longbottom, age 21 (PE).*
5. Marie (White) Longbottom, age 19 (SD).
6. Carol Matilda (Timmerman) Longbottom, age 17 (SD-5).