A Promise Kept - Chapter 16 - In the Summertime

In the Summertime

He hurried towards the bathroom on the second floor, casting a disillusionment charm over himself whilst he did so, consulting the map and finding himself at a loss at how to explain just how the girl had found herself in such a position.

Had he merely seen her on the map in the bathroom, he would have likely paid her no mind but given that Ginevra Weasley had intentionally attempted to compromise his protections around the sink, Sirius knew she was somehow involved in the attacks on her fellow students.

He shook his head to clear his thoughts, focusing on the task at hand. In truth, he did not know what it was he would be facing when he arrived, but as he did so, he could hear the commotion within, a furious yet feminine hissing.

Instead of entering, he quietly secured the door and sent for Albus.

Gone were the days that Sirius would foolishly run into potential danger without thought, and he would not deny the Headmaster was a much more experienced wizard when it came to anything pertaining to Voldemort.

It was only a few moments later that he heard the hurried footsteps approaching, and a severe Albus Dumbledore rounded the corner.

“What is it?” he asked.

“Ginny Weasley,” Sirius sighed. “I found the entrance to the Chamber a while ago and laid a trap. She is the one attacking the students.”

“Impossible,” Albus whispered. “She could not…”

“No, but he can, and he was found a way to use her.”

Albus shook his head sadly as he drew his wand.

“I do not know what to expect when we enter, but I would see that she is not harmed any more than she already is unless necessary.”

Sirius nodded his agreement, and Albus released a deep breath before undoing the locking charms with a simple wave of his wand.

Together, they entered the bathroom to find a furious redhead hissing at the very sink Sirius had placed his own magic upon to prevent it being used.

In her hand, she was clutching a small, black book, and continued to hiss incoherently, almost as though she was in a trance.

Her eyes.

As he rounded the room to flank her, Sirius caught sight of them, and they were unnaturally red.

She saw him, and a brief expression of panic formed, only to give way to one of anger. The girl grinned as she raised her wand, a sinister grin that did not belong on the face of one so young.

Before she could cast a spell, however, she crumpled to the ground upon Albus’s stunning spell colliding with her, and the book slipped from her grasp.

“Do not touch it, Sirius,” the Headmaster warned as he approached it, binding the girl for theirs and her own good.

For several moments, the older man said nothing, and murmured under his breath as he inspected the book, following his own advice not to touch it.

When he was seemingly done, he levitated it and shook his head.

“What is it?” Sirius asked.

“It appears to be a diary, but it is who it belongs to and what he has done to it that troubles me, Sirius. I have never encountered anything like it.”

The book rotated, and Sirius caught a glimpse of the name embossed in gold lettering on the back.

“Tom Marvolo Riddle,” he murmured.

“Indeed,” Albus confirmed, unsurprised by the appearance of the name. “I think we should perhaps get Miss Weasley to the Hospital Wing. I will inform Arthur and Molly of what has happened.”

He cast several charms on the book, evidently to nullify whatever effect it would have on any that came into contact with it, before encasing it in a white bubble of magic.

“What is it, Albus?”

The man deflated at the question.

“I have my suspicions, but I must confirm it. You will be the first to know when I am certain.”

He had yet to discuss the matter with the man further but had received what he deemed to be a reassuring nod from him upon entering the chambers of the Wizengamot.

The meeting was proving to be as dreary as ever, but both Malfoy and Fudge were somewhat less animated than they usually were.

Although Sirius had not mentioned the incident with Hagrid, he knew he had some leverage over the two men, for now, at least.

It wouldn’t last, but Sirius would take it for now and use it accordingly.

“If there is nothing else, I will bring this gathering to a close,” Albus finally declared, and the room emptied quickly; most Lords and Ladies wishing to spend what little time they had with their children for the summer break.

Sirius followed suit, taking his leave of the Ministry before activating his portkey, arriving back at the ranch just as Lily was entering the kitchen for breakfast.

“Didn’t sleep much?” he asked amusedly.

She shot him a glare as she began making her morning coffee.

“I don’t like it,” she sighed. “I get that he has friends, and I want him to be able to spend time with them, but having five girls and one other boy here for a week…”

“They’re just kids, Lily.”

“Most of them are already teenagers,” the woman pointed out, “and Harry will be on Saturday. How are we even going to hide him from them?” she added, pointing out of the window.

“Norbert already knows he must stay away from them. Harry spoke to him.”

Lily muttered under her breath.

“It’s bad enough he befriended a griffin, but a dragon. How does that even happen?”

“I like to think of it as just one of those things that Harry has done. Besides, what better guardian could you hope for than a bloody dragon?”

Lily released a deep breath.

“I still don’t like it,” she grumbled.

“The dragon or his friends coming?”

“Both. He’s too much like you were, Sirius. For now, he doesn’t seem so interested in girls, but that will change soon.”

Sirius fought the urge to grin.

He would never encourage Harry to behave the same way he had when he’d been at school, but he was still a boy and would soon be a young man. He should not be deprived of that just because his mother did not like the idea of him growing up.

Not that he was likely to tell her anything of such things.

Lily truly was an exceptional mother, but still a little overprotective of someone that did not wish to be protected.

Harry was a protector himself and became more so the older he got.

“Where is the little delinquent anyway?” he asked.

“Where do you think he is?”

He would be with Norbert.

If he wasn’t practicing magic, reading, or flying with Aurelius as part of his Quodpot training he insisted on keeping up with over the summer, he was with the dragon.

(Break)

He watched as Norbert circled above whilst he finished greeting Aurelius. He had not seen the griffin since Christmas, and the creature was just as excited as ever.

It warmed Harry’s heart to mean so much to something that was not known for their affection. If anything, griffins were rather hostile towards humans, but not Aurelius, not with Harry at least.

“What is it, boy?” he asked as he was pulled towards the trees a short distance away.

Although they liked to graze the open fields, the herd often sought shelter in the woodland areas of the ranch, particularly during mating season, or if a storm was blowing through.

Harry didn’t know what Aurelius wished to show him, but as they came upon the herd, he paused and gasped at the sight of the small golden griffin amongst them.

It was flapping its wings as it reared up on its hind legs, and Harry beamed.

“She’s yours,” he whispered.

Aurelius chirped proudly.

It wasn’t often they were graced with a new-born, and certainly not one like this. She was a beauty, and Hary held out a hand for her to sniff. She did so, nibbling his fingers curiously.

“Wow, look at you,” he cooed, running his fingers through her soft feathers. “Now, which one is your mother?”

It was a large, white female that approached, much more cautiously than Aurelius ever had.

She had always been a wild creature, and an adult when she had arrived at the ranch shortly before Harry had turned nine some four years prior. The herd had never been hostile towards him, but for the most part, had kept their distance.

Even now, the female was rather edgy, and Harry knew not to push his luck with her.

“You have a beautiful baby,” he praised.

She squawked in response before charging into the woods with the rest of the griffins in tow, eliciting a bout of laughter from the boy.

“Go on,” he urged the babe and Aurelius. “I suppose I will have to think of a name for you.”

Aurelius chirped and flapped his wings once more as he led his daughter away, and Harry walked in the opposite direction back towards the house, coming to a sudden stop as Norbert landed in front of him.

Harry did not know what to expect from the dragon.

They had parted on strange terms with the behemoth dropping gifts at the back door of the home quite regularly, but Harry was wary of him at best.

He had raised Aurelius from when he’d been a babe, and dragons could not be tamed. Not that the griffin was as such, but Aurelius could not immolate him in a single breath, nor swallow him in a single bite.

Norbert had only gotten bigger since he’d seen him last, and his scales had darkened considerably.

“Easy boy,” Harry murmured.

Much to his surprise, the dragon let out a whine before laying at his feet, his yellow eyes looking up at him almost sadly.

Tentatively, Harry reached out and rubbed the dragon’s nose, only for Norbert to seemingly purr in response.

“I know, Norbert, but we must keep you being here a secret,” Harry explained for the umpteenth time. “It is only for a week, and when they’re gone, maybe we can go for a fly together. Just don’t burn me.”

Norbert chuffed as he stood, butting Harry with his nose before taking to the sky and vanishing towards the cave he called home.

Not a day had gone by since he’d returned from Ilvermorny that Norbert hadn’t sought him out.

Maybe the dragon just needed some company?

Harry wasn’t sure, but he was still nervous around the dragon, even if Norbert had not shown any sign of aggression. Still, it was better to be safe than sorry when it came to such an unpredictable creature.

The thought of flying with the dragon was as exciting as it was terrifying too, and he couldn’t be certain if he was looking forward to or dreading it.

Nonetheless, a promise was a promise, and he would not go back on his word.

Besides, that was a week away.

For now, he needed to get ready for the arrival of his friends, who would be spending that time on the ranch.

He’d not seen any of them since they’d left the carriages at the end of the school year, but all of them were coming, even Gabrielle, whom he hadn’t seen for more than a year now.

He smiled at the thought of spending so much time with them away from the castle.

Harry just hoped that Norbert would remember the deal they had brokered.

How could he explain the presence of a Norwegian Ridgeback to his friends, after all?

Entering the kitchen, he found his mother and Sirius both readying to leave, and the atter shot him a grin.

“The separate bedrooms are all set up, Harry,” he mocked. “There will be no naughtiness from you.”

“Behave yourself,” Harry huffed. “It’s like you want my mum to think the worst of me.”

“Oh, she doesn’t need me for that,” Sirius said with a grin. “As far as she’s concerned, the moment you turn thirteen, you’re going to turn into Don Juan himself.”

Harry rolled his eyes in response.

“Well, her thoughts aren’t so foolish,” Sirius continued thoughtfully. “You’re already famous, a Quodpot sensation, and you’re not so ugly, I suppose.”

“Thanks,” Harry said dryly, grimacing at the memory of the article published in The New York Ghost after Wampus had won the Quodpot cup at the end of the school year.

Harry Potter: Quadpots’ Next Big Thing?

Just the title alone made him shudder, and he’d only made it through three sentences of the journalist gushing over his performance before he’d thrown it down in embarrassment.

Wendell, however, had taken it upon himself to quote the article aloud every moment he got, resulting in the boy being treated for a rather nasty outbreak of boils courtesy of Olivia, who had reacted before Harry had, even if he did get the blame for it.

“I’m still not like you.”

“For now,” Sirius said with a wink.

Lily narrowed her eyes at the man before shaking her head.

“Come on, he doesn’t need encouragement from the likes of you, Sirius Black. I remember exactly how you used to be.”

The man pouted as he was seized by the sleeve of his robes, and the two of them vanished to begin gathering the others. Harry made his way into the basement to wait for them.

For the time being, it was a safe place to arrive, but he suspected Sirius would change that the moment he returned.

He was paranoid about the security of the ranch; the dragon he had brought here to watch over the land standing testament to that.

(Break)

She checked the contents of her trunk for the umpteenth time, ensuring she had everything she would need for a week away from home. Gabrielle had never been to America let alone invited to spend such a vast amount of time with her friends.

Truthfully, she had so few, and none of them were in France.

She looked towards the carriage clock she kept on her bedside table. It would be time to leave sooner, and the closer her departure drew nearer, the more nervous she became.

It had been a year since she’d seen Harry and the others.

They wrote regularly to her, but what if things changed when they saw her again?

She didn’t think she had changed much, but she was still a Veela, and other teenage girls did not seem to like her being around.

Even so, she was looking forward to seeing them, meeting the others she did not see before, and spending time with Harry.

Resisting the urge to checker her trunk again, she shrunk it and placed it into her pocket before heading into the kitchen where her parents, Fleur, and her grandmother was waiting, the latter shooting her a grin.

Her parents were concerned.

They were exceedingly protective over her and Fleur, and Gabrielle had never been away from them so long except for when she was at school. This was new to them, and she could see how worried both were.

“You have everything, dear?” her grandmother asked.

Gabrielle nodded.

“Well, I am sure you will have a good time.”

Gabrielle frowned at her tone.

“What aren’t you telling me?” she asked.

“Nothing,” her grandmother denied, taking a sip of her tea and lighting a long, thin cigarette.

Her father opened his mouth to protest but thought better of starting an argument with the woman.

“They’re here!” her mother whispered, hurrying from the kitchen to answer the chiming floo in adjoining parlour.

She returned a few moments later with a redheaded woman in tow who had the same striking eyes as Harry.

“Is Lord Black not with you?” her father asked.

“No, I thought it better to send him to fetch one of the others,” Lily Potter answered with a knowing look of amusement. “He struggles to keep his mouth shut around beautiful women enough without being able to blame it on anything else. You’ll see him soon enough.”

Her French was excellent, but Gabrielle was more distracted by her final words.

“You must be Gabrielle,” the woman greeted her with a smile. “Harry speaks very fondly of you.”

She could feel the blush creeping into her cheeks.

“Harry has always been kind to me.”

“I should think so,” the woman said with a smile. “If you’re all ready, I can send you to greet my son. I’m sure he will be quite surprised.”

There it was.

She had the same mischievous grin as Harry, and Gabrielle frowned once more.

“All of us?”

“Oh, you didn’t think we would let you go without at least having dinner with Harry and his family, did you?” her mother asked. “All of the parents will be there for tonight, at least.”

Gabrielle nodded her understanding, her gaze shifting towards her grandmother.

She did not like the smile the woman wore. It spoke only of trouble, and Gabrielle only hoped she was not in such a mood to tease her and the others.

“Come along, Gabrielle,” her father urged, holding up the portkey Lily Potter had just given him.

Hary’s mother was already making her way back to the floo, and though this had been a rather unexpected development, she was not opposed to it even if Fleur did not seem so pleased by it.

Taking hold of the portkey, she felt as though she’d been hooked through her navel and was sent spinning through a void that seemed never ending, until she felt her feet hit the ground, only to stumble.

Fortunately, her father steadied her, and as Gabrielle found her bearings once more, she saw him standing in front of her.

He was surprised by the appearance of the entire Delacour family, and the sudden influx of Veela magic certainly caught him off guard.

Harry, however, shook his head, and though his eyes remained somewhat glazed over, he had the wherewithal not to lose his composure so much.

“Hello, Gabrielle,” he greeted her.

She beamed as she flung herself into his arms, and he chuckled as he shook his head.

“Did I miss something?” he murmured.

“I think your mother is playing a joke on you. I did not know she had invited the rest of the parents for dinner.”

“My mother,” Harry muttered. “She’s an evil genius.”

“She is not,” Gabrielle giggled, swatting him on the shoulder. “Anyway, you get to meet my parents now too, and my grandmother.”

“I think we already met when they arrived,” Harry snorted. “My head is still spinning a little bit. Most people just shake hands.”

Gabrielle noticed that her father immediately relaxed at the quip, and she, and her grandmother rolled her eyes at the boy while her mother and Fleur did not see certain how to react.

They were taken aback by how well he was still able to articulate his words, even if he was finding it challenging being in their presence.

“Mr Delacour,” Harry greeted her father, offering his hand.

The man accepted it and nodded approvingly.

“You get used to it, well, mostly,” he said with a smirk.

“Then I apologise in advance for Wendell. I can’t even open one of Gabrielle’s letters near him without incident. I should probably apologise for my godfather too, and any other who will be here, maybe even myself, at some point,” he added.

Her father took it in his stride.

“It is alright, Harry. We are quite used to being in these situations. Ah, allow me to introduce you to my wife, Apolline Delacour.”

He shuddered as he shook her mother’s hand, his cheeks reddening, but he managed to keep himself in check well enough, better than most others given he was in the presence of four Veela.

“Mrs Delacour.”

She smiled, and Gabrielle could only hope she did not make a comment that would only worsen the situation. Thankfully, she did not, but her concern became more prevalent as he turned towards her grandmother.

“My mother-in-law, Aline Dupont.”

“Well, aren’t you a handsome young man,” the woman teased, offering a hand.

Gabrielle wanted the ground to swallow her up but Harry took it in his stride, tentatively accepting it and shook his head.

“Why do I get the feeling you want to get me into trouble?” he asked.

“You have no idea, Harry,” her father sighed. “And finally, my older daughter, Fleur.”

It was Fleur that seemed more nervous than Harry.

Her experiences with people around their own age had not been good thus far, but Harry seemed to put her at ease.

“Gabrielle has told me a lot about you in her letters. She says that you’re quite good with Charms.”

“Only quite good?”

“That’s what she said,” Harry said with a shrug, and Fleur quirked an eyebrow at Gabrielle. “Well, I’m afraid we are stuck in here until my mother or Sirius returns. The protections aren’t so friendly. Ah, this might be them now.”

It wasn’t, and Harry could only shake his head as another boy around their age arrived with two other adults.

Immediately, the boys’ expression fell, and though he did his utmost not to stare, he didn’t have the same control Harry had managed to muster.

“This is Wendell,” Harry sighed. “Say hello, Wendell.”

The word that fell from his mouth was an incoherent grunt, but a stinging hex from Harry snapped him out of his stupor.

“Thanks,” Wendell murmured apologetically. “You might need to do that a few times.”

“I don’t doubt it,” Harry snorted, offering Gabrielle an apologetic look.

(Break)

“Agilbert Fontaine, as I live and breathe. I hear you are now the Headmaster at that school of yours.”

“Not a job many want,” Agilbert chuckled. “How are things, old friend?”

“Old is right,” the man he’d come to see chuckled amusedly, “but I have no complaints. I had a much longer career than most and survived more than I had any right to even before that. The kids and grandkids are all doing well, and I finally have something resembling peace.”

“And that doesn’t bore you?”

The man snorted amusedly before nodding.

“I have good days and bad days.”

“Well, if you’re interested, I have a student that will benefit from your teaching. He has requested to learn duelling and combat magic as an elective.”

The man shook his head.

“Ah, the youth hunger for violence until the experience it for themselves,” he sighed. “I’m not interested.”

“Oh, I think you might just be when you learn of who this student is. His name is Harry Potter.”

The man’s eyes widened and he swallowed deeply.

“As in Charlus Potter?” he asked.

“His grandson, and James’s son.”

The man smiled sadly.

“So, the boy made it to your school.”

“He’s been over here since 1981, shortly after, well, you know. It was his godfather that brought the boy and his mother here. I expect his name is familiar to you too. Sirius Black.”

“Arcturus’s grandson?”

“The very same.”

The man released a dep breath as he leaned back in his chair.

“Well, if there is ever anyone that might need it, it’s him,” he murmured, “but I don’t know what good I would be compared to Charlus or Arcturus if they were here.”

“Come off it, you are an exceptional wizard in your own right. Nearly four decades as an Auror isn’t something to sniff at.”

The man nodded.

“I owe the two of them my life, and they showed me more than a thing or two that will be of use to him. Alright, I’ll do it, but you get to explain it to my wife.”

Agilbert readily agreed and smiled gratefully.

“Thanks, Reg, and I’m sure Harry will appreciate it.”

“As will I,” Reginald Yaxley murmured. “If he is anything like his grandfather…”

“Oh, I think he will surprise you. He is going to be exceptional, Reg. I do not doubt it.”

(Break)

It was perhaps the oddest but most diverse meal Harry had ever been a part of, and certainly the largest gathering his mother and Sirius had ever hosted.

There was four French Veela, two Frenchmen, a French woman, with Isabelle, for starters. Wendell and his parents who were from the southern states, Marisa, from Brazil and her muggle parents, Olivia and her parents, and Maggie along with hers, all from various backgrounds.

“You know, I never thought I would be sharing a meal with the Lord Black,” Isabelle’s father chuckled. “Not that I have anything against your family, Sirius. I just never envisioned it.”

Sirius waved him off.

“Believe me, I didn’t enjoy meals with my own family, not unless my grandfather was cursing my mother. That always brightened my day.”

“Sirius,” Lily warned.

“No, no, it’s quite alright. We all have odd relatives.”

“We do?” Isabelle asked.

Her father’s expression darkened as he nodded.

“Your great aunt was something of a famed Wandmaker during her time, but she got herself mixed up in something quite disgraceful and was killed for it.”

“Maybe we should change the subject,” Isabelle’s mother suggested. “You all chose your electives this year, Gabrielle, what are you going to study?”

“Runes, Arithmancy, and Enchanting,” the girl answered excitedly.

“Just like your sister and mother.”

Gabrielle nodded, beaming at the two other Veela.

“Wendell?” Isabelle’s mother pressed.

“Magizoology, Runes, and Arithmancy.”

His father, Charlie, quite Magizoologist in his own right squeezed his son’s shoulder.

“Marisa?”

“I chose Runes, Healing, and additional Herbology and Potions classes. I’d like to be a Healer.”

“Ha! You’ll be able to spend your time putting this jackass back together,” Wendell snorted, nodding towards Harry, “Or anyone else who gets on the wrong side of him.”

“Language, Wendell,” his mother chided.

“He’s not wrong,” Maggie broke in with a grin, and Harry shot the duo a glare.

“I don’t make a habit of injuring myself,” he protested.

“Not for lack of trying,” his mother sighed.

“Oi, when did this become about giving me a hard time?”

“Well, what is it you have chosen to pursue, Harry?” Isabelle’s mother asked.

He winced at the question knowing his mother would not be best pleased with the options he had been pondering for his own path in life. Of course, there was Voldemort waiting somewhere for him, but beyond that, Harry had plans of his own.

He wanted to see the world, but his method of doing so would not be well-received.

“Runes, Magizoology, Arithmancy…” he reeled off.

“And?” Sirius probed already knowing Harry wasn’t being entirely forthcoming.

“I requested to be able to study combat magic and duelling,” he answered with a shrug.

He could feel his mother’s gaze burning into the side of his head.

“Ah, so you’re considering becoming an Auror?” Sebastien Delacour asked.

“Not exactly,” Harry sighed. “I thought about maybe becoming a Cursebreaker, or a Hit-Wizard.”

Silence.

It wouldn’t last, but that was the initial response his declaration had elicited, and Harry already wished he’d lied. However, he could not bring himself to do it.

He would not lie to his mother, not after everything they had been through.

“Harry, being a Hit-Wizard is…”

“A stupid and dangerous thing to do,” Apolline Delacour interjected. “The life expectancy…”

She broke off as her husband placed a hand on her forearm.

“We will discuss this later, Harry,” his own mother said pointedly.

“See, I told you,” Wendell huffed at Marisa. “You’ll end up being his personal Healer.”

“Why not Quodpot?” Olivia’s father asked curiously. “From what I have heard, you are quite the player.”

“I believe that is quite the understatement,” Maggie’s father chuckled. “Lizzie has been raving about him since she watched him play.”

“Maybe he would prefer Quidditch,” Sebastien teased. “We all know that Quidditch is the ultimate broom sport.”

“In Europe, maybe,” Olivia’s father conceded.

“In every other continent,” Sebastien corrected.

Harry could only shake his head as Sirius and the others joined in the debate, still wishing he had kept his mouth shut about his prospective careers.

He liked Quodpot, enjoyed the thrill of the chase, the physicality, and winning, but there was something that drew him to his other choices, something deep with him he was not quite familiar with yet, but he could not ignore them.

Maybe it was just something in his blood, or maybe his mother had been right. Maybe there was just something about Harry that saw him seek out danger rather than running away from it as most normal people did.

But Harry Potter wasn’t normal.

For reasons unknown to him, he had been given the gifts he possessed, and he did not wish to squander them, not when he could use them to potentially be great at something most would balk at.

(Break)

It had been more than a decade ago that the war had ended, and Remus had been right where he’d been asked to when the news had spread of Voldemort’s fall. At first, little had been known on the continent of what exactly had transpired, but it had not taken long for the name Potter to travel there.

Harry, James and Lily’s son had somehow been responsible for Voldemort’s death but had gone missing the very same night.

Remus had feared that Sirius had betrayed James and Lily; something he never would have believed but James would trust no other with something so important as to be their secret keeper.

Even though it had to be the truth, he could not envision the man selling them out to the Dark Lord, not with how much he had loved James. The two had been closer than any others within their small group, inseparable through thick and thin, and to think one would turn on the other was impossible.

But it was the truth, it was the only explanation.

For some time, Remus had lived in a state of shock and disbelief, had allowed such thoughts to torment him so, even believing that although Harry and Lily had somehow survived an encounter with Voldemort himself, that Sirius had come for them in revenge for the death of his master.

He expected that very news would reach his ears next, but it never did.

No, there was no declaration of the death of Lily and Harry Potter, and eventually, Remus had found the courage to write to them.

He’d received no reply.

Truthfully, he couldn’t blame Sirius.

For more than a year, he had been notably absent, ignoring all letters from his friend whilst he’d been on the continent, watching and preventing Greyback from recruiting more werewolves to his cause, for what good it had done.

After Voldemort had fallen, Fenrir had returned to Bulgaria where he had last been before allying himself with the Dark lord, and life had gone for him.

For Remus, it had been an those his had come to an end.

One of his friends was dead, another in the wind, and the last, refusing to speak with him.

It had been foolish to all but accuse Sirius of betraying the Potters, but Remus could see no other way.

“It was Peter,” he whispered.

“Indeed,” Albus confirmed. “It is my understanding that Sirius chose to go into hiding under the guise of doing so as the secret keeper, whilst Peter was in hiding too, but none would be looking for him.”

Remus wiped away an errant tear, broken by the truth he had been too stubborn to seek out.

“What happened to him?”

Albus deflated as he shook his head.

“He is on the run, but he was here for some years without any being aware of it in his Animagus form. Sirius recognised him, and he fled. He has not been seen since.”

“And Sirius is truly working here?”

That was what had spurred Remus into returning to Britain. He had heard that Sirius Black of all people, was the Defence Against the Dark Arts Professor at Hogwarts.

“He is,” Albus confirmed, “and is doing a remarkable job. He is not the same young man you remember, Remus. He is fiercely protective of Harry and Lily, who have been with him all these years.”

The knowledge brought him so comfort, but with it, another wave of guilt.

“Nonetheless, if you are willing to accept the job, I must discuss it with him.”

“Of course.”

He had not expected an offer to be the new Care of Magical Creatures professor, but Remus could not deny that he needed the gold, and it wouldn’t hurt to live within the comfort of the castle instead of barely scraping by.

“Then I will do so,” Albus assured him with a smile.

“How are Harry and Lily?”

“I have not seen either, but Sirius assures me Harry is thriving at Ilvermorny. Apparently, he is much like them both, but no less like Charlus in his ways. Sirius is also quite certain there is some Black in that personality of his.”

“A dangerous combination,” Remus chuckled.

“Indeed,” Albus agreed. “Please, I have rooms set up for you, and insist you stay. I do not wish to offend you, Remus, but a few meals would not go amiss.”

The werewolf nodded appreciatively.

“Thank you, Albus.”

“You’re most welcome.”

(Break)

The week she’d spent here had been more than she could’ve hoped for, despite the noticeable tension between Harry and his mother. They had spent their time swimming in one of the lakes, flying on brooms, and wandering the vast land that belonged to Sirius Black, who had ventured out to bring them a variety of snacks each day, and anything else they’d asked for.

Most of all, however, it had been great just getting to know the others better, and there was a part of Gabrielle that wished she had opted to attend Ilvermorny instead of Beauxbatons.

Not that there was a promise that things would be so different for her.

Those here with her now did not care about her heritage, not yet at least, but most others would, especially when she got older and it showed more.

“You don’t seem to swim much,” Harry commented as he joined her at the edge of the lake.

“I’m a creature of fire, Harry. We don’t like water so much. It can be dangerous for us to spend too much time in there.”

He nodded his understanding, and Gabrielle kept her eyes firmly on the water instead of allowing her gaze to roam over him.

All of the training he did for Quodpot, and the additional physical work he did when he woke up much earlier than the others had already given him a strong build.

“Why do you try so hard?” she asked curiously.

Harry’s expression darkened briefly, and Gabrielle caught just the slightest glimpse of something he did not show often, something he evidently kept well hidden from everyone else.

There was anger there, but a sadness born from what he’d endured growing up, the torment he had lived with of his father being murdered.

“I want to make sure I am ready for anything,” he answered. “I have a lot of enemies out there, and I must be able to face them in whatever arena we find ourselves.”

Gabrielle took his hand and gave it a squeeze, not missing the slight glazing of his eyes, but it did not bother her the same way it would from anyone else.

Harry had already proven he could resist her magic, for the most part, even if it was difficult to do so when she touched him.

She laughed and he shook his head, his own grin tugging at his lips.

“You’re going to be a dangerous girl to be around,” he murmured.

“I’m not already?”

She knew she shouldn’t be tempting anyone, even with her words. Her mother had warned her of just how much of an effect she could have on others, but Harry did not seem so fazed by them.

“No comment,” he huffed, leaning back on his towel and watching the others as they swam. “You know, I might see if we can do this every year.”

“I think I’d like that.”

She would.

Although Wendell struggled much more than Hary did with her presence, the boy really did try his utmost not to gawp at her so much, and he was always apologetic when he managed to lose himself in her magic.

The others, they just didn’t seem to care that she was a Veela.

Of course, Isabelle had grown up with her, but Maggie, Olivia, and Marisa had only asked questions about her out of curiosity, had been nothing but kind and tolerant of her, and that was all Gabrielle could hope for.

“Do you think the griffins will get used to us?” she asked, nodding towards the herd in the distance.

They had not come anywhere near them all week, even if the large, golden male had seemed to have wanted to, and had certainly made his displeasure known until Harry had spent some time with them.

It was quite unheard of for such creatures to trust humans, but Harry had approached fearlessly, had even climbed on Aurelius’ back and flown a few laps around the property with the creature chirping happily.

“Maybe,” Harry said thoughtfully. “Maybe they can sense your magic too. You’re not so different, not really,” he added with a smirk.

Gabrielle narrowed her eyes at him.

“You’d better watch it, Harry. I might not be able to transform right now, but one day…”

She let the threat hand in the air, and he chuckled as he stood and pulled her to her feet.

“I’ll just have to make sure I have some water to disappear into.”

His smirk widened as he walked backwards into the lake, and Gabrielle gave chase, jumping on him and pulling him under the surface before both emerged, laughing contently.

It really had been the best summer thus far, and already, if all remained as it was, she was looking forward to the same again next year.