Peverell Beach House, Cornwall, 11/8/1982, 11:35
Harry and Bellatrix appeared in a flash of blue light on their beach as their portkey returned them from France.
The temperature here was much cooler than where they had left from, Bella was wearing a thin toga and sandals and shivered as a cold wind blew in from the ocean, they quickly made their way towards the stairs leading up to the house.
"Ugh, I wished we had stayed in France," Bella pouted as they made it to the steps.
"Agreed," Harry said his arms feeling pretty cold as he was only a tee shirt and board shorts.
Finally, they made it inside, they both sighed as they felt the warm air from the roaring fire wrap around them like a blanket.
"Thank god, I wish I had changed before we left," Bellatrix pouted as she stepped closer to the fireplace to warm herself up.
Jangles appeared in front of Harry with a soft 'pop.'
"Master and Mistress be's back," Jangles exclaimed happily.
"Yes, it's good to see you, Jangles," Harry said warmly.
"You's to Master, a letter came for you this morning," Jangles said before snapping his fingers and making s scroll of parchment appear in his hand before he presented it for Harry to take.
Harry had a hunch as to what this could be and unfurled the scroll which quickly confirmed his suspicions.
At the top of the parchment, the ministry seal was stamped into the parchment feeling excitement and nervousness build in his stomach he quickly read the words written in steel grey ink.
Ordinary Wizarding Level Results
Pass grades
Outstanding- O
Exceeds expectations- E
Acceptable- A
Fail Grades
Poor-P
Dreadful- D
Troll- T
Harry James Peverell has achieved the following grades in his O.W.L examinations.
Ancient Runes- O
Arithmancy- E
Astronomy- A
Care of magical creatures- O
Charms- O
Defense Against the Dark Arts- O
Herbology- E
History of Magic- A
Muggle Studies- O
Potions- O
Transfiguration- O
If you wish to contest any of these results, please contact me within the next thirty days.
Also, I have scheduled the N.E.W.T exams you wished to take for the fifteenth of November, please contact me if you wish to reschedule.
Sincerely,
Griselda Marchbanks
Senior examiner for the Wizarding Examination Authority
"Not bad," Harry said happily before passing the parchment for Bellatrix to read.
"Well done, ten owls," Bellatrix praised before kissing him on the cheek.
"Yes, I was really worried about history," Harry admitted as he led Bellatrix up the staircase towards their room.
That subject isn't important unless you want to be a historian or something," Bella shrugged.
Once they entered their room they both changed into warmer clothes, Harry going for a casual black day robe and his dragonhide boots.
While Bellatrix chose much nicer fitted robes with her favourite pair of knee-high, high heeled boots.
"I think it's about lunchtime," Harry commented once they were both dressed.
"Good, Bella is starving," She exclaimed happily.
"Then we can go see Cissa," Harry said as he followed Bellatrix down to the kitchen.
"Yes, I have a bone to pick with my dear sister," Bellatrix growled.
"What did she do?" Harry asked in surprise.
"She tried to make Sirius sign off on an ancient marriage rite at the reception," Bellatrix answered looking peeved.
"Then maybe we should just stay here," Harry suggested not wanting to have to deal with that today.
"Fine, but I will catch up to her soon or later," Bellatrix vowed as she took the seat Harry had pulled out for her.
"Why are you so angry with her?" Harry asked as he took his own seat.
"There is an old marriage rite in the Black family charter. If the Black family is ever on the verge of dying out like it is now, Lord Black can mandate that any male that marries into the family must lay with all the eligible maidens in the family before he can consummate the marriage with his bride," Bellatrix explained as a plate of shepherds pie appeared in front of either of them
"So the purpose is to sire children?" Harry asked catching on.
"Yes, any child conceived from the coupling would be born with the surname Black and swell our numbers a bit," Bellatrix answered before taking a bite of her food.
"So Narcissa was trying to force Sirius to authorise this?" Harry asked in Surprise.
"He was just about to agree when I interrupted them," Bella scowled.
"Bugger, he would have gone through with it just to spite you!" Harry exclaimed.
"Indeed," Bellatrix agreed.
"Wouldn't that violate our betrothal agreement?" Harry asked.
"No, the damn thing is written into every Black betrothal contract, as long as the rite was carried out before the consummation of the marriage there would be no consequences," Bellatrix huffed irritably.
"Well I'm glad you stopped it, I don't think I would be able to look Cissa in the eye after that," Harty admitted.
Before Bella could say any more the fire flared green and Andromeda stepped gracefully out of the sitting room fireplace with an accompanying 'woosh.'
"Oh, goodie, Cissa's partner in crime," Bella grumbled as Andromeda stepped into the kitchen and took a seat across from them.
"What do you want, Andi?" Bella asked dangerously.
"Cissa sent me, she is very sorry about what she tried to do at the reception," Andromeda said consolingly.
"That's all well and good, but I already know you were planning on taking part in the rite, you're the one who brewed the fertility potion for her," Bellatrix snapped.
"I... what... how do you know that?" Andromeda sputtered out.
"I read Cissa's mind you twit, the two of you were conspiring on this for weeks before the wedding, that's why you were at the bookstore when we went to the alley wasn't it?" Bellatrix accused.
"Yes, Cissa really wants another child and .. well you know how she is," Andromeda said looking lost for what to say.
"I think I'll go see Sirius," Harry said starting to get up and hoping to get out of the middle of this quickly escalating argument.
"He's out of the country," Andromeda said latching onto the change of topic like a drowning man on a life preserver.
"Where did he go?" Harry asked in surprise and more than a little disappointment.
"Boston, him and little Harry flew out two days ago," Andromeda answered distractedly.
"Sirius will have to wait to get his then," Bellatrix said her eyes never leaving Andi.
"I'm sorry Bella, Cissa really wanted my help," Andi pleaded.
"I think you had better leave, Andromeda," Bellatrix said coldly.
"Ok-okay," Andromeda said softly as she got to her feet and walked towards the fireplace looking positively forlorn.
Andromeda made it to the fireplace before turning to look back at her sister and saying, " I really am sorry, Bellatrix," before she threw some floo powder into the flames and disappeared with a 'woosh.'
"So she was in on it too?" Harry asked in as soon as Andi left.
"Yes, from what I saw In Cissa's mind she planned to participate in the rite," Bellatrix admitted going back to eating her lunch.
"She's married, she couldn't participate," Harry pointed out.
"Not according to the Black family magic, it doesn't recognize muggle weddings. As far as the family magic is concerned she's an eligible maiden," Bella answered matter of factly.
"Can we just go back to France... forever?" Harry suggested weakly.
"Oh no, my deceitful sisters aren't getting off that easy," Bellatrix exclaimed hotly.
"Okay, what do you want to do today?" Harry asked hoping to change the subject.
"I need winter clothes, can we go to Diagon Alley?" Bellatrix asked hopefully.
"Sure, I need some as well," Harry agreed looking forward to getting some new clothes.
'Maybe this will help ease her mood,' Harry thought optimistically.
Ministry of Magic, London, 11/15/1982, 07:35
Harry stepped out of the lifts on level six and made his way to the now very familiar office of Griselda Marchbanks.
The last week had been fairly uneventful though Bellatrix was still quite upset with the plan her sisters had conspired on and would rant anytime either of them was mentioned.
Harry was a bit conflicted about this wedding rite thing, the red-blooded male in him couldn't help but grin at the thought of sleeping with all three of them in the same night. The rational part of him knew what a disaster that would cause not just for him and Bella but for Andy and Ted as well.
He had been trying to figure out how to mend the rift with the sisters but was stumped as to how he could pull that off without memory charming his wife.
Harry pulled himself to the here and now as he stepped into the reception area of Madam Marchbank's office/testing area.
"Good morning Mr Peverell, you're a bit early," Cherry said when she saw him step through the door.
"My apologies, I expected the atrium to be a bit more crowded, and thought it better to be early than late," Harry shrugged.
"It's quite alright, I'll let her know you're here. Oh, congratulations on your marriage," Cherry said as she got up from her desk and walked through the door to the testing area.
Harry grinned and took a seat on one of the chairs and waited patiently to be called back.
He didn't have to wait as long as he thought he would before Cherry came back into the reception area.
"Madam Marchbanks is ready to see you now," she said before taking her seat behind her desk.
Harry got up from his seat and smoothed out his robes before stepping into the room, like last time Madam Marchbanks was seated behind her desk waiting for him.
There was a much thicker pack of parchment than before on the student styled desk facing her and a monstrous hourglass already sitting on her desk.
"Mr Peverell, I was very impressed with your owl examination scores," Madam Marchbanks said by way of greeting.
"Thank you, Madam," Harry replied easily.
"If you don't mind me asking, why do you want a newt in creatures, very few take the class past owl level?" Griselda asked curiously.
"I would like to pursue a career in magizoology," Harry answered truthfully.
"Then why take runes and arithmancy?" She asked.
"It never hurts to have extra newts," Harry shrugged.
"Very well, today you will be taking the only single part exam on your list, Arithmancy," Madam Marchbanks said in a business tone.
"Yes ma'am," Harry said feeling anxious about this particular exam as he had only studied it during his training before he joined Spectre VII.
"I need you to come forward, the N.E.W.T exams require I scan you for any mind-enhancing potions, quick quotes quills, cribbing cuffs, etc," Griselda said as she drew her wand.
Harry was prepared for this and had left his ring with the resurrection stone at home just in case it was considered a banned item. He stepped forward and waited as she ran different scans over his body. After a few minutes, she put her wand away and gestured for him to take his seat.
"I hope you're ready for a long one Peverell, the exam lasts four hours, you may begin," Griselda said as she flipped the hourglass over.
Harry flipped the packet over and started on the first question, already he knew this was going to be a long two weeks.
Peverell Beach, House, Cornwall, 11/20/1982, 09:38
Harry Groaned as he woke up, he hadn't felt this relieved to know it was Saturday since he had attended Hogwarts.
The nastily exhausting wizarding tests were aptly named, he had been pushing his mind to the limit for the last week.
Besides arithmancy, he had already taken Transfiguration, charms, defence, and runes. He would be taking the other three exams starting on Monday.
The hard part was over now, well except for maybe potions but he had become fairly proficient at brewing thanks to his training with the unspeakables.
Harry felt Bella's arms wrapped around his stomach, it took a moment to gently extricate himself without waking her up.
Harry stretched his arms and groaned appreciatively when his back popped before making his way to the bathroom to take care of pressing matters.
Ten minutes later Harry stepped into the kitchen showered and fully dressed.
Harry took a seat at the table noticing that it was raining pretty heavily outside, a plate of waffles appeared in front of him and he quickly dug in.
Harry let his mind wander as he ate his waffles, he was feeling restless of late that's why he wanted to get a job to give him something to occupy his time.
There was still so much that he had to do but at the moment he had hit a dead-end of sorts.
He hadn't abandoned his plans to disrupt Voldemort's return but at present, he couldn't do very much.
Little Harry was too young for him to attempt to remove the horcrux in his scar so he wouldn't be able to finish destroying Voldemort's anchors for several years to come.
His followers were all influential purebloods and the public believed that Voldemort had been defeated, so he couldn't very well go about killing them without causing a public outcry.
He had considered going to Azkaban and dealing with the ones imprisoned there but truthfully he had no wish to ever set foot on that frigid rock again. Harry continued to eat his food absentmindedly while his thoughts shifted to his current problems
He had been trying to get himself back into physical and mental shape though he had been slacking off this week on the physical side of things. He had done his morning run on Monday but after his first day of exams and reviewing late into the night he hadn't had the energy to run from Tuesday on.
He could concede that his defence exam had really put him through his paces, Griselda had called in Moody and had him demonstrate counter curses and advance shield charms and even had hi. go through five minutes of a mock duel with the legendary auror.
He might have to have a word with Jangles to start serving leaner food, the waffles he had just eaten were way too fattening and he would admit that his diet was not helping in his goal to get back in fighting shape.
The sound of the floo caught his attention and he watched as Sirius stepped out of the fireplace carrying his younger self in his arms.
Sirius set little Harry down on the floor and grinned before turning to him and saying, " Hello mate".
"Hey Padfoot, how was Boston?" Harry asked happy to have some company
"Busy, we went all over the states, we even got to visit Ilvermony for a tour, I think they were trying to tempt me into enrolling Harry there," Sirius exclaimed happily.
"Cool, you probably know that Bella is still furious with Cissa and Andi... and you," Harry said with a smirk.
"What did I do?" Sirius asked in surprise.
"If I hadn't interrupted you would have given in to Cissa's demands," Bellatrix said from the doorway.
"She said she would forgive me for the training dummy prank," Sirius defended somewhat pleadingly.
"I figured it was something along those lines," Bellatrix said evenly as she took a seat beside Harry and her breakfast appeared in front of her.
"I'm sorry Bella, I was pissed drunk and it seemed like a good idea at the time," Sirius implored.
"Fine, you're forgiven now what do you want?" Bellatrix asked cutting off a piece of her syrupy waffle with the side of her fork before popping it into her mouth.
"We just got back from Boston and thought we would visit you two," Sirius said cheerfully.
'CRASH'
They all turned to the sitting room and saw that little Harry had somehow knocked over an end table.
"Harry, you're destroying the sitting room," Bellatrix said dryly before flicking her wand snd setting the end table back where it belonged.
"He's getting more destructive," Sirius sighed watching his godson stare at the table that had just flipped itself back to where it belonged.
"The terrible twos I take it," Harry asked knowingly.
"Yep, Andy said I had better get used to it because it lasts for a while," Sirius admitted.
"Great, we'll have that to look forward to," Harry said tiredly.
Sirius stayed for a little longer but had to rush off around one to get Harry down for a nap. Harry was surprised Bella had forgiven Sirius so easily considering the usual tension between the two and was wondering if it was some kind of ruse on Bella's part.
"You look suspicious," Bellatrix commented after Sirius had left.
"Yeah, I am a bit" Harry admitted.
"Don't worry I am not planning on getting even with him when he least expects it. Forgiving him now could come in handy later on," Bellatrix said with a grin.
"I see, so basically he owes you and you can use this to ask a big favour later on," Harry clarified.
"Exactly," Bellatrix grinned smugly.
'Poor, Sirius,' Harry thought with a grin.
Peverell Cottage, Cornwall, 11/24/1982, 18:46
Harry stepped out of the floo, today had been his potions exam and it was gruelling. He had to brew three advanced potions and perform the first stages of Polyjuice potion.
That on top of a four hour written exam that included three essays and needless to say Harry was completely wrung out.
Taking a seat in his favourite chair he groaned appreciatively as the muscles in his back ached from all of the chopping he had done today.
"You look tired," Bellatrix said sympathetically.
"Those exams live up to their name," Harry said with a chuckle.
"I know, I took them when I was seventeen," Bellatrix smirked.
"How did you do?" Harry asked.
"Nine outstandings," Bellatrix said proudly.
"You took, astronomy and history?" Harry asked.
"I'm a Black, the family is obsessed with the stars," Bella pointed out.
"Fair point, but why take history?" Harry asked.
"I was a bit of a bookworm in school" Bellatrix shrugged.
"One of my friends was like that," Harry said thinking of Hermione.
"So what are you going to do now?" Harry asked.
"I have to wait for my exams and then I will reach out to a magizoologist and see if there are any openings on the field," Harry said.
"Do you know any magizoologists?" Bellatrix asked sceptically.
"I know of one," Harry said thoughtfully.
"Newt Scamander?" Bellatrix asked incredulously.
"Yes, I have just the thing to pique his interest," Harry smirked.
"What's that?" Bellatrix asked.
"A sixty-foot, thousand year old basilisk," Harry said matter of factly.
"Are you insane? I thought you were just going to leave it be," Bellatrix exclaimed.
"Originally yes, but on second thought I decided it should be removed from the castle. I'm just not going to attempt to do it on my own," Harry explained.
"Fine, do you want to eat?" Bellatrix asked deciding not to argue with him about this.
"I am, what's for dinner," Harry asked.
"Blackened salmon and steamed broccoli," Bella said making a face.
"What are you eating?" Harry asked shrewdly.
"Shrimp alfredo," Bella grinned as she helped him from his chair.
"Where did Jangles learn to cook Italian?" Harry asked in surprise.
"Dobby be's teaching me, Master Harry," Jangles said from the kitchen doorway.
"Do you think you could learn to make a French dip sub?" Harry asked hopefully.
"I knows how to make them but you told Jangles not to serve you any more fatty foods, sir," Jangles replied before going back into the kitchen.
"Damn it!" Harry cursed internally as he took his seat at the table.
"He's right you know, can't have you looking like Ted," Bellatrix smirked as their food appeared on the table.
Home of Bartemius Crouch, Essex, 11/26/1982
Clarity, he hadn't felt that in months. The euphoric feeling of the imperius curse was starting to wane. Memories flashed through his mind as bits and pieces of the things that had gone on around him came back to him.
His father had put the spell on him at the prison, he remembered Winky feeding him every morning and guiding him to the bathroom three times a day.
He remembered his father celebrating the death of Malfoy and Fudge almost assuring he would become minister when Bagnold stepped down.
His father had developed a bot of a drinking problem of late, sometimes he would rant and rave and blame Barty for the death of his wife.
Other times he would pass out in front of the wireless having drank himself to sleep.
When his father's passed out from the drink it always made the feeling of the imperius wane, and tonight the curse had lifted completely.
Barty Crouch Jr stood from his bed where his father had ordered him to stay, he got down on his knees and dug the loose floorboard under his bed up. Dragging his hand in the hidey-hole, he removed the souvenir he had taken from Alice Longbottom the night he had tortured her, the last time he had used magic.
Creeping from his room he snuck down the stairs and almost made it to the living room when there was a soft 'pop'.
Winky appeared in front of him, on reflex he raised Alice's wand and cast a piercing hex hitting her in the chest and dropping her to the floor.
She would not interfere with his escape like last time, he was tired of being kept, prisoner by his blood traitor father and that infernal elf.
Moving into the sitting room he found his father sitting in his favourite cushy armchair, a half-empty bottle of Ogden's on the side table and his head slumped forward snoring obnoxiously.
Raising the wand, Barty pointed it at his embarrassment of a father, a father that had thrown him to the dementors and would have left him there if not for his mother.
Barty took a to savour this before he focused on the deepest desire of his heart and bellowed, "AVADA KEDAVRA!"
Barty watched with joy as the green spell struck the unconscious man and grinned widely when the snoring ceased
It was finally time to look for his master, that was what he had been trying to do at the Longbottoms home almost a year ago.
Frank had told him that Dumbledore believed what was left of his master was in Albania in a futile attempt to stop him from torturing his wife.
It was all in vain, the Longbottoms had been a pebble in their shoe since seventy-six, they deserved to suffer for defying his master.
Barty made his way to his father's room in search of his wand, he remembered his father collecting it from the warden of Azkaban as they left the prison last June.