Peverell Beach House, Cornwall, 6/25/1988, 12:02
Harry was seated in the sitting room as that's what the room was for. Currently, he was waiting on his guest to arrive though the aged headmaster seemed to be going for fashionably late.
The last few days had been rather peaceful, he had sent Jennifer home for the weekend and was looking forward to taking the family out tomorrow, he thought about taking them to Blackpool pier.
"Daddy, ignotus broke my dolly," Carina exclaimed as she stomped into the room looking furious, well as furious as a five-year-old girl could look.
"I can fix it for you," Harry offered as she climbed up onto the couch beside him.
"I think Iggy should be punished," Carina exclaimed.
"Surely not," Harry said with a look of faux horror on his face.
"Tori said some mummies and daddies spank their children, I think you should do that," Carina suggested.
"There will be no spankings in this house," Harry assured her.
"I saw you spanking mummy once," Carina said looking confused.
Before Harry could think of a baldfaced lie to tell his daughter, the fireplace flared green and Albus Dumbledore stepped out dressed in midnight blue robes.
"Headmaster Dumbledore, welcome to our home. This is my daughter, Carina Peverell," Harry said as he stood from the couch and shook the man's hand.
Harry had to fight not to chuckle as his daughter stood up and gave the cutest little curtsey, looking like a proper pureblood daughter in her light-purple dress robes.
"Pleasure to meet you, Ms Peverell," Dumbledore said kindly.
"T-thank you headmaster Dumbledore," Carina stuttered out shyly.
"We're having lunch served on the deck today," Harry said indicating the french doors leading out of the sitting room.
"Wonderful, that view is simply magnificent," Dumbledore beamed as they stepped outside onto the deck.
"Carina run along and get your brother," Harry instructed.
"She looks very much like her mother," Dumbledore admitted as the little girl skipped back into the house.
"Has a bit of her mother's temper too," Harry added a fond smile playing on his lips.
"I don't know if I should take offence or not," Bellatrix said as she led both twins onto the deck, Ignotus looking very uncomfortable in formal bottle-green dress robes.
"I meant she is very much the strong-willed lady just like her beautiful mother," Harry said smoothly.
"Nice save, welcome to our home headmaster," Bellatrix said sounding perfectly polite.
"Thank you, it really is a beautiful home, Lady Peverell," Dumbledore smiled.
"This is my son and heir, Ignotus Peverell," Harry said as he put his hand on Iggy's shoulder.
"Well met, heir Peverell," Dumbledore replied bowing his head to the five-year-old who looked like a miniature version of his father with his mother's violet eyes.
"Pleasure to meet you, Headmaster Dumbledore," Ignotus said formally and bowed his head respectfully in return.
"Alright now we can be done with the formalities, I am starting to feel like we're at one of Cissa's dinner parties," Harry said.
"Very well, I am not a fan of the custom myself," Dumbledore chuckled.
"It's important the children practice proper greetings," Bellatrix said shooting Harry a look of amusement.
"I'm hungry, can we eat yet?" Iggy asked looking at his father.
"Yes, let's get settled. I believe Jangles already has lunch ready," Harry said and he was proven correct when the six-seater table instantly filled with food.
Today they had French onion soup and sandwiches, with a side of salad and oak-matured mead for libations, there were also two glasses of pumpkin juice for the twins.
Once everyone was settled, the kids immediately began tucking into their soup with gusto. French onion was one of their favourite dishes and was often served for lunch specifically for that reason.
"I suppose you are wondering about my letter?" Dumbledore asked after a few minutes of quiet as they began to enjoy Jangle's fine cooking.
"I was a bit curious as you were kind of vague on the details," Harry admitted after taking a sip of mead.
"Well to put it simply, my care of magical creatures teacher recently lost a limb in an incident on one of the Greek animal preserves," Dumbledore began.
"Which preserve?" Harry asked unable to contain his curiosity.
"The XXXX preserve on Crete, he ran afoul of a particularly aggressive griffin," Dumbledore said before taking a sip of his soup.
"I am so glad you work with harmless serpents," Bellatrix muttered, shooting Harry a pointed look.
"He will be alright but he won't be able to teach until at least the spring term," Dumbledore continued.
"And you want me to fill his position?" Harry questioned, already pretty sure that was the reason Dumbledore had contacted him.
"Yes. Normally I have a woman to fill in for the class. She's a veterinarian that works mainly with herd animals but she is currently working with abraxians in France," Dumbledore explained.
"I suppose you know of my recent apprenticeship?" Harry asked.
"I do, Newt informed me that you have taken the final step in mastering the craft," Dumbledore agreed.
"Passing on knowledge to the next generation of magizoologists," Harry nodded, he remembered reading that exact quote in the prologue of the latest edition of Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them.
"Exactly, and I'm sure the students would appreciate your own take on the class. You have certainly seen more magical creatures than most. I believe you even discovered a new species a few years back," Dumbledore said giving him a hopeful look.
"Daddy found the crundled horned snorkack," Carina exclaimed.
"It's crumpled horned snorkack, idiot," Ignotus snorted.
"Ignotus, do not be mean to your sister," Bellatrix admonished.
"Yes mum," Ignotus muttered, wilting under the glare Bellatrix was giving him.
"You do realize that I haven't had interaction with the animals covered in the curriculum since I took my exams," Harry said thoughtfully, hiding his smile at his children's antics.
"As long as you relay the information to the class on the animals covered in the O.W.L and N.E.W.T exams, you are more than welcome to show the class any creature you wish. Provided you can do so safely, of course," Dumbledore assured him.
"Hmm, I don't know that any of the magical serpents I interact with are safe per se," Harry said thoughtfully before sipping his mead.
§I am safe§, Athena hissed as she slithered out onto the deck.
§I don't think you would like the weather in Scotland§, Harry pointed out.
"That certainly is a large snake," Dumbledore commented as Athena's tail finally became visible as she crossed the deck.
"That's Athena, daddies familiar," Carina explained.
"Yes, you didn't get to properly see her the last time you were here. She is quite impressive all stretched out," Harry said as Athena slithered toward the table.
"Ares said he's going to be my familiar soon," Ignotus said excitedly.
"Ares?" Dumbledore asked as he watched the deadly snake slither up the back of the little girl's chair and rest its large head on her shoulder.
Dumbledore suppressed a shudder as he had never been fond of snakes and this particular snake was humongous.
"Ares is Athena's son, he doesn't leave the jungle room very often just yet as he's still a bit timid," Harry answered as he gently stroked Athena's head.
"Good heavens, the day a snake like that enters Hogwarts may very well be the day my deputy headmistress retires," Dumbledore sighed before taking a large drink of mead.
"Ares is very calm, actually this species, in general, is usually fairly mellow. Though Athena can be excitable from time to time," Harry admitted, finding Dumbledore's discomfort a bit amusing.
"Like when cousin Nymmie stepped on Athena's tail on the Black Island," Ignotus giggled.
§That hurt, she broke my beautiful tail§, Athena protested, sounding heartbroken at the memory.
"Ah while we're on the subject of Ms Tonks. I do believe she and her little clique are responsible for setting up the most disruptive wards the school has ever seen," Dumbledore said looking very amused.
"She has always been a tad disruptive," Harry said having to fight to keep a straight face.
"Yes, but the great hall filled with students braying like donkeys was disruption to a level I have never seen in my entire career as an educator. I wonder where she learned how to raise such a ward?" Dumbledore asked pleasantly.
"I don't know, probably from that potion master of yours. Something about the man just screams bad influence," Harry said thoughtfully.
"Somehow I doubt that but back to the matter at hand, would you be interested in coming to Hogwarts to teach?" Dumbledore asked hopefully.
"Yes, but there would be a few conditions," Harry replied after taking a sip of his mead.
"As long as they are reasonable, I am sure I can accommodate them," Dumbledore agreed.
"I don't want to stay at the school full time. The main reason I was so interested in getting out of full-time fieldwork was so that I could spend time with the family," Harry explained.
"That shouldn't be a problem, though you may have to oversee a detention or two," Dumbledore replied seeming unconcerned about the request.
"I also may be called away if they need me at the Greek XXXXX reserve. I am listed as their primary contact in the event of an emergency with the basilisks," Harry continued.
"That shouldn't be a problem either, I have no intention of interfering in your livelihood," Dumbledore assured him.
"Then I suppose I will take the job," Harry said after getting a subtle nod from Bellatrix.
"Excellent, I will send you the lesson plans Professor Kettleburn usually goes by. Though you may wish to take griffins off of the curriculum," Dumbledore suggested.
"I don't know about taking them off the curriculum completely, they really are magnificent creatures. Though I certainly won't let the students interact with them directly, that's just asking for a lawsuit," Harry said remembering his first ever lesson in Care for magical creatures.
Griffins and Hippogriffs were closely related, they were both bred from the same species of giant eagle so their temperament was similar... to a point. The hippogriff was the eagle bred with a palomino, while the griffin was the same species of eagle bred with a Nemean lion.
The difference between the two was that some of the lion's viciousness influenced the griffin. They were a lot more aggressive when provoked than a hippogriff and it was hard to stop them from attacking when they set their mind to it.
"I think you'll fit right in on the teaching staff," Dumbledore nodded as he finished his soup.
"Just out of curiosity, is my niece taking care for magical creatures?" Harry asked.
"Oh yes, she and her little group of friends are all enrolled for that elective," Dumbledore nodded.
"Please give her detention," Bellatrix muttered.
"I won't have to, Tonks will earn her own detention without my help," Harry pointed out.
"I think I should be getting along, though it is always nice to meet my future students," Dumbledore said giving Ignotus and Corina a warm smile.
"They will undoubtedly be a handful when they start school," Harry grinned.
"Of that, I have no doubt, thank you all for your hospitality," Dumbledore said as he got up from his seat and Harry stood up to walk him to the floo.
"It was our pleasure," Bellatrix said sounding like she was very happy with how things had gone.
"I want to thank you for accepting the post, I know we have had our differences in the past," Dumbledore said.
"It's nothing personal Albus. I really do have a lot of respect for you, I just disagree with some of your methods," Harry shrugged.
"See if you feel the same fifty years from now, as I've said before, age changes one's perspective," Albus said knowingly.
"I suppose so," Harry conceded.
"Well, I'll be off and I suppose I'll see you on the fourteenth of August for the start of term staff meeting," Dumbledore said as he took a pinch of floo powder from the bowl on the mantle.
"I'll be there," Harry promised before Dumbledore stepped into the fireplace and disappeared with an audible 'woosh.'
Harry couldn't help but smile at how things had turned out. He was now officially a Hogwarts professor and he would soon get to return to the first place that ever felt like a home to him.
This would be a big change but he was certain it would be a change for the better.
'If Tonks doesn't cause too much trouble, this might be a cushy job,' Harry thought as he headed back onto the deck in time for dessert.
Botswana, Africa, 7/15/1988, 13:49
Harry and Jennifer were on the last day of their final trip together. Today they were collecting boomslang skin to fill the quota from Black Potion Supplies. They were once again in the vast grasslands of Africa searching an area that had a heavy presence of this species of venomous snake.
Harry was kind of sad that their time together was over as he had enjoyed working with the teen quite a bit. She was a big help on this trip as it was always easier to work with a partner.
"So are you ready to start teaching?" Jennifer asked as she gently placed a large boomslang skin in a collection bag.
"I think so, I've been looking over Kettleburn's lesson plans and they're pretty basic. I'm also pretty good with kids, I've had plenty of practice," Harry said as he spotted another skin at the base of the shrubs about twenty feet to their right.
"That's good, my uncle already sent me the list of venom samples he wants me to collect by the end of the year," Jennifer admitted.
"Just be careful and remember that no matter how many times you handle serpents, they are still just as dangerous. One mistake could get you killed," Harry warned as he closed up the quart-sized ziplock bag with the boomslang skin inside it.
"Are you ever nervous working with snakes?" Jennifer asked as she located another skin next to a pile of rocks.
"I am with the big ones, the ones that are big enough to eat a person make me nervous," Harry admitted.
"Have you ever had one attack you?" Jennifer asked as she bagged up the skin.
"Only twice. I had a selma almost swallow me whole a few years ago in Norway," Harry said as he searched for another skin.
"And the other?" Jennifer asked as they started walking slowly across the savannah.
"I got bit by a basilisk when I was twelve," Harry said as he showed her the circular scar on his right forearm.
"How did you survive that?" Jennifer asked sceptically.
"Phoenix tears cancel out the venom, there is even a theory that the venom in my bloodstream gives me a sort of immunity to most snake venom but I have never been interested in finding out if that is true or not," Harry confessed as he spotted another skin on the ground.
"That could be pretty useful in this line of work," Jennifer said, giving him an envious look.
"Yeah, but I still don't want to test it," Harry snorted.
"I wouldn't either," Jennifer giggled as she located another skin.
Harry continued to look for skins feeling confident that Jennifer would be fine working on her own. She had a seeker's eye and she had become very proficient with her technique for collecting venom. She had an uncanny ability to spot snakes even when they were almost completely camouflaged.
As long as she didn't get cocky Harry didn't see her having any problems in the future. He hoped she was careful and felt similarly to how he felt when Ignotus took his first steps, filled with pride but worried at the same time.
'I'll have to keep tabs on her,' Harry thought to himself as he watched her bag up another skin.
Hogwarts Grounds, 9/2/1988, 09:05
Harry stood in the area next to the vacant groundskeeper's hut as his class slowly assembled. Today he had fifth-year Gryffindor and Hufflepuffs first thing.
"All right you lot, gather round," Harry instructed when he heard the chime ring over the grounds.
"As you heard at the feast last night, I am Professor Peverell. Normally I work with serpents but I am very familiar with the animals of the British Isles," Harry began his lecture.
"Today we will be studying a very common magical creature that is found throughout the world, the bowtruckle," Harry said as he indicated the tree to his right.
"Now they don't look very impressive, they are small and rather frail. The danger of the bowtruckle lies in its fingers, they can very easily take out a human eye, especially since the branches they usually congregate on are at eye level," Harry explained.
"Why bother them in the first place, Uncle Harry," Tonks asked sounding disappointed he wasn't showing them something more impressive.
"Ms Tonks, while in class it is Professor Peverell or sir. As to why humans usually come in contact with bowtruckles, I'll let Mr Weasley answer that," Harry said as he noticed the boy whispering with a blonde boy in Gryffindor colours standing next to him.
"Huh?" Charlie asked when he heard his name mentioned.
"Why do humans usually come in contact with bowtruckles?" Harry repeated a tone of impatience creeping into his voice.
"Oh um because they live in trees that are suitable for wands," Charlie answered.
"Correct but whisper with your housemate on your own time," Harry said as he walked to the trestle table and scooped a handful of woodlice from a large bowl and held it out to ba bowtruckle on one of the lower branches and the little wooden creature hopped onto his palm.
"As you can see these tree guardians can be bribed if you wish to harvest wood from their tree you should always present an offering to the bowtruckles. Now there are protective goggles on the table, I want everyone to put on a pair and then get in groups of four," Harry instructed as he watched the class carry out his orders.
"Uncle Harry, when are we doing fun creatures like the nifflers?" Tonks asked as she led her group over.
"Professor Peverell, Nymphadora," Harry corrected, "and bowtruckles can be quite fun, they have a knack for picking just about any lock you can think of," Harry pointed out.
"But I thought you would show us something cool like dragons or maybe a hydra," Tonks exclaimed, seeming to be doing her best to disrupt the class.
"We could do a section on the South American Bushmaster. Athena still wants revenge for you breaking her tail," Harry offered, indicating the large snake sunning herself on a rock beside the table.
"Great scot, look at the size of that snake!" The blonde Gryffindor boy exclaimed, taking a few steps back.
"That would be my familiar, Athena," Harry said fondly.
"Don't step on her tail, Jeff. She can really hold a grudge," Tonks warned
"Indeed, but back to bowtruckles, I would like each group of four to lure in a bowtruckle. You will each make a detailed sketch of the creature, they like the attention so as long as you do not handle them roughly they will cooperate," Harry explained.
"What is that you used to lure them in, sit?" A blonde Hufflepuff girl asked.
"Woodlice, they also like fairy eggs but I happen to like fairies so I decided not to use those," Harry explained.
"I can't draw very well, sir," A dark-haired boy in Gryffindor boy said, looking a bit embarrassed.
"I am not expecting a work of art, just do the best you can and label the parts of its anatomy," Harry encouraged.
Harry watched the class follow his direction and with the exception of his niece, no one complained. Tonks seemed to be trying to be a brat.
As Harry oversaw the class, he wondered if someone who hadn't seen death could see thestral manure. If they could, then Harry just might give his niece detention shovelling it.
The bowtruckle on his palm stopped snacking on woodlice and joined Harry in watching the class. The little creature seemed very interested in watching the students drawing the other bowtruckles.
"Don't worry mate, I'll make sure one of the students in my next class sketches you," Harry chuckled as the bowtruckle Tonks was holding slipped out of her grip and darted back towards the tree.
The Rookery, Ottery St Catchpole, 12/25/1988, 09:29
Christmas was in full swing at the Lovegood home. Currently, Luna was sitting in her snorkack-purple pajamas, colouring in her new sketchpad. Meanwhile, Pandora was unwrapping the last present while Xenophillius was looking over a new camera that Pandora had bought him.
"Who is that from?" Xeno asked curiously as he glanced at his wife.
Pandora was dressed in white pajama bottoms with pink polka dots and fluffy striped socks. Even though it was December, she was topless like she usually was around the house. One thing Xeno loved about his wife was that she liked to wear as few clothes as possible.
"It's from Lord Peverell, I think he may be interested in swinging with us," Pandora exclaimed happily.
"Really, let's see what he got you," Xeno said sounding just as excited.
Pandora opened the box and squealed happily, "he bought me jewellery," Pandora said giving her husband a beaming smile.
Xeno watched as his wife lifted a silver chain necklace with a large circular amulet. The amulet was a thin circular disk made of the same silver as the chain, there was an intricate runic array etched into the rim of the amulet and a perfectly circular blue stone set in its centre. Inside the gemstone was a transparent deathly hallows symbol that seemed to float inside the stone itself.
"It's beautiful," Pandora gushed as she studied the runes on the pendant.
"Oh, he must really want you, dear. Try it on," Xeno encouraged with a wide smile.
"I think it's enchanted with some type of protective magic," Pandora muttered before slipping the necklace over her head.
Neither of them noticed that the stone in the centre of the pendant flashed brightly for a split second before the Peverell crest became much darker.
"I knew he liked me," Pandora giggled as she hugged her husband mashing her bare chest into his own.
"We will have to have dinner with them soon," Xeno suggested as he kissed her forehead.
"It will have to wait, I am getting close to finishing the implosion vanishing charm," Pandora said somewhat unhappily.
"Just be careful dear," Xeno said before he placed a kiss on her lips.
" I always am," Pandora assured him
"I will be leaving tomorrow for Sweden so I was wondering if you wanted to play a quick game of hide the snorkack," Xeno whispered in her ear.
"As long as it doesn't finish too early this time," Pandora bargained.
"Excellent, you have a deal," Xeno agreed as he stood up and pulled her to her feet.
"I also want you to wear the costume," Pandora added.
"Which one?" Xeno asked.
"The professor costume," Pandora said thoughtfully.
"Very well but we had better hurry," Xeno said as he led her towards the stairs.
The couple quickly snuck out of the sitting room and made their way to their room, leaving their seven-year-old daughter colouring next to the Christmas tree.
Luna continued to draw her picture, though now she was wondering where the snorkack was going to hide.
Avery Summer Home, 1/3/1989, 21:29
Severus entered the ballroom of Avery's summer home to find most of his comrades in a circle around the throne-like chair in the centre of the room.
"Severus you're just on time," Voldemort said sounding almost cheerful.
"Of course my lord, it is not wise to keep you waiting," Snape answered at once.
"Indeed, You're next to Dolohov tonight," Voldemort instructed
Severus quickly made his way to his assigned spot and glanced around the room. Their numbers had easily tripled since the dark lord's rebirth. Most of the men in the room were young, in their late teens and early twenties. The new recruits were nothing more than warm bodies but from what he had learned, there were a few that had potential. Time would tell for certain, though he secretly hoped that they all got themselves killed on their first engagement. Still, he doubted he'd get that lucky.
"Now that everyone is here, we can begin. Mr Yaxley, how goes your work inside the ministry?" Voldemort asked.
"Quite well my lord, I have recently gained an ally by the name of Albert Runcorn. He has been helping me get an up-to-date assessment of the ministry's wards and security protocols," Yaxley replied.
"Very good, what of others sympathetic to our cause?" Voldemort pressed.
"We still have our associates in the transportation department and I have been cultivating a secretary on level one. Though I fear she will be a liability if I give her too much information," Yaxley answered.
"Then she shall be a tool or perhaps even a scapegoat if needed," Voldemort said after considering the information for a moment.
"My thoughts exactly my lord. She could be useful in taking care of the minister for us and the blame to boot," Yaxley agreed.
"Keep stringing her along, I may yet build a plan around this woman," Voldemort instructed.
"Yes master," Yaxley said before bowing his head.
"Antonin, how are things at the institute?" Voldemort asked.
"Quite well, my lord. I have been running the first years through standard duelling training drills, and the third years are starting on fundamental dark arts. My fifth-years have already mastered the unforgivables and the Seventh years are learning to fight as a cohesive unit. We should have a promising batch of new recruits this June," Dolohov answered.
It still blew Severus' mind that this psychopath could get a job teaching at Durmstrang. Igor Karkoroff was starting his first year there as the high master and had agreed to let Dolohov take over the martial magic course. Igor didn't have much choice in the matter, his position as headmaster was the only reason Voldemort had not had him killed.
Voldemort had basically turned the school into his own private training ground. True not all of the students would join the cause but a majority of them would, which could swell the dark lord's ranks in just a few years time.
"Excellent, the education of our children is the most important thing we do as a society," Voldemort nodded approvingly.
"Igor wishes to be brought back into the fold," Antonin added sounding like he thought the idea was absurd.
"The man is pushing his luck, he's the reason Augustus is not among us now," Voldemort scowled.
"I told him as much," Dolohov admitted.
"If I can find a way to give you his position, I will let you do the honour of killing him," Voldemort sighed as he gave Avery a meaningful look.
"I will look into it, my lord," Avery assured him at once.
"What of the order, Severus?" Voldemort asked.
"Dumbledore has been recruiting quite heavily as well. He has also been trying to establish ties with minister Longbottom," Snape said, beginning his report.
"That does not surprise me very much, has he had any luck with the minister?" Voldemort pressed.
"Mixed, she has agreed to tighten security as Auror Yaxley can attest but she will not cooperate with some of his other suggestions," Snape replied.
"Is he still trying to have the dementors removed from the prison?" Voldemort asked sounding amused.
"Yes, he has been pressing her to do that for months," Snape admitted.
"Perhaps we should help him with that," Voldemort said thoughtfully.
"I can have a property cleared for them but they will need tending to," Avery said.
"Good, that sounds like the perfect job for two of my finest," Voldemort said as he looked toward the hulking figures of Crabbe and Goyle.
"I can have the ward scheme from the prison by our next meeting," Yaxley promised.
"Very well, onto the last order of business for the evening," Voldemort said as the doors opened of their own accord and a dozen men in plain black hooded robes enter the ballroom.
Snape watched on, doing a masterful job of hiding his distaste as all twelve men in their late teens came to kneel inside the circle of death eaters. Severus watched on as they were branded with the dark mark one at a time. The sounds they made when the dark lord's wand touched their skin were horrific.
As someone that had experienced having the disgusting mark branded into his skin, Severus knew how incredibly painful taking the mark actually was.
Getting the mark rivalled the cruciatus curse in sheet agony. Instead of feeling like being stabbed by knives, it felt like a branding iron being held to your arm and the burning pain seemed to radiate to every part of your body, it lasted for maybe thirty seconds but it wasn't uncommon for a death eater to pass out during the marking ceremony.
The blood-curdling screams and the smell of charred flesh filled his nostrils as one man after another swore his allegiance to Lord Voldemort and was then marked.
After the marking ceremony, the death eaters were dismissed, though Voldemort held Avery and Dolohov back to confer with them. Snape quickly exited the property and made his way to the wardline, he had to warn Dumbledore about the dark lord's plans for Azkaban.
Potion Master's Quarters, Hogwarts, 1/4/1989, 00:28
Severus stepped into his living quarters and shut the door. He took three steps into the room before he froze. Seated on his couch sipping a glass of his whiskey was someone in grey robes with their cowl pulled low hiding their face from view.
"Severus Snape, my favourite death eater spy," The man said in an eerie voice that seemed to have been magically altered.
"Who are you?" Snape demanded as the went to grab his wand, only to feel a wand pressing into the back of his neck.
"I am not here to hurt you but if you make me, I will kill you," The man said conversationally.
"Who are you," Snape asked as calmly as he could manage.
"I am Reaper," the man answered before giving a nod and the wand was removed from the back of his neck.
"What do you want from me?" Snape asked as another figure in a black hooded cloak moved into his line of sight.
"Take a seat Professor Snape, Chimera will not harm you unless you make her," Reaper said pleasantly.
Snape warily walked into the room and took his seat noticing the second figure was definitely a woman.
She was wearing a skintight black suit underneath her cloak that accentuated her feminine curves, she had a set of silver daggers strapped to each of her thighs, and wore knee-high dragonhide boots made out of the same material as her suit. Under the hood of her cloak, she wore a silver mask resembling the mask of tragedy obscuring her face.
"What do you want from me?" Severus asked as Chimera wandered around the room so she was out of his line of sight again.
"I want to know what Lord Voldemort is up to," Harry said as he took a sip from the glass of whiskey.
"Why not join the order, Lord Peverell?" Snape asked shrewdly.
"I never said I was Lord Peverell but if that is who you wish to believe I am, then I have no problem with that. Either way, I do not work well with others and Albus is not taking Voldemort seriously. Back to the matter at hand, what is he planning, Professor Snape?" Harry asked again.
"Azkaban, he wants to storm the prison and bring the dementors to his side," Snape answered as the woman came back into view in his peripheral vision.
Something about this woman made the hair on the back of his neck stand up. The way she moved to put him in mind of an apex predator stalking her prey. Her violet eyes were clearly visible through the eyeholes in her mask and he had a very good idea who it was behind the mask.
Contrary to what the headmaster said, Bellatrix had always made him very nervous. He had seen her fight in the past and knew of only a handful of people that could wield magic with that proficiency.
No, Reaper may be the one speaking but it was Chimera's presence that was urging him to tell Reaper everything he knew.
"Lovely, I don't suppose you know when?" Reaper asked pulling Snape from his thoughts.
"No, though I imagine it will take months to make arrangements," Snape answered warily.
"Anything else?" Harry asked.
"He is slowly taking over Durmstrang," Snape replied.
"The man really has a thing for schools, doesn't he," Reaper muttered before giving Chimera a subtle nod.
Before Snape could figure out what this meant, he saw a flash of red from his right and everything went black.
"I really like that outfit," Harry muttered as soon as Snape slumped forward in his seat.
"I knew you would, I saw it on some Batman show when we were in Florida," Bellatrix giggled.
"Well let's get him straightened out so we can get home and I can peel you out of that suit," Harry said as he drained his glass and stood up from his seat.
"Are we going to go back to the island?" Bellatrix asked as Harry pointed his wand at Snape.
"Obliviate," Harry murmured as he concentrated on erasing the memory of the last twenty minutes from Snape's mind.
With another wave of his wand, Harry implanted a false memory of Severus having a drink after his meeting with Dumbledore and falling asleep on the couch.
"It looks like we have to go," Harry sighed as he threw some floo powder into Snape's fireplace.
"What can we do about the dementors?" Bellatrix asked as she joined him in front of the green flames.
"I know of a spell to destroy them but it will take us both to cast it," Harry said as he gestured to the fireplace.
"Diagon Alley," Bellatrix said as she stepped into the fire, before she disappeared in a flash of green flames
Personally Harry did not want to go back to Azkaban Island but the last thing they needed was for Lord Voldemort to bring the dementors to his cause.
'Looks like I'm going on a field trip,' Harry thought as he followed Bellatrix through the floo.
Peverell Beach House, Cornwall, 1/04/1989, 01:39
Harry lay in bed with Bellatrix panting, a thick layer of sweat coating both of their nude forms as they caught their breath after a rather vigorous shag.
"W-whoa, we haven't done it like that in years" Harry gasped out as Bellatrix snuggled into his side, her own breathing coming out in rapid pants.
"I forgot how worked up I get on a mission," Bella sighed as her fingertips brushed over his flagging erection.
"So I have this to look forward to on our next mission?" Harry asked incredulously.
"Oh yes, I expect we are both going to be very sore after our trip to Azkaban," Bellatrix giggled.
"Now I'm starting to look forward to going," Harry grunted as she continued to fondle him under the covers.
"You said you know a spell to destroy dementors?" Bella asked curiously, not slowing in her ministrations.
"I-I do, I have the book in my trunk," Harry replied somewhat distractedly.
"Let Bella see," Bellatrix said as she stopped what she was doing, much to his frustration.
"Sirius is right, you are evil," Harry muttered as he sat up and slid his legs off of the side of the bed.
"I can be pretty naughty but Bells isn't evil," Bellatrix pouted as she rolled onto her back.
Harry stood up, shivering slightly as he felt the cool air of the room on his damp skin. Quickly he made his way to the end of the bed and leaned over his old trunk. Touching his thumb to the lock for the third compartment on the trunk.
This compartment hadn't been opened in almost a decade as it was where he stored his combat magic texts. Opening the lid, he began digging around, It took him a couple of minutes, but eventually found the book he was looking for.
Harry pulled out a tome titled Magick Most Arcane by: Myrrdin Emrys and turned to page 427 as he made his way back to the bed.
"Here, just be careful. This book is ancient," Harry said as he carefully passed the book to his wife.
"This is very complex" Bellatrix muttered as she read over the passage.
"I've always wanted to try that spell. but by the time I joined... well you know, the dementors had already been destroyed" Harry said in with a wistful tone.
"The Demented flame, used to destroy beings from another plane such as Lethifolds, Poltergeists, ghost, spirits, and Dementors."
"Side note: this spell is just as dangerous to the caster and can easily run amok without proper willpower." Bellatrix read out loud seeming absolutely fascinated by the spell.
"Yeah, the spell actually takes three separate processes and is unbelievably draining," Harry explained.
Bellatrix continued reading to herself, there were three different sets of wand movements as Harry said but she skipped down to the incantation, Fiend ignus orbitus spiritum. Bellatrix read the spell three times as it niggled something in her mind before she gasped in realisation.
"This is the base spell for fiend fire isn't it?" Bellatrix demanded, narrowing her eyes at Harry
Harry nodded before explaining, "back in the fourteen hundreds, a band of Dark Wizards figured out you could cast only the fire part of the spell, but the results are almost impossible to predict and difficult to control."
"I am very familiar with fiend fire, Harry," Bellatrix snorted in amusement.
"Of course you are," Harry snorted.
Getting a bit chilly, Harry crawled back under the covers and watched her as she read the theory behind the spell.
"So you want to what, storm the prison, disable the guards and then we cast this spell and leave?" Bellatrix finally asked sounding almost excited.
"Yes that is the rough idea though, I'll need you to get us back. The spell is very draining so I'll be magically exhausted if I cast it on the scale I expect I'm going to have to," Harry answered her.
"You said back at Hogwarts that I can help you cast this?" Bellatrix asked distractedly.
"Maybe, Dumbledore had a set of bracelets when we performed the ritual on my younger self. They basically joined our cores so little Harry wouldn't become too drained when we removed the soul shard," Harry explained
"Those would probably work. After our marriage bond, our cores are quite compatible," Bellatrix said thoughtfully.
"We will have to get a set and experiment with them but I believe that will make it much easier to cast the spell," Harry agreed.
"We can worry about that later, Bella needs some attention," Bellatrix said as she closed the book and set it on her nightstand.
"Again," Harry grunted as Bellatrix draped her leg over his and began running her fingertips over his stomach.
"The kids are at Cissa's, we should really take advantage of our alone time," Bellatrix whispered in his ear as she moved so she was straddling him with her palms resting on his chest.
'I may not survive the night,' Harry thought as Bella lifted her hips and lined them up for the third time that evening.
Hogwarts Grounds, 2/17/1989, 16:38
Harry was downright pissed, McGonagall had been going out of her way to foist detentions on him since he started working here!
Harry knew this was her act of vengeance for his niece's pranks, and at some level, he knew he probably deserved this. He still found it quite irritating that every time he turned around he was stuck with overseeing detention.
Unsurprisingly, most of the detentions he was overseeing involved Tonks and her little group of delinquents.
Right now, he had them spreading manure on the garden behind the gamekeeper's hit. Pomona had started prepping it for growing giant pumpkins for next year's Halloween feast.
Harry was very carefully looking over the griffin he had shown to his seventh years last week before the handlers from the reserve came to pick him up tomorrow morning.
"Soon you'll be back on the island," Harry said as he stroked the animal's beak.
"Uncle Harry, how much longer do we have to spread this disgusting stuff?" Tonks demanded.
"Until the whole field is good and covered, now get back to work," Harry said not taking his eyes off the griffin.
His classes had been going very well and minus the problems his niece had been giving him, everything had gone smoothly. He was confident that his O.W.L and N.E.W.T students would score well on their exams.
"Uncle Harry it's freezing and this stuff reeks," Tonks exclaimed.
"If it wasn't for you getting caught, I could have already been home," Harry said as he summoned a ferret and offered it to Apollo.
"We were late for class, it isn't like we did something malicious," Tonks whined.
"Right and the prank on Snape's office had nothing to do with it," Harry sorted as he led the griffin back into the heated paddock much to the creature's relief.
"You'll be back home tomorrow," Harry said as he closed the gate and activated the wards over the paddock to prevent the griffin from flying off.
"Will you lot hurry up, it's freezing out here," Harry exclaimed noticing they were almost done.
"I thought you liked me," Tonks explained as she filled the wheelbarrow and rolled it over to charlie before taking the empty wheelbarrow back to the dungheap to begin filling it.
"I am not as fond of you when I'm your professor," Harry admitted as he watched the giffin fly around the inside of the paddock.
"I'll get you back for this during the summer," Tonks mumbled as she rolled the wheelbarrow over to Charlie looking relieved when she saw the field was almost completely covered in a layer of dragon manure.
"I may be coming back next year so that would be a bad idea, especially if Minerva keeps dropping your detentions on me," Harry smirked.
Harry had heard rumours that Silvanus was planning on retiring. If this was true, then he may very well be coming back to Hogwarts next year.
'And If I am lucky, Tonks may drop this class,' Harry thought as he watched the two fifth-years wheel the empty wheelbarrows back to the garden shed, their job completed.
"Alright we're done, please go take a shower, you smell like a dragon's ass," Harry said when the two students came over to him.
"I'm telling mum," Tonks huffed before she stomped off to the castle, Charlie following behind her.
"Teenagers," Harry snorted as he made his way to the gate intent on going home for the night, hoping Jangles saved him a plate.