Great Hall, Hogwarts, 4/13/1990, 20:37
Harry glided around the great hall with Bellatrix in his arms, keeping an eye on the students as he danced with his wife.
Tonight was the Easter ball and Harry was supposed to be here to keep an eye on the students. Bellatrix had been thrilled to accompany him to a school ball. Bellatrix had convinced Cissa to take the kids for the evening so they could have some alone time after the ball was over. This was the closest thing they had had to a date night in months, so they were making the most of it.
Bellatrix was wearing a violet dress that perfectly matched her eyes, it came down to her knees and had a V-cut in the front that showed a modest amount of cleavage, it was sleeveless and didn't have a back. It may have been a tad risque for a school dance but Harry wasn't about to complain. She was wearing matching strappy high-heeled sandals with violet suede straps that crisscrossed their way up her calves, coming to a stop just below the hem of her dress. The ensemble was completed with the purple studded diamond earrings and matching purple diamond pendant necklace. Her long ebony hair fell freely down her back and framed her face. The way her hair was done tonight strongly reminded him of their wedding day the way it looked so natural yet not a strand was out of place Then again, Bellatrix never spent time styling her hair, it seemed to always be perfect. Bella was wearing just the barest hints of makeup on her cheeks and around her violet eyes. If Harry didn't know her so well he knew he wouldn't have been able to tell. The only makeup that was obvious was the dark eyeliner that seemed to make her beautiful violet eyes stand out under her heavy-lidded eyes.
In short, Bellatrix looked stunning tonight and had been receiving dirty looks from Harry's little fan club since they arrived together. Harry was a bit amused when teenage boys would stumble over their feet as they shameless ogled his wife, much to their date's annoyance.
"I believe you may have developed a following over your own tonight, Luv," Harry whispered into her ear as the final chorus played.
"I noticed," Bella giggled.
"Just imagine if you were teaching defence here, none of them would learn a thing," Harry pointed out.
"Ask me again in four years," Bell said in a soft tone, her hot breath tickling his neck.
"Alright," Harry agreed, secretly hoping that she would want to come here and teach when the twins started Hogwarts.
"These little girls are giving Bella some nasty looks," Bellatrix whispered into his ears
"Must be the tuxedo," Harry said thoughtfully.
Harry had gone for a formfitting white tuxedo with a violet undershirt and tie for the occasion, he had on polished dress shoes, and his hair was tied in a ponytail at the nape of his neck, he knew it was a very muggle look but he always felt dress robes were like wearing a tent.
"It does look very good on you," Bellatrix agreed as she ran her fingertips over his chest.
"Not as good as you look in that dress," Harry countered, running his fingertips over her bare back as the song came to an end.
"Andi helped me find this in muggle London. The muggles have a lot more options than in Diagon Alley," Bella admitted as she let him lead her off of the dance floor.
After spending so much time in the muggle world a few years ago, Bellatrix had relaxed her stance on muggle fashion. As harry glanced at his wife's legs that were crisscrossed with the thin violet straps from her shoes, Harry couldn't help but be very thankful for this.
Harry was actually quite pleased that Minerva had volunteered him to chaperone the ball. Out of all the things McGonagall had added to his workload by pulling rank on him, this one was the only one he couldn't complain about.
They took a seat at one of the round tables arranged around the hall and two glasses of elf-made wine appeared in front of them.
"Thank you for inviting me," Bella said before sipping her wine.
"Minerva forced chaperone duty on me, I figured with you here we could both have a good time," Harry admitted.
Harry glanced onto the dancefloor to see Tonks dancing with Charlie Weasley. The teens seemed to be enjoying themselves a lot if Charlie's goofy smile was anything to go by. Tonks was swaying to the music as she rested her head on the boy's shoulder and seemed to be quite content.
"It looks like my niece and the blood traitor are getting serious," Bellatrix commented when she saw where Harry was looking.
"I think so too. I've already taken steps to keep the lad in the country this time around," Harry admitted as he looked away from the teens.
"Has my niece stopped being a menace to the castle?" Bella asked as she rested her head on his shoulder.
"For the most part, she's gotten a few detentions but not nearly as many as last year," Harry shrugged as he draped his arm over her shoulder.
"That's good to hear, I still haven't punished her for keeping you out so much last year," Bella said as a fast pace song began to play.
"I am sure if she makes it into the auror academy that she'll have three miserable years of training to look forward to," Harry soothed.
"Good, I may see if I can get Amelia to make things more... gruelling," Bella said thoughtfully.
"Did I ever tell you how sexy you look when you're scheming?" Harry whispered into her ear.
"Want to sneak out of here and go fool around in a broom closet?" Bellatrix said in a husky tone before kissing the side of his neck.
"You know I do," Harry answered, shivering slightly from the sensation.
"We can make an excuse to go for a walk," Bellatrix suggested before placing another kiss on his cheek.
"Okay, though I pray we don't get caught by a prefect," Harry muttered as he stood up and offered Bella his hand.
As they crossed the hall they both felt many eyes watching them, but neither of them paid it any mind as they both were anticipating what was going to happen when they found a more private setting.
"Professor Peverell?" Harry heard a familiar voice call out to him over the music before they could make it out of the great hall.
Harry turned to see Minerva making her way over to him, a look of amusement playing on her lips.
"Professor McGonagall, we were just going to check for any delinquents hiding in any of the upstairs broom closets," Harry said smoothly.
"I knew it was something along those lines. However, if you two are sneaking off for amorous activities, please do not get caught. Our students are quite impressionable and seeing their professor in such a state would set a bad example," Minerva said matter-of-factly before turning on her heel and making her way back to her seat next to Professor Sprout.
"I swear she has it out for me," Harry muttered as they walked out of the hall.
As soon as Harry shut the great hall doors behind them, the sound of music stopped. The silence was welcome and they both breathed in a sigh, not realizing how loud the room they had just left was until they were plunged into peaceful silence. The sounds of Bellatrix's high-heeled shoes on the stone floor broke the silence as they crossed the hall, intent on reaching their destination.
"You did arrange all of those pranks Andi's brat set off for four years," Bella giggled as they began ascending the grand staircase.
"I never told Tonks to set them up," Harry defended.
"My point is, she wants her pound of flesh," Bella explained.
"She hasn't been dumping near as many detentions on me this year, though I think that's because of what happened at Halloween," Harry confessed as they passed a couple of sixth-year making out against the wall of the second-floor corridor.
"Two points from Gryffindor and Hufflepuff for not waiting until you couldn't be seen from the staircase," Harry exclaimed making Ben Cooper and Chiara Lobosca jump apart in surprise.
"Sorry, Professor," Ben Copper mumbled his face bright red.
"Just get back to the hall," Harry chuckled before he led his amused wife up the stairs.
"You took points off of them when you're about to do the same thing with naughty Bella," his wife giggled as they stepped off the stairs onto the third-floor landing.
"The irony of that is not lost on me," Harry said as he found the closet he was looking for and held the door open for her
"Such a gentleman," Bells giggled as she stepped inside and Harry followed after her.
Harry pressed Bella against the wall and captured her lips in a heated kiss, both getting lost in each other as the rest of the world faded away. For that moment they were just two teenagers sneaking away from the ball to snog in a stuffy broom closet.
Peverell Beach House, Cornwall, 5/7/1990,18:18
Harry was sitting around the kitchen table with his friends and family as they celebrated Ignotus and Carina's seventh birthday.
Harry was very glad to be back in his own home again. Grimmauld Place was an awful experience, especially for the children. At Grimmauld Place, the kids were confined inside the gloomy house when not attending their lessons at Malfoy Manor. This confinement meant that the twins took out their frustrations by fighting with each other constantly. All of this fighting made things more stressful for him and Bellatrix and was the main incentive to get the new wards up as soon as they could.
After that, they had to repair the damage to the sitting room which Harry took care of over a weekend.
The final step was to get new furniture, drapes, and carpet but the Black sisters took care of that. They had also redone the wallpaper, replaced the stone on the fireplace with a smooth green marble and upgraded the gas lighting with brand-new silver fixtures.
After the renovations, the sitting room was the nicest in the house, Though it bore a passing resemblance to the Slytherin common room (not that Harry minded very much).
The last few months had been peaceful and that was starting to make him nervous. He was fairly confident that the death eaters would not be able to get through the new wards over his home as easily as they had last time.
Harry had set some nasty wards he had found in the Black Library and Bella had added her own special touches. If anyone tried to tamper with these wards and they would very likely be burnt to a crisp. Technically the wards were very illegal but the ministry was the least of his concerns. If the ministry made a fuss he would face the consequences. In his mind, it was worth the risk to know that his children were well protected.
It was raining cats and dogs today so they were forced to have the party inside. As it was a Monday, the party had been postponed until Harry finished his last class of the day much to his children's dismay.
So here they were eating takeout pizza and crowding around the table as the kids talked and laughed loudly. The Greengrass family were here as were the Tonks and Black family who all had small children. Harry had been tempted to invite the Lovegoods but the last thing he needed was Pandora Lovegood exclaiming to the room at large that she was Harry's love slave.
It was about halfway through dinner when Ares slithered into the room, only noticed by Harry. Harry had been expecting this to happen as seven was when his children's cores would be stable enough to perform the bonding. Now was the moment of truth, he had his suspicion but he was still unsure which of his children Ares would bond with.
It didn't take long for Harry to get his answer as he watched the eight-foot bushmaster slither towards Ignotus. Harry could hear the snake over the crowded room and couldn't suppress a proud smile as he watched the interaction between Ares and his heir.
§It is time speaker§, Ares hissed as he slithered up the back of Iggy's chair to rest his head on his son's chest.
§Time for what, Ares?§, Iggy asked curiously as he reached out and stroked the serpent's head absentmindedly.
Harry seemed to be the only one who noticed the slight flash of gold light that flashed at the point Ignotus' hand touched Ares' head. His soon shivered slightly as the serpent's eyes glowed red for the briefest of seconds.
§We are now bonded companions, speaker§, Ares hissed as he looked around the table curiously.
§Are you my familiar, then?§ Ignotus asked, oblivious to his father observing him from the other end of the table.
Harry had been expecting this to happen for years, at first, he thought that Ares would bond with Carina but as the years passed Harry wasn't so certain. Ignotus' gift had developed later than his sister's for some reason. Ignotus always had a stronger connection with Ares than Carina. The juvenile bushmaster always sought Ares out when he ventured out of the jungle room. It was Ares that revealed his son was a parselmouth, before that day on the beach, Harry had never seen Ignotus converse with snakes.
Harry just hoped that Carina wasn't upset by this development. The children already fought and argued so much, and he didn't want this to make matters worse.
Harry knew that Carina would one day find her familiar, or more likely, her familiar would find her. Until then she would just have to wait. If she wanted to find her familiar, Harry would help her.
Right now he was just pleased that Ignotus and Ares had bonded. This was good for them both. Finding a familiar was like Ollivander described getting a wand. The familiar and wizard are drawn together, as they go along the familiar learns from the wizard and the wizard from his familiar both growing together as time goes by.
Harry had experienced this with Athena and he was pleased Ignotus would get that same opportunity with Ares.
'Happy birthday son,' Harry thought to himself as he watched his son and his new familiar.
Peverell Beach House, Cornwall, 7/13/1990, 15:29
Harry was preparing for his annual trip but had taken a break long enough to fulfil a promise he made a year ago to Ignotus.
Unsurprisingly, his son was a natural on a broom and had taken to flying like a bird to the sky. He had been flying his toy Broomstick for years so he already knew the basics. Ignotus had needed little coaching before he was zooming around the beach, maxing out his training broom as he flew around twenty feet over the sand.
What surprised Harry, was how good Carina had flown when it was her turn with the training broom. To put it bluntly, Carina could fly rings around her brother. Harty suspected that if she were on a real broom, she could give him a run for his money. Harry knew as soon as Carina kicked off, that she was going to be an incredible Quidditch player.
That's not to say Iggy didn't have the making of a fine quidditch player in his own right. Ignotus would only get better as the years went by and would easily earn a spot on the quidditch team of whatever house he was sorted into.
Carina flew almost instinctually, the way she cut through the air made it look like she didn't even use a broomstick. The only other person Harry had seen fly like that was when he watched Viktor Krum at the ninety-four world cup.
Harry was already scheming up ways to convince Bellatrix that they should both get real broomsticks for Christmas, though he had his doubts that she would go for it.
Harry had sent the twins inside twenty minutes ago to change into their beach clothes before the guests arrived.
Today they were having a cookout as had become the tradition before Harry left for Africa every summer.
Sirius and his brood had already arrived, Susan and Harry were splashing in the waves while Edgar was playing in the sand. Sirius was in the process of setting up the grill he had brought over, while Harry was seated at the picnic table he had just set up, drinking a soda while he watched the kids play in the surf.
Harry was pulled out of his musings when he saw Tonks leading Charlie Weasley down to the beach, both of them dressed in their swimwear.
"Wotcher Uncle Harry," Tonks grinned as she and Charlie took a seat across from him.
"Well if it isn't my favourite niece and her dragon-loving boyfriend," Harry chuckled.
"I'm your only niece," Tonks pointed out.
"It was still a close competition," Harry smirked.
"Whatever," Tonks huffed.
"How are you, Charlie?" Harry asked.
"I'm good, I hope you don't mind, sir but Tonks invited my older brother to the cookout," Charlie said glancing over at his girlfriend.
"He's welcome here as long as you keep those infernal twins away from my home," Harry said flatly.
"Yeah, Uncle Harry already has a set of trouble-making twins," Tonks sniggered.
"That's not very nice, Nymmie," Carina pouted.
"Mum says you were worse than we ever were," Ignotus shot back.
Harry had to fight not to roll his eyes as Iggy walked toward the table with Ares coiled around his shoulders.
"Blimey, that snake is a lot bigger than I remember," Charlie muttered as he looked at Ares warily.
"He was still growing then, Ares just recently reached adulthood," Harry answered, looking Ares over critically.
"Come on Charlie, Uncle Harry's psychotic snake is probably lurking around here somewhere," Tonks said eyeing the picnic table warily.
"She just ate, she is digesting her meal in the jungle room," Harry assured his niece.
"Poor bunny rabbit," Carina said sorrowfully.
"She has to eat, princess," Harry said gently.
"Ares will have his rabbit tomorrow," Ignotus smirked.
"Don't start picking on your sister," Harry said firmly before Carina could say anything.
"Yes dad," Ignotus answered sheepishly.
"Please take Ares to the jungle room, it is too dry out here for him," Harry instructed.
"But dad-
"Ignotus, that is a neo-tropical serpent. He does not like being on the beach," Harry said patiently
§Thank you ssspeaker§, Ares hissed gratefully.
"I'll be right back," Ignotus sighed as he trudged away.
Ignotus was still learning to understand his familiar's needs. Iggy liked to walk around everywhere with Ares draped over his shoulder, probably because he thought he looked cool. Though to be fair, Harry liked to do the same thing with Athena so maybe his son was just copying him.
Ignotus would learn in time to look after his companion but until then Harry had to keep an eye on things.
"Harry, how are you?" Narcissa asked as she led Draco down from the house.
"Wonderful, I see Draco is growing like a weed," Harry smiled.
"Yes, my little Dragon is not so little anymore," Narcissa sighed.
"Mum, don't call me that," Draco mumbled his cheeks flaring red.
"Ah there's Bill, Charlie beamed as he saw his brother walking down the beach from outside the wardline.
"I will have to let him through the wards," Harry said as he got up and made his way across the beach.
Harry saw a familiar face when he got closer to the wardline. Bill looked young, he was just a year out of Hogwarts. Bill's red hair wasn't as long as Harry remembered but it was still long enough to put up in a ponytail, he was wearing black jeans and a dragonhide leather jacket, though he did not have the earring Harry remembered from his timeline.
"William Weasley, I presume," Harry said when he crossed the wardline.
"It's just Bill, Professor," Bill said when Harry appeared out of thin air in front of him.
"I am Harry Peverell, just Harry will be fine," Harry said as he offered Bill his hand.
"Pleased to meet you," Bill said as he shook the offered hand
"So tell me, Bill, what did that hat Julia Martin sent to you, do?" Harry asked curiously.
"Made my ears shrivel up for three weeks, how do you know about that?" Bill asked looking at him in surprise
"I apprenticed her older sister a couple of years ago," Harry shrugged as he put his hand on Bill's shoulder and guided him through the wardline.
"Those are some serious wards," Bill muttered as the house and the group of people on the beach seemed to appear out of thin air before his eyes
"The house was attacked on Halloween, so I upgraded them a bit," Harry admitted.
"I've never seen wards like these set up over a home," Bill exclaimed in a tone of surprise.
"The death eaters brought down our old wards way too easily, so I decided to go a different direction with the protections," Harry explained
"Good choice, I pity anyone that triggers these," Bill shuddered.
"Minerva said that you were training to be a curse breaker. She's quite proud of you, brags to anyone who will listen," Harry said as he remembered McGonagall telling him about her star pupil quite often.
"She's always been my favourite teacher," Bill said with a fond smile.
"I'll let that slide since you were never in my class," Harry chuckled as they arrived at the tables to find Sirius and Narcissa in conversation while Tonks and Charlie were whispering to each other towards the other end of the table.
Harry saw that Harry, Draco, Susan, and the Peverell twins were already playing in the waves, their laughter cutting through the air.
"Bill Weasley, I presume?" Sirius asked as soon as he saw them approach.
"That's me, It's, a pleasure to meet you, Lord Black," Bill said with a respectful nod as he offered Sirius his hand.
"We don't do titles here, Sirius is fine," Sirius snorted as he shook Bill's hand.
"This is my sister,-in,-law, Lady Narcissa Malfoy," Harry said as Narcissa smiled at him, offering him her hand.
"Pleasure to meet you, my lady," Bill said before placing a chaste kiss on her knuckles.
"At last, there is someone with class in our midst," Narcissa smiled, her cheeks slightly flushed.
"I'm sure you class up any room you step into, Lady Malfoy," Bill said smoothly.
"Oi, stop putting the moves on my aunt, Weasley," Tonks exclaimed from down the table.
"Calm yourself, Nymphadora. He was just being polite," Narcissa said, shooting her niece a look of annoyance.
"I hope you didn't come here just to make eyes at my sister-in-law?" Harry grinned, shooting Narcissa a look of amusement.
"Don't push me Harry or you'll end up on the same list Sirius is on," Narcissa warned.
"There is something I do need to ask you about, Harry," Bill said nervously.
"Alright, what's that?" Harry asked
"A senior goblin named Longblade wanted me to see if can acquire basilisk venom for the bank," Bill answered somewhat nervously.
"So you tricked my poor niece into inviting you?" Harry chuckled.
"I offered to bring him along to keep Jones off of your back. I didn't know the berk had an ulterior motive," Tonks shrugged.
"That's why your my favourite niece," Harry nodded.
"Long-Blade told me to ask you about it while I was here. I figured I might as well get that out of the way," Bill admitted.
"Well, Narcissa is the one you need to butter up to get me onto that island," Harry said matter-of-factly.
"I thought you were the one who collected the venom?" Bill asked in confusion.
"He is but I am the one who can get him clearance to enter the reserve," Narcissa smirked.
"Exactly, I earn a flat rate for collecting venom per vial. My fee is based on the rarity of the venom and the danger involved in collecting it. The client that hires me to collect for them sets the price of the venom," Harry lectured.
"How much do you make on a vial of basilisk venom?" Sirius asked curiously.
"Five thousand galleons a vial. It's the highest-risk venom I collect and it usually takes two people to extract it," Harry replied.
"That much for a single vial!?" Tonks exclaimed incredulously.
"That's my fee, a full one-ounce vial will sell for upwards of thirty-thousand galleons," Harry explained, enjoying the gobsmacked look on his niece's face.
"Yes, that is about the current market value," Narcissa agreed.
"The goblins are aware of the value of the venom," Bill assured them both.
"Well talk to Cissa. I am always looking for an excuse to visit the island," Harry said as he saw his wife leading the Tonks couple out of the house.
"We can talk about this later, Mr Weasley. This is not the venue to talk business," Narcissa said as she untied the sash on her blue acromantula-silk robes.
"Y-yes ma'am," Bill muttered as Narcissa took off her robes to reveal the blue two-piece bathing suit she wore underneath.
"Why don't you go enjoy the water, dear? It is a beautiful day and the water looks heavenly," Narcissa suggested, smirking at the boy's dumbfounded look.
"Come on Bill, I'll show you where you can get changed," Charlie chuckled before he led his gaping brother towards the house.
"Poor bastard, Narcissa will eat him alive," Sirius muttered to Harry as Bellatrix and the Tonks' arrived.
"I would watch it, cousin," Narcissa said warningly, her eyes narrowing as she looked at Sirius.
Harry quickly put some distance between himself and Sirius, not wanting to get caught up in the crossfire when Sirius inevitably pushed her too far.
Deciding he might as well get the grill going, Harry walked to the area about twenty feet away from the tables where the grill and coolers were set up. Harry breathed in the ocean air as he poured the charcoal briquettes into the large kettle grill, enjoying the light breeze blowing over him.
"My sister seems to be in a particularly good mood today," Bellatrix commented as she came up beside him.
"Yes, I think she likes the oldest Weasley boy," Harry smirked as he pointed his wand at the grill, lighting the charcoal instantly.
"He is handsome though a bit young for my tastes," Bella said thoughtfully.
"Thank heavens for that," Harry chuckled.
"Speaking of my preferences, you're a bit overdressed for the beach, dear," Bella smirked before flicking her wand at him.
Harry jumped when his jeans were transfigured into a tight-fitting yellow speedo. Meanwhile, his shirt, socks and shoes vanished before they reappeared laying on the sand beside him.
"Not exactly my preference," Harry snorted before he flicked his wand at himself, transfiguring the yellow speedo into a pair of knee-length green board shorts.
"I liked the first version better," Bella pouted as she slipped her outer robes revealing she was wearing a very small black bikini.
"Wow," Harry commented as he looked her up and down appreciatively.
"I think I am going to sunbathe, my lecherous cousin approaches," Bella whispered before walking over to the row of loungers that were arranged down by the shoreline.
Harry watched her cross the beach, his eyes lingering on her swaying hips until his view was blocked by the swaying hips of the other two Black sisters as they followed after her.
"So you're running the grill this time?" Sirius asked, pulling his attention back to his immediate surroundings.
"Yeah, mostly I just came over here so I didn't get dragged into the argument you started with Cissa," Harry admitted as he reached into the chiller box and grabbed a beer.
"She didn't chew me out like she usually does, she seems a bit distracted," Sirius shrugged as Ted joined them.
"Hello gents," Ted said jovially.
"Ted, good to see you," Harry grinned as he placed the grate over the coals.
"Looks like we're seeing less of you, I heard Andi put you on s diet," Sirius beamed.
"I don't want to talk about it," Ted scowled.
"Don't mind him, from what I hear, Amelia has been dragging him to train at the auror gym every morning at five," Harry chuckled.
"It's paying off, I'm in better shape than I was before Azkaban and I can't keep the wife off of me," Sirius shot back.
"Probably because she's trying to strangle him," Ted muttered
"Where's Greengrass?" Sirius asked, ignoring Ted's comment.
"He couldn't make it, his sister is getting married in Germany," Harry answered, as he cast a spell on the grate to keep food from sticking.
"Damn, I'm starting to like him better than you two berks," Sirius sighed.
"Oh would you look at that," Ted said pointing towards the women.
"You've got you're own wife don't ogle mine, Tonks," Harry joked as he looked towards the women, shaking his head when he saw what Ted was indicating.
"Not bloody likely, your wife scares the hell out of me," Ted snorted as he took a sip from his beer.
"She scares most people," Sirius sniggered.
Harry tuned them out as he watched Bill putting tanning lotion on Narcissa's back while she lay face down on the lounger. Harry would definitely have to warn the lad about the danger he was putting himself in.
"Poor bloke, he would have to be insane to get involved with Cissa," Sirius muttered as he placed hamburger patties on the grill, causing them to sizzle and flames to flare up as the juices landed on the coals.
"If you didn't know how manipulative she could be she seems like a sweet single mother," Harry pointed out
"Well the kid had better watch himself," Sirius grunted.
"So where is Amy this evening?" Harry asked turning back to watch the grill.
"She's running the evening shifts now," Sirius sighed as he began flipping the patties.
"Won't be long before she runs the whole department," Harry predicted.
"The scuttlebutt around the ministry is that Moody is stepping down at the end of the year. If he is, then Amy is a cert for head auror," Sirius beamed.
"Doesn't surprise me much. Moody's getting up there in age," Harry nodded.
"We think he'll be going to the academy to train the next crop of aurors," Sirius nodded.
"Focus on the burgers, Black," Ted huffed as a burger patty slipped off the grill and fell into the sand.
"Don't get your knickers in a twist," Sirius exclaimed.
"This will be the first real food I've eaten in months so don't cock it up," Ted said as he elbowed Sirius out of the way and took the spatula
"Don't get in the way of a man and his food, Padfoot," Harry grinned as he took a swig of his beer.
"They're ready," Ted said happily as he began transferring the burgers to a platter and then cast a warming charm over it.
"I'll cook the next run of burgers, then Harry can cook the sausages," Ted said as he opened the cooler and started throwing raw hamburger patties onto the grill.
"I think the man is taking this a bit too seriously," Sirius muttered as he grabbed another beer from the chiller box.
"What's Albus got you lot doing?" Harry asked.
"Nothing, we know no-nose is back in the country but he hasn't made any moves yet," Sirius shrugged.
"Just wait for it," Harry muttered as he watched Ted flip the burgers.
"We're watching and waiting, that's all we can do until he makes his move," Sirius shrugged.
Harry and Bella had been keeping tabs on the death eaters but it was difficult as most of the known death eaters were laying low. Harry had something planned for Halloween that should get Voldemort's attention but until then, they were gathering information and trying to track the death eater's movements just like the order.
"Alright Peverell, you're up," Ted exclaimed pulling Harry from his musings.
Harry began loading the grill with sausages while Ted carried the platter of burgers to the table.
"He is a right bummer today," Sirius grumbled.
"Can't say I blame him, I went on a diet a few years back and it was bloody awful," Harry muttered.
"Trust me I know, I've been on a diet since last summer," Sirius admitted.
"Then show some compassion," Harry said as he rolled the sausages.
Harry had the sausages cooked up in no time and brought them to the table to join the sides Jangles had prepared. There would be plenty for everyone, that was a certainty.
As Harry called the kids to come to eat his stomach growled from the scents wafting up from the table.
'I love a good cookout,' Harry thought as he took his usual seat next to Bellatrix as the kids came running g in from the beach.
Harry and Bella were laying on the loungers letting their food digest after a very nice dinner. The kids were down by the sea playing a game of tag on training brooms while the adults watched and enjoyed glasses of chilled wine.
"I must say, those burger things were very good," Bellatrix admitted as she sipped a glass pink of wine, the glass covered in condensation from the chilled beverage.
"Thank Sirius, it was his doing," Harry shrugged.
"I think not, if I thank him then he'll get the impression that I'm grateful for something he did," Bellatrix waved him off.
"We can't have that," Harry agreed as he saw Narcissa making her way over to them.
"Are you going to be able to fill your quota this year, Harry?" Narcissa asked as she came to stand over him, sipping from a flute of champagne.
"I don't see why not, though the order is quite a bit larger than last year," Harry shrugged.
"Yes, the black mamba venom has been in high demand of late so we had to increase the order size," Narcissa explained as she took a seat in the lounger to his left and reclined back.
"We?" Harry asked warily.
"Well really it was just me, Uncle Arcturus is getting too old to worry about the company. As long as the revenue coming in meets his expectations he lets me do as I wish," Narcissa corrected as she kicked her feet up and crossed her ankles.
"So you took over Black Potion Supplies from Cassiopeia," Harry muttered as the pieces fell into place.
"She had no choice, I have thirty-three per cent ownership and she is wanted for crimes in Britain," Narcissa smirked.
"So I'm going to Africa every damn summer because of you," Harry exclaimed as he glared at his sister-in-law.
"Now Harry, is that any way to talk to your biggest client?" Narcissa asked sweetly.
"Ugh, just when I think I have you figured out," Harry muttered.
"I always surprise you," Narcissa nodded, a smug smile playing on her lips.
"I figured after all of these years you would have learned that Cissa is an evil mastermind," Bellatrix giggled.
"I am not evil," Narcissa protested as she glanced back at the picnic tables where Bill was talking to Sirius about something.
Harry decided to let the subject drop, he actually enjoyed his trips to Africa now. The older snakes recognized him since he usually worked the same area every year, so it wasn't near as difficult as when he first started collecting there.
Harry was looking forward to getting away for a bit though he would still miss Bella and the kids.
'And if I'm in Africa, Molly Weasley couldn't blame me for Narcissa taking advantage of her oldest son,' Harry thought to himself as he relaxed in his lounger while Bella and Cissa gossiped.
Peverel Beach House, Cornwall, 8/15/1990, 15:39
Harry read the letter three times wondering if he could believe what he was reading. Apparently, an up-and-coming author wanted to interview him for a book called Wandering With Werewolves Pt II. This particular author was a man Harry was very familiar with, a man by the name of Gilderoy Lockhart.
"Why are you wearing your scowly face daddy?" Carina asked as she and Ignotus came onto the deck with their training brooms slung over their shoulders.
"No reason, did your mother give you permission to go flying?" Harry asked as he folded up the letter and slipped it into his pocket.
He now remembered another loose end he needed to tie up, Gilderoy the memory thief Lockhart.
"Yes dad, she said we could fly as long as you watch us," Iggy said, looking at him with big violet eyes that reminded him so much of Bellatrix.
"Don't you think you should ask me first?" Harry asked shooting his children a look of faux annoyance.
"But daddy, you love to watch us fly," Carina said as if it were obvious.
"I still like to be asked if," Harry pointed out.
"Come on dad, please take us flying," Iggy whined.
"Did you do your homework?" Harry asked.
"Yes," The nodded in unison.
"Did you clean your rooms?" Harry pressed.
"Yes," They answered again, bouncing up and down excitedly.
"Did you brush your teeth?" Harry asked in a teasing tone.
"Daddy, stop playing. This is serious," Carina huffed when she saw his teasing grin.
"How is it serious?" Harry asked in amusement.
"I have to practice if I am going to play chaser for England one day," Carina explained.
"Chaser for England huh?" Harry said thoughtfully.
"Do you think I could?" Carina asked nervously.
"Of course you can. You can do anything you want, Princess," Harry said looking at her seriously.
"What about me, dad?" Iggy asked hopefully.
"You can do anything you put your mind to, son. As long as you put in the work, there is nothing that can stop you," Harry said looking between the two of them.
"So can we go flying?" Carina pressed.
"Not until one of you can stand on one finger," Harry bargained.
"That's impossible," Iggy pointed out.
"No Iggy, this is one of daddy's tricks," Carina said wisely.
"What tricks?" Harry asked in faux surprise.
"Like the time you asked us to go and find you a left-handed cup to drink your breakfast tea in," Carina explained, her emerald-green eyes narrowed at him.
"Or when you told me to go get bird food for the bird that lives in the coo-coo clock," Ignotus said as he nodded at his sister in understanding.
"Then there was the time-
"Alright you got me, let's go flying," Harry chuckled, feeling a bit embarrassed at the methods he had used to get his children out of his hair in the past.
He was barely able to get up from his seat before the twins practically dragged him to the beach.
A few minutes later Harry sat on the beach watching the kids zip around on their training brooms smiling to himself as he plotted what to do about Gilderoy Lockhart.
Leaky Cauldron, London, 8/29/1990, 12:29
Harry sat at the table in the private room as he waited for his guest to arrive. Harry had been looking into Gilderoy Lockhart since the man had contacted him and learned the man had already been very busy.
Harry finally decided to nip things in the bud so to speak. Gilderoy Lockhart was little more than a nuisance in the grand scheme of things but he would pay for even harbouring the thought of obliviating Harry Peverell.
Harry heard a knock on the door before it was open and a widely smiling Gilderoy Lockhart entered the room dressed in robes of forget me not blue and a wizard had cocked to the side of his head, his hair perfectly coifed in blond curls. In short, Lockhart looked just as Harry remembered him.
"Lord Peverell, it is a pleasure to make your acquaintance," Gilderoy said in a very smarmy tone.
"I admit you have me a bit at loss, Mr Lockhart. Why did you ask to meet with me?" Harry asked as he gestured for Lockhart to sit across from him.
"I recently wrote a book about my adventures in Australia, where I bravely defeated the Wagga Wagga werewolf. I am hoping to write a sequel to that and was wondering if I could interview you about the werewolf pack you captured in the mountains of Bulgaria," Lockhart explained.
"I see," Harry said as he drew his wand under the table.
"Would you be interested, I can make it worth your effort?" Lockhart said, a greedy gleam in his blue eyes.
"It would depend," Harry said thoughtfully looking at Lockhart with a calculating look.
"On what?" Lockhart asked.
"If you plan on wiping my memory like you did the Armenian warlock who defeated the Waga Waga werewolf," Harry said casually.
"I have no idea w-what you mean," Lockhart said nervously.
"I think I have another book for you to write, that is if you survive of course," Harry said conversationally as he summoned Lockhart's wand from his pocket.
"W-what are you doing?" Lockhart stammered, fear clouding his eyes when his wand sailed into Harry's outstretched hand
"Questing with Quintapeds, that has a nice ring to it, don't you think?" Harry asked, ignoring Lockhart's question.
"Qu-quintapeds?" Lockhart gasped the colour leaving his face.
"Yes, you see I believe the reason you keep stealing other people's accomplishments is because you're dying to go on an adventure of your own. I am a magizoologist by trade so I am more than happy to accommodate you," Harry said as he pulled an ordinary quill from his pocket and set it on the table.
"What is that?" Lockhart asked backing away from the table.
"A portkey to the Isle of Drear. I can make you one to the XXXXX reserve in Greece if you would prefer," Harry offered as he flicked his wand so that ropes bound Lockhart to his chair.
"P-please don't hurt me!" Lockhart exclaimed in alarm as the ropes wrapped around him.
"You were planning on obliviating me, there are consequences for that," Harry said as he stepped around the table and placed the feather on Lockhart's thigh.
"I-I'll do anything but please don't send me to the quintapeds," Lockhart pleaded, his skin almost milk-white.
"Anything?" Harry asked curiously.
"Yes, anything!" Lockhart nodded his head so hard his hat tumbled to the floor.
"So you would consent to an interview with an auror friend of mine?" Harry asked giving Lockhart an expectant look.
"A-auror," Lockhart asked losing even more colour if that were even possible.
"You have stolen credit for other people's accomplishments and obliviated them taking away years of their lives Then there are the rumours that you have been taking liberties with underage witches and erasing their memories as well," Harry explained.
"I never took liberties with anyone!" Lockhart protested.
"But you don't deny stealing people's accomplishments," Harry pointed out.
"I can pay you and we c-can forget this ever happened," Lockhart tried looking like he was close to fainting.
"I think not, I am quite wealthy as it is. You have two choices, the quintapeds or the aurors," Harry said flatly.
"Please, isn't there something else" Lockhart begged
"Gilderoy, my patience is wearing thin. If you don't make a choice, then I will choose for you. Did you know quintapeds can devour a human body in less than ten minutes?" Harry asked conversationally.
"All right, I obliviated a lot of people to write my books! I'll confess everything, just please don't feed me to those monsters!" Lockhart exclaimed, looking thoroughly defeated.
"Excellent, he's all yours Amelia," Harry said to the corner of the room.
"Thank you, Harry, I can handle things from here," Amelia said as her disillusionment charm faded.
"Thanks, just make sure you use the Veritaserum," Harry chuckled as she handed Amelia Lockhart's wand.
"You let me worry about the interrogation," Amelia huffed as she hovered the feather off of Lockhart's leg.
"The feather isn't really a portkey. All the product he has in his hair would probably poison the quintapeds," Harry chuckled as Amelia removed the ropes.
"Your as bad as Sirius," Amelia muttered as she slapped a set of shackles on Lockhart's wrist.
"You're taking me in?" Lockhart asked in surprise.
"I am, I already witnessed your confession which is cause for me to interrogate you under veritaserum," Amelia said as she tied a short section of rope around Lockhart's wrist.
"Thanks for your help, Auror Black," Harry said as Amelia placed her hand on top of the Portkey.
"Thanks for the call, Lord Peverell," Amelia nodded before she activated her portkey, taking a terrified Gilderoy Lockhart to a holding cell.
Harry watched them disappear in a flash of blue light. A few seconds after they left, his plate of shepherd's pie appeared in front of him accompanied by a glass of mead.
He had debated portkeying Lockhart to the quintapeds for real but decided that Lockhart was not worth the effort.
On the upside, if the rumours were true and Lockhart really was taking advantage of underage girls then he would be joining Lewis Selwyn in H.M.P Wakefield.
Either way, Lockhart would be in serious trouble after this.
'One more problem, handled,' Harry thought as he tucked into his lunch, smiling at the thought of Gilderoy Lockhart dressed in robes of lock-me-up-grey.