Malfoy Manor, Wiltshire, 12/23/1992, 17:45
Harry stepped into the Malfoy's arrival room followed seconds later by Bellatrix and then the children. The Peverells were all dressed in nice formal wear tonight as this was the first ball that they would attend as a family.
Harry was wearing black form-fitting acromantula silk robes and highly polished dragonhide boots.
Bella was wearing a full-length ballgown in her favourite shade of purple that had a slit cut halfway up the skirt and matching strappy high heels. Her long curly hair was styled in an intricate updo showing off her graceful neck and she was wearing a purple diamond pendant necklace.
The children were dressed similarly to their parents with Ignotus wearing bottle green dress robes and Carina wearing a light lavender coloured dress and her hair in a plait that fell down her back.
"Uncle Harry, Auntie Bella, welcome to Malfoy Manor," Draco said as he entered the room also dressed in a nice set of green formal robes.
"Oi, what are we, chopped flobberworms?" Carina muttered and received a pointed look from her father.
"Thank you, Draco. It is pleasure as always to be invited to the Malfoy Christmas ball," Harry smiled.
"If you will follow me, I will escort you to the ballroom," Draco said formally.
"Lead the way," Harry nodded.
"Are you having a good holiday, Draco?" Harry asked as his nephew led them out of the arrival room.
"Yes, mother received some new species of birds for the aviary," Draco said, sounding very pleased.
"Really, more from South America?" Harry asked with interest.
"Yes, they're all birds that are native to Costa Rica," Draco beamed.
"I hope they aren't like that one oriole that tricked Iggy into taking a bath in the fountain," Harry sniggered.
"It got you too?" Draco asked as he gave Iggy a sympathetic grin.
"Yeah, I thought I could catch it and then splash," Iggy chuckled, his cheeks turning pink in embarrassment.
"I think mother puts it up to it," Draco muttered.
"So is Astoria here yet?" Ignotus asked, looking at his cousin hopefully.
"No, the Greengrass family is abroad for the winter holidays," Draco replied, giving Iggy an amused look.
"Oh no," Carina muttered, looking just as put out as her twin at this news.
"How was your first term at Hogwarts, Draco?" Bellatrix asked as they approached the entry doors that led into the Malfoy ballroom.
"Quite nice, I enjoyed potions class immensely," Draco admitted as they stepped into the ballroom.
Harry's first thought was that it looked a lot like the Yule Ball during his fourth year which made him wonder if the designer had stolen the idea from this very party in his timeline.
There were intricate ice sculptures arranged along the walls in between the room's support pillars. The pillars were transfigured to look like crystal-clearr columns of ice.
The crystal chandeliers had been removed from the ballroom and all of the light in the room came from hundreds of illuminated icicles that hung down from the ceiling, casting the room in a soft blue light. The floor had been transfigured to look like a sheet of whitish-blue ice that glowed with a soft blue light underfoot, making the ballroom look like they were in a mammoth ice cave.
Overhead multicoloured fairies floated around the ceiling and darted in between the icicles, casting the guests in their soft multicoloured light as they flew in random patterns around the room.
At one end of the hall an orchestra was set up filling the room with soothing music and trays with flutes of champagne hovered between the guests.
All around the room guests were mingling and talking excitedly as they sipped flutes of champagne.
They had barely entered the ballroom before they were greeted by Sirius and his younger self.
"About time you lot arrived," Sirius beamed as he patted Harry on the shoulder.
"You look very handsome this evening, Harry," Bellatrix told his younger self, causing the boy's cheeks to flush.
"Th-thank you, Lady Peverell," Younger Harry stammered.
"It's Auntie Bella, dear," Bellatrix corrected, seeming amused at how flushed younger Harry was getting.
"Yes, Auntie Bella," Younger Harry answered at once.
"Alright Bella, leave the poor boy be," Harry sighed.
"Fine spoil my fun, where is Edgar?" Bella asked as she glanced over at her cousin.
"With Amy's brother and his wife, I got stuck watching Harry and Susie tonight," Sirius said as the kids began talking amongst themselves.
"I am going to get some wine, do either of you want some punch?" Bella asked as she looked down at the twins.
"Yes mother," They said in unison, making Harry snigger.
"Then come with me, you might as well come too, Potter," Bellatrix said as she placed her hand on his younger self's shoulder.
"Yes Auntie Bella," little Harry nodded before following Bella and the twins over to where a punch bowl was set up
"So I heard Cissa had you helping her with her dance lessons," Sirius asked as Bella led the three children over to the drinks table.
"Yeah, and it's a long story. Where is Ted at? I already heard that Jonathan was out of the country," Harry said as he looked around the room, trying to spot his brother-in-law.
"Andi and Ted are staying on Black Island for Christmas, Tonks is stuck at the academy for the holidays so they decided to take a vacation," Sirius shrugged as he snagged two butterbeers from a passing tray.
"And Amelia?" Harry questioned as he took the offered drink.
"Running the DMLE, she was promoted to assistant head of the DMLE," Sirius said with a shrug as they began walking around the room.
"She'll be head of the department pretty soon," Harry predicted.
"Word is Rufus is ready to retire and he's training her to replace him," Sirius said.
"I thought Moody was wanting her to replace him," Harry snorted.
"No, he was just giving her a leg up, Moody isn't going anywhere " Sirius chuckled.
Before Harry could reply a chime sounded through the hall indicating it was time for dinner.
"I'll catch you later," Sirius said as he went over to collect Susan and younger Harry.
Harry made his way over to where Bella and the children were waiting for him near the doorway to the ballroom. As soon as he reached them his wife hooked her arm through his and the Peverells made their way to the dining room with the hundreds of other guests in attendance.
Like every Yule Ball that Narcissa threw, the food was incredible. The Peverells sat towards the middle of the table across from Sabastian Delacour, his wife and oldest daughter as the food began to appear on the table.
"Monsieur Delacour, it has been a long time," Harry said by way of greeting as Bellatrix began to fix the twins a plate.
"Oui, and it iz just Sabastian, Monsieur Peverell," the Frenchman corrected.
"Harry will do, I hope that you remember my wife Bellatrix?" Harry beamed as food appeared on the table.
"I do indeed, and it seems zat your family 'as grown since we last met," Sabastian beamed, giving Bellatrix a warm smile.
"These two are going to end up giving me grey hair, this is Ignotus and Carina," Bellatrix answered.
"Pleasure to meet you boz, let me introduce my wife Apolline and my daughter Fleur," Sabastian said gesturing to each lady.
"It is a pleasure to meet you Madame Delacour, though I believe I met Fleur at my wedding," Harry said thoughtfully as he began fixing himself a plate while Bella fussed over the twins.
"Oui, she was cowering behind my leg if I recall," Sabastian chuckled, making his daughter flush in embarrassment.
"Lady Peverell, is it true that you 'ave started your own line of enchanted razors?" Apolline Delacour asked with interest.
"I have and is just Bellatrix dear, my husband waved the formalities so I must follow his example," Bellatrix said with a look of amusement.
"I 'ave a friend zat is interested in selling zose enchanted razors in her boutique, she will pay a fair price for zem," Apolline said.
Harry tuned out the conversation realizing that he may have just witnessed the moment that his wife's business went International.
"You look troubled," Sabastian said after taking a sip of his wine.
"I think that I will have to build her a workshop now," Harry chuckled before he was hit with a wave of very familiar magic.
"Fleur, stop zat," Sabastian said as he looked over at his daughter in alarm.
"I almost forgot how strong that veela magic was," Harry chuckled.
"Oui, my daughter iz going through 'er maturity and it gets away from 'er," Apolline said, giving Harry an apologetic look.
"I am sorry Monsieur Peverell," Fleur said, her cheeks tinged a faint pink.
"Don't worry about it, dear. I have experience with veela", Harry waved her off.
"Isabelle said zat you were immune," Sabastian said, looking relieved for some reason.
"Resistant would be a better word, I can feel the effects of their magic but I somehow manage to keep control of my mind," Harry corrected.
"Trust me I know what you mean. I am immune to my daughter's magic but my wife's iz a different story," Sabastian chuckled.
"Zat iz 'ow it should be," Apolline smirked.
"Don't feel bad, Sabastian, I am not immune to my wife's charm either," Harry chuckled.
The rest of dinner passed by with the two couples talking while the children ate quietly, it seems Bellatrix was seriously considering taking on another distributor for her enchanted razors.
Harry and Sabastian discussed his work in Africa and Greece while Fleur ate quietly occasionally gazing around the room.
By the time pudding was served the kids were getting bored and Harry knew when they got bored, chaos would ensue.
Luckily not long after the pudding was finished, Narcissa rose to her feet, getting the attention of everyone seated at the table.
"Thank you all for coming to the annual Malfoy Ball this year. My late husband's family started these functions and I continue to hold them as a way to keep Lucius' memory alive...
Harry tuned out Narcissa's speech as he pondered how good of an actress Narcissa really was. The sadness in her voice was very convincing and had Harry not known her role in Lucius' demise, he would have believed she was still grieving over her late husband.
Harry listened with half an ear as he admired Narcissa's outfit, she wore a risque backless silver dress and had her hair up in a very elaborate updo. If Harry didn't know any better, he would think she was trying to catch someone's eye. As it was, she was getting plenty of appreciative looks from the males in the room.
Harry was pulled back to the present when everyone rose to their feet and Narcissa led the guests to the ballroom for the dancing portion of the evening.
Oddly, Narcissa was being escorted by a handsome man in his early twenties that Harry remembered was a seventh year when he had taken over his teaching position.
"Come along, you two," Bellatrix told the twins as the Peverells stood to follow the rest of the guests into the ballroom.
Harry waited until Bella deemed the children presentable before he offered her his arm and led them back to the ballroom.
"Bellatrix, who was that escorting Cissa?" Harry asked as they walked behind Sabastian and his family.
"Myron Wagtail, he's a singer in a new band that Narcissa is helping get established," Bellatrix answered as they entered the ballroom.
"The Weird Sisters," Harry muttered as soft music began to play over the room.
Harry watched as Narcissa and her escort began to waltz in the centre of the room while a magical light shined down on them like a muggle spotlight.
"Oh no," Harry muttered as he spotted Narcissa's hand cup the bloke's bum for the briefest of seconds.
"What is it dear?" Bellatrix asked as the twins watched the dance, boredom easily recognizable on their faces.
"I think your sister has become a cougar," Harry muttered.
"She's rich and attractive, she hardly has to settle for partners her own age dear," Bellatrix pointed out.
"Oi, she's only two years older than me," Harry protested.
"Yes dear but I didn't settle for someone my own age either," Bellatrix giggled as the dance finished to applause from the onlookers.
Before Harry could comment, his younger self came over to them and offered Carina his hand.
"Would you like to dance, Miss Peverell?" Little Harry asked nervously.
"Yes," Carina answered, her cheeks flushing pink.
"Oh no," Harry muttered again as he watched his younger self lead his daughter onto the dance floor.
"Ignotus, we're going to dance. Stay out of trouble or else," Bellatrix said, giving her son a pointed look.
"Yes mother," Iggy answered dutifully.
"Would you care to dance, Bella?" Harry asked as he looked over at his wife, pushing the horrifying thoughts from a second ago to the back of his mind.
"Yes dear," Bellatrix answered, as she allowed him to lead her onto the dancefloor.
They had just gotten into step when Bella glanced over his shoulder.
"They look really cute," Bella cooed.
"Who?" Harry asked.
"Harry and Carina," Bellatrix smirked.
"Alright quit messing with me," Harry muttered.
"I don't know why you're worried, she's eight," Bellatrix giggled.
"I hadn't considered that the two of them getting involved was a possibility until a few seconds ago," Harry muttered sheepishly.
"I highly doubt anything will come of it," Bellatrix pointed out.
"I hope not, that would be an awkward conversation," Harry muttered as the dance came to an end and little Harry and Carina left the dance floor.
"May I cut in?" Sabastian Delacour asked after tapping Harry on the shoulder.
"You may," Harry answered.
"Would you care to dance, Lady Peverell?" Sabastian asked offering Bella his hand.
"I would be honoured, Monsieur," Bella answered.
"Would you mind keeping Apolline company while I dance with your lovely wife?" Sabastian asked as he gestured to Apolline.
"Of course. Would you care to dance Madame Delacour?" Harry asked offering the silvery blonde his hand.
"Oui," Apolline beamed as she took his offered hand.
They began to dance a slow foxtrot as Bella danced with Sabastian.
"I wanted to zank you personally for getting my cousin out of zat disgusting place," Apolline said softly.
"Isabelle helped me take care of a problem I had without having to resort to violence," Harry waved her off.
"She was in debt wiz some bad people, and zat money made it so she could start over," Apolline said.
"Then we both benefitted, who was she in debt with if you don't mind me asking?" Harry asked, his curiosity peaked.
"Ze Avery family," Apolline answered, saying the name as if it were a disgusting swear word.
"That doesn't surprise me," Harry muttered as the song came to an end and they bowed to one another before Harry led her over to Bella and Sabastian.
"Zank you for ze dance," Apolline smiled.
"No, thank you," Harry said, giving Apolline a warm smile.
"Your wife is a wonderful dancer," Harry beamed at Sabastian as they switched partners.
"As is yours, a pleasure Lady Peverell," Sabastian said charmingly before he led Apolline back onto the dancefloor.
"Care for a drink?" Harry asked.
"Yes, I am getting a bit parched," Bella said as he led her to one of the tables arranged around the outer edge of the room and pulled a chair out for her.
Not far away, Harry spotted Iggy and a group of boys his age having a lively conversation while Carina was dancing with young Mister Harper.
"Our daughter will give me grey hairs in a few years," Harry muttered as he took two glasses of champagne from a hovering tray and handed one to his wife.
"She does seem to be drawing a lot of attention from little boys this evening," Bella said thoughtfully.
"And if she looks anything like her mother, she'll be a head-turner in a few years," Harry sighed.
"It looks like Sirius and Amelia will have their own problems to deal with," Bella smirked as she gestured to where his younger self and Susan Bones were dancing to a slow song.
Harry wasn't sure about that assumption but he wouldn't rule out the possibility.
Susan in his timeline was a gorgeous redhead and an auror captain to boot. He had actually worked with her team the day before he was sent back in time as Bones' team had assisted his team in capturing Astoria Greengrass.
If little Harry and Susan became romantically involved that could cause Sirius and Amelia all sorts of problems.
The rest of the night was spent with Harry and Bellatrix dancing and just enjoying the evening.
Every so often, Narcissa would give him a pointed look and he would share a dance with one of the wives of a Wizengamot member, as was expected at these functions.
Harry did share a dance with Narcissa who looked stunning in her silver dress and seemed to be in an exceptionally good mood. This was at odds with her son who looked like he was sucking a lemon every time Narcissa danced with Myron.
The final dance of the evening, Harry shared with Bellatrix. The song was a slow one and they both lost themselves to the music, oblivious to the crowd of onlookers.
As the song finished, Harry realised that they were the only ones still on the dance floor.
"I think it's time to get the kids home and get to bed," Harry whispered before placing a soft kiss on her lips.
"Good, I am exhausted," Bella said as she stifled a yawn.
"I didn't say anything about sleeping," Harry smirked before he led her over to the table where the twins were seated next to Harry, Draco, and Susan.
"Alright, Peverells it's time to head home before Narcissa throws us out," Harry beamed.
"I wouldn't throw you out, Harry. I have people to do that for me," Narcissa said as she and Sirius approached the group.
"The bad thing is she isn't kidding," Sirius snorted.
"Trust me mate, I know," Harry said getting a half-hearted glare from his sister-in-law.
"Come on Harry and Susie, it's time to go home," Sirius said.
"We need to go too, it was a wonderful ball," Bella said, giving her sister a gentle hug.
"It was a wonderful party, thank you for inviting us," Harry said genuinely as he hugged Narcissa as well.
"It was no trouble at all," Narcissa smiled warmly as Harry stepped back and gave the children an expectant look.
After the twins thanked their aunt for the invitation Harry turned to Harry, Susan, and Draco.
"I'll see you three at school, try and stay out of trouble," Harry said with a teasing grin.
"I haven't gotten into trouble all year, uncle Harry," Draco protested as his mother's eyes narrowed in his direction.
"Then do try and set an example for those two, won't you?" Harry smirked.
"I try but they don't listen to me," Draco said with an exasperated sigh.
"Well whatever we do, we won't be pranking McGonagall again," little Harry said with a shudder.
Before Harry could say anything else, Carina let out an exaggerated yawn and Bella nudged him.
"Right, I'll see you all later, have a Happy Christmas," Harry said before everyone said their final goodbyes.
As Harry led his family to the fireplace and his wife and kids stepped into the green flames one at a time, he couldn't help but wonder how long it was going to be before Bella insisted that they host their own ball.
Pushing that thought from his mind, Harry threw a pinch of floo powder in the fireplace and called out his address, intent on getting home so he could get Bella to bed.
Peverell Beach House, Cornwall, 12/28/1992, 14:39
Harry was relaxing after an exhausting few days during the run-up to Christmas. He was lounging in his favourite chair as he halfheartedly read a Transfiguration Weekly and sipped eggnog.
The twins were a bit sulky over Christmas but they were still quite pleased with the presents they did get even if they didn't get brand-new brooms. They would get to see the Holyhead Harpies play the Ballycastle Bats on the fifteenth of next which had cheered them up quite a bit.
Harry was pulled out of his peace and quiet when a very large screech owl pecked on the sitting room window. Harry hastily got up and opened the window, allowing the bird to fly in.
Harry watched as the owl perched on the back of the chair that he had just vacated and lifted its leg offering Harry a rolled-up scroll of parchment.
Curiously, Harry untied the scroll from the owl's leg and unfurled the missive.
Harry Peverell,
I am Quincy Moore, head warden of the magical creatures reserve at Serpentine Lake, Arizona.
I am sorry to bother you over Christmas vacation but we are having an issue with one of our horned serpents. I am writing to request that you come to the reserve and take a look at her as soon as possible.
Quincy Moore
Head Warden of Serpentine Lake National park
Harry read the letter three times before getting to his feet, he had to let Bellatrix know what was going on. There was no way that he wouldn't be going, not only was it his territory to cover, he was genuinely concerned about the serpent.
Luckily his wand permit in the United States was valid until nineteen ninety-four so all he would have to do is arrange a portkey to the L A.X portkey arrival terminal and apparate from there.
He would have to give Newt a floo call as well, he had much more experience treating sick creatures than Harry did.
Harry spent the rest of the morning arranging his trip to Arizona. Bellatrix had decided to come with him.
He was hoping that he could make it there sometime tomorrow morning as Newt assured him he would meet him at the lake.
Harry was just waiting for the ministry to send word that his international portkey was ready as he finished packing his things for the trip.
'Please don't let this be a bad trip,' Harry thought to himself as he spotted the ministry owl approaching and he called for Bella and the kids to get ready to leave.
Lake Serpentine, Arizona, 12/29/1991, 09:38
Harry and Newt appeared at the edge of a familiar lake as a light rain fell over the area. Harry and his family had arrived a few hours ago and had set up his tent in the nearby national park.
The first thing Harry noticed after he appeared was an eerie cry ringing out over the lake sending a chill up his spine.
"There is a thunderbird overhead, it is warning us of danger," Newt said warily as he spotted a large shape flying through the dense clouds overhead.
"Do you feel that?" Harry asked as he came to a stop about twenty feet from away the edge of the lake.
"No, what is it?" Newt asked warily as he looked at Harry.
"This whole area reeks of dark magic, it's almost suffocating," Harry muttered as he drew his wand and began casting detection spells at the edge of the lake
"You're sure?" Newt asked, sounding alarmed.
"Yes, I think that a powerful curse has been placed over the area," Harry answered as he interpreted his readings.
"What kind of curse?" Newt asked as he spotted a set of long horns break the surface of the water as thunder cracked loudly overhead.
"The water will corrupt all it touches and force any living thing to carry out the caster's will," Harry muttered as a large shape moved through the water heading for shore.
"Didn't the warden say there was an injured serpent? Perhaps we should find out about that," Newt asked as he looked warily at the lake.
"Yes, we need to go to the warden's office and find out where the injured serpent is," Harry said, remembering why they had originally come here.
"Good because we're being hunted," Newt said as he pointed to the shape about fifty feet out in the lake.
"Right, Harry said as he took Newt's hand and apparated them both to the warden's office with a soft 'pop.'
Harry was taken aback when they appeared in front of the warden's office. There was a massive glass tank in front of the tiny building that easily dwarfed it in size. The glass construct resembled a mammoth rectangular fish tank that was at least sixty feet long, and every bit of thirty feet wide.
The tank was filled with crystal-clear water. Inside the tank, there was a massive horned serpent with vibrant orange scales and a familiar red crest on its head, floating listlessly in the tank.
Harry recognized the snake, this was the horned serpent he'd met when he'd first travelled to this reserve.
"Adsila," Harry muttered softly, feeling his stomach twisting painfully.
Harry studied her noticing immediately that her forehead was a bloody mess and her beautiful gem was missing. Her eyes were closed and she appeared to be sleeping as tiny bubbles rose from her nostrils every so often.
Harry was pulled from his observations as he heard a door open and an anxious male voice spoke to him.
"Are you Harry Peverell?" A dark-haired man in his early forties asked as he eyed him and Newt warily.
"Yes, I am Harry Peverell and this is Newton Scamander," Harry said as he gestured to Newt who was still staring at the serpent in awe.
"I am glad to see you both, my name is Quincy Moore. I am the head warden here at Lake Serpentine," Quincy said as he offered Harry his hand.
"A pleasure to meet you, though I wish it was under better circumstances," Harry muttered as he shook the man's hand.
"We found her on the edge of the lake two days ago," Quincy said.
"Someone stole her gem and left her for dead," Harry muttered, feeling his anger rise.
"Yes, we tried to return her to the lake as she was badly dehydrated but she started going berzerk so we moved her into the aquarium," Quincy added.
"Keep your people away from the edge of the lake, it's been cursed. The serpents are not safe to be around," Harry warned as he shucked off his outer robes.
"You're sure about this?" Quincy asked, his face paling considerably.
"Positive, that is why she wouldn't let you put her in the water," Harry said as he stepped out of his boots.
"There is a thunderbird flying over the lake trying to warn any from entering the water," Newt said, gesturing towards the storm clouds over the lake in the distance.
"I need to see to Adsila but it might be a good idea to fill that lake with draught of living death and bring in a team of curse-breakers," Harry said as he conjured a ladder and leaned it against the side of the tank that had to be more than twenty tall.
"I'll make the calls," Quincy nodded before rushing back into the office to use the floo.
"I will go inside and collect a sample of her scales so we can brew the restorative. If we're lucky we can keep her alive long enough for her to regrow her gem," Harry said as he began climbing the ladder.
"I'll start the potion brewing, do be careful," Newt said, sounding pleased that Harry had volunteered to go into the tank.
Once Harry was at the top, he sat on the narrow walkway that went around the outer perimeter and cast a spell to change his jeans into swim trunks. Carefully, Harry eased himself into the water before casting a bubblehead charm over his head.
Harry slowly swam over to the massive serpent who was slumbering about ten feet under the water's surface.
As Harry swam closer, Adsila's eyes opened and she watched as he swam towards her.
§Hello, Harry it is good to see you again§, Adsila said in a weak voice.
§It is good to see you too, Adsila. I am here to help you§, Harry said soothingly, his voice echoing in the confines of his bubblehead charm.
§Another speaker came here, he poisoned the lake and then he hurt me sooo badly§, Adsila said, the pain in her voice sending a shiver down his spine.
§I will do my best to help you regrow your stone§, Harry promised as he began to cast healing charms on the slashes marring her face.
Healing the slashes on her face took a long time as they were caused by a nasty cutting curse and were each one was several feet in length. Harry was able to cleanse and seal the wounds but there would most likely be scars on her face since they were caused by dark magic. In a way, it was lucky that her gem was gone as it made healing her easier with her magic in such a weakened state. Had she still had her gem Harry wasn't sure if the healing spell would have worked as the stone gave her protection against foreign magic.
§That feeels much better§, Adsila hissed softly as he healed another one of the gashes that came very close to her left eye.
§I need to make a potion to help you survive long enough to regrow your gem. May I take some of your scales for the potion?§ Harry asked as he gently rubbed her snout.
§Yes, you are welcome to take some of my scales, Harry§, Adsila agreed, sounding quite a bit more relaxed now.
Harry could tell the air in his bubblehead charm was getting low so he hurried to swim to her side and began to gently remove three of the dinner plate-size scales on her flank before swimming to the surface and cancelling the charm, taking in a deep lungful of fresh air.
"Pushing the charm to the limit I see," Newt said from where he was sitting on the catwalk.
"Whoever did this to her used a very nasty cutting curse, it was very difficult to heal," Harry said as he swam to the edge of the tank.
"The curse breakers are already down at the lake, they arrived about ten minutes ago," Newt said as he watched Harry swim towards him.
"Is the potion ready for the scales?" Harry asked as he offered Newt the three dinnerplate-sized scales he had collected.
"It is," Newt said as he took the offered scales and helped Harry pull himself onto the catwalk.
As Harry stood up a chilly wind blew across his skin making him shiver violently. Harry hastily cast a spell to dry himself off before transfiguring his shorts back into trousers.
"You have come a long way since we first worked together," Newt said as he began to climb down the ladder.
"I still don't like crawling in their mouths," Harry muttered as he followed Newt down to the ground, noticing storm clouds and flashes of lightning in the direction of the lake.
"I never liked that part much myself," Newt admitted as he led Harry over to a cauldron that was the size of a hot tub with purple liquid bubbling merrily inside of it.
"I have to powder the scales but once I add them, the potion should be ready by midday," Newt said as Warden Moore approached the tank and looked at Adsila who seemed to have gone back to sleep.
"She looks better," Quincy said as Harry came to stand beside him.
"That was the easy part, until she regrows her gem she will become weaker and weaker," Harry said as he looked into the tank and saw the ivory-white scars crisscrossing Adsila's face.
"She can regrow her gem?" Quincy asked.
"If we can keep her alive long enough but it will take weeks. The potion works kind of like skele-grow and helps her body to regrow it naturally but it draws a lot of magic from her while the gem forms," Harry sighed.
"Cost is no issue," Quincy said, giving Harry an almost desperate look.
"I'm not charging you for this, I will stay with her until she is healthy again. The reserve may have to cover the cost of the more expensive potion ingredients but caring for her is not something I will charge for," Harry waved the man off.
"Thank you," Quincy said, looking very relieved.
"Don't mention it, Adsila said that another speaker did this to her and poisoned the lake," Harry said as he felt a fresh wave of anger at the thought of how badly the ancient serpent was hurt.
"That is very troubling, speakers are not very common in this part of the world," Quincy muttered as a portkey arrived near the office and a dozen goblins materialized out of thin air.
"I have an idea who it was, he was after her gem but I have no idea why he cursed the lake," Harry said as he watched Adsila's body begin to tremble.
"Any word on the lake?" Newt asked as he joined them.
"Mister Peverell was right. The lake was cursed, whoever did it spent weeks setting the curse up," Quincy admitted.
"I can't understand why tho-
Harry was cut off as Adsila began to thrash in the tank, sending water sloshing over the sides.
"What's happening?" Quincy asked in alarm.
"Her magic is being stretched to the limit, she's experiencing muscle spasms," Newt said, his tone sounding worried.
"Newt I have one of Adsila's spikes from my first visit here, it's my trunk. Could you go back to my tent and get it? It might strengthen the potion," Harry said before he made his way back towards the ladder leaning against the side of the tank
"Of course but what are you going to do?" Newt asked warily.
"Share some of my magic with her so I can keep her alive until the potion is ready," Harry answered as he began to climb the ladder.
"Be careful my boy, if you give her too much you'll be in the same state as she is," Newt warned before disappearing with a soft 'pop'.
Harry quickly made it onto the catwalk and transfigured his trousers back in so swimwear before diving into the Tank. He swam over to Adsila who was now floating just below the water's surface, her body trembling so badly that the water around her was rippling.
Harry swam over and positioned himself so that he was perched on her snout between the two fiery red crests running down the top of her head.
Leaning forward, Harry gently placed both of his palms against the indention where her gem once rested and began to channel his magic into her, causing her piercing blue eyes to flutter open and the tremors in her body to abate.
§That feels nice, Harry§, Adsila said softly.
"§I am giving you some of my magic§, Harry said as he felt her smooth scales under his palms.
§I was right about you, Harry, you are a great warrior§, Adsila muttered sleepily.
§I like to think of myself as a protector§, Harry admitted as Adsila fell asleep, her body rising out of the water a bit higher.
"Whatever you're doing seems to be working," Quincy said from the walkway on top of the tank.
"This will only work for so long," Harry admitted as he felt his magic continue to flow down his arms and into the large serpent.
"Mister Scamander said the potion will be ready in ninety minutes, the spike sped up the brewing process a lot," Quincy said.
"Good, the sooner she starts taking the potion, the better," Harry said softly.
Harry looked over the desert and saw flashes of lightning and steel grey clouds over the lake.
"Looks like the breakers have their work cut out for them," Harry said, as he started to feel the pull on his magic and his eyelids started feeling heavy.
The wind also felt very cool on his wet skin as he knelt on Adsilla's large snout, the both of them floating in the middle of the tank.
"They've been bringing in all sorts of teams, they even brought in Sanjay Patil to try and help them with the other serpents," Quincy admitted.
"He knows them better than I do, I've only been here once before," Harry admitted.
After this Harry didn't have the concentration to talk as his magic as the drain on his magic became more noticeable.
Harry had no concept of time as his knees screamed in protest as her armoured scales dug into them due to the awkward position he had to be in to reach the spot where her gem would grow. Harry was just starting to feel close to giving in to unconsciousness when he heard Newt call his name.
"Harry, I need you to get her to drink this," Newt said as he held a clear one-gallon milk jug filled with shimmering blue liquid.
Harry was surprised when Adsila began to swim towards Newt as she lifted her head out of the water.
§It is time for you to rest, Harry. You are growing weak§, Adsilla said as the reached the edge of the tank.
As Harry clumsily clambered onto the catwalk, he was heartened to hear that her voice sounded much stronger.
§I need you to drink the potion my friend has, it may taste bad but it will help heal you§, Harry said as h took a seat, feeling very light-headed.
§I will take the potion§, Adsila answered before turning to Newt.
"She says she will take the potion," Harry assured him.
Adsila opened her mouth exposing her long curved fangs to Newt. Cautiously, Newt began to pour the blue liquid into her mouth. Harry noticed the potion was the exact same shade as her eyes and the colour of her old gemstone.
Harry watched her drink down the potion and did a double-take as he noticed a tiny little gem was already starting to grow in the indention on her forehead. It was tiny about the size of the capstone on Bella's Lady's ring but it was there.
"Her stone is starting to grow back already," Harry smiled as Adsila settled back into the tank and closed her eyes.
"You're magic accelerated the process a bit," Newt chuckled as he looked at the serpent sleeping peacefully below the water's surface.
"Good, I may help her along but I am close to magical exhaustion," Harry muttered.
"I knew that would happen," Newt said as he offered Harry a vial of pepper-up potion.
"So now we wait?" Quincy asked.
"That's all we can do but her gem has already started to grow back so she will begin to get stronger the larger it gets," Newt said while Harry down the potion.
"Warden, do you mind if I set my tent up here? I want to be close in case her condition changes," Harry asked as he shakily rose to his feet.
"By all means, you're more than welcome to camp here," Quincy said looking relieved.
"Thank you, my wife and kids will love her," Harry said as he sent a patronus to tell Bella to pack things up and come here.
Harry nearly fell over from the power it took to cast the spell. Lucky Newt placed a hand on his shoulder to steady him before Harry could fall twenty feet to the ground below.
"Perhaps you shouldn't cast magic for a bit," Newt suggested before he began to climb down the ladder.
"I noticed," Harry muttered as he followed after his old mentor.
Harry's mind was reeling as he pondered the situation here. He was almost certain that Voldemort was behind this but for the life of him, he couldn't figure out why.
Voldemort had taken Adsila's gem which Harry understood even if the thought enraged him beyond belief but why would Voldemort curse the lake, it just didn't make any sense.
Either way, Harry would not let this attack go unpunished, he would return the favour and make Voldemort regret attacking one of the serpents under his care.
Godric's Hollow, Wales, 13/31/1991, 23:59
The Abbott family were singing Auld Lang Syne as they watched the clock tick down the seconds to the new year.
Hannah was anxiously anticipating the new year so she could turn in for the evening. She had spent the day with Susan and her family and had tired herself out playing in the snow with her longtime friend.
At the ten-second mark, her parents stopped singing and began counting down the seconds as they ticked by on the grandfather clock.
"10...
"9...
"8..
"7...
"6...
"5...
"4...
"3...
"2...
"1...
"Happy New yea-
'BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!'
The Abbotts were cut off in celebrating the new year as their sitting room wall exploded inward, slinging all three Abbotts across the room before the upper floors of their home collapsed on top of them, trapping them under tons of debris.
Hannah's last thought before she lost consciousness was that the new year wasn't looking very promising.