Des gobelins une duchesse, et des dettes, oh mon
By the time Harry wakes up several hours have passed and he finds himself in an unfamiliar room lit by glowing torches that burn with a flame he can scarcely see. Looking around he finds that he is not alone as not a foot away from him on the stone platform rests who he believes is the girl he had tried to save. But somehow her hair is now a silvery blonde and he is alarmed to see she is clutching the sword he had somehow made as she watches the door.
Unable to stay still forever he eventually has no choice but to move his need for water driving him it is just lucky he was so stiff as otherwise with the speed the blonde girl spins around he might have lost his head. Holding up his hands in surrender at the burning blue eyes he tries to smile but it comes across more as a grimace. Fortunately for him however the girl seeing him awake quickly lets the sword clatter to the platform beside them as she starts speaking at him in rapid fire French while trying to hand him a glass of water. Unfortunately for him he can't understand her nor does it appear she speaks English so it is only after several minutes involving her nearly drowning him in effort to help him drink does he manage to get his name across let alone get hers. It is then that he finds out her name is Gabrielle and she is just as scared if not more so than he is by the events of the last day or so.
Unfortunately for him, that is all he can make out as she seems to only speak French and what he guesses to be some amount of German, neither of which he can understand very well. This leaves them at an impasse for several minutes until a goblin enters the room and after staring at them for several moments sighs before throwing a pendant at Harry.
Instinctively Harry catches the pendant realising the minute his hand encloses it that he can suddenly understand the blonde girl who immediately chastises him for catching an unknown object yelling something about silly English boys and something called a 'portkey'.
His shock causes him to drop the pendant noticing how immediately her words become that rapid fire unintelligible French to him again before he picks the pendant back up and suddenly can understand her. Immediately, he realises this must be some sort of translation device, and he finds himself looking at all the strange little runes and markings etched into the device
His inspection of the device is suddenly broken when the gravelly voice of the goblin pierces the room "Now that you are awake Heir Potter-Black we can finally discuss exactly what it was that you did that set off every alarm in my bank"
Harry looks up at the goblin before him, unsure of exactly what the being is talking about but far too familiar with the consequences of 'disrespect' to not treat anyone unknown with the utmost respect. After a few moments to piece his words together, he says, "I don't know any Heir Potter-Black sir, I'm just Harry, Harry Potter, I don't mean to waste your time…"
He is cut off as the goblin raises a hand bringing him up short as he says "I assure you Heir Potter-Black, I know exactly who I am stood before. I do not know why you seem unaware, but allow me to enlighten you. You are Harry James Potter, son of Lady Lilly Potter née Evans, and Lord James Potter, Your blood adopted kin are Lady Andromeda Tonks, and Lord Sirius Black.”
Then pausing as if in consideration the goblin continues “By our records there is a kidnapping notice filed with the goblin nation stating you are meant to be living with Lady Tonks but have been missing since you were a babe. This all was told to us by our wards the moment you entered this bank, and a notification has already been dispatched, now…”
His incredulity leads Harry to forget himself momentarily as he interrupts "wait! what! I have someone who actually wants me!" This seems to be the wrong thing to say as the goblins expression darkens before his very eyes as the blonde at his side suddenly has eyes welling with tears as she practically mugs him in her speed to hug him.
Before he can say anything further though a voice echoes throughout the corridors of the bank and Harry hears a voice he does not remember but that fills him with a sense of warmth and love yelling "I swear to Circe, if you don't take me to him, and stop impeding me, I will let loose every dark magic the house of Black has ever devised, and if you have harmed that boy in any way I will make those magics look like mercy when I unleash the magics of the Clan Morrigan!"
As the sound of running feet and clattering armour approaches the goblin deadpans “I’d say you do indeed Heir Potter-Black” and Harry watches as the doors to the room suddenly sweep open and like an avenging goddess Andromeda Tonks née Black storms into the room.
Andromeda’s black hair crackles with dark purple and silver energy as she looks around the room her silver eyes piercing first the goblin then the girl at Harry's side before finally meeting his own. For several moments they hold each others gaze and then it is like the woman deflates and the crackle of energy dissipates as she makes for him as fast as her legs will carry her.
She gets about 3ft away from him before she is brought up short, the blonde girl having fumbled up the sword and holding it out as if ready to defend him. Andromeda, for her part, pulls up hard before quirking an eye at the young woman assessingly before saying in perfectly accented French, "you can put the sword down, I do not mean my nephew any harm"
Gabrielle looks at the foreboding woman before her unsure exactly why but willing to defend her saviour with her life before looking back to Harry, earning her an approving eye from the elder witch and finding him instinctively bringing his hand up to lower the sword in her hands. In the second that follows her lowering the sword Andromeda gives her a flash of a approving smile and then is already on them sweeping the still tired Harry into her arms saying "Harry, oh Circe look how big you've gotten. I swear Harry I never stopped looking for you. I searched everywhere but I couldn't find you and that bearded old goat would never tell me. He just kept on saying you were where you needed to be and everything would work out for the Greater Good, I swear I nearly eviscerated him dozens of times, but I couldn't be sure where you were and if you would be safe if I did…"
Harry, never having experienced such care, devotion or love within his memory, takes a few moments to mentally adjust to the fact that this woman is talking to him. That she seems to care for him, despite every instinct that he has trusted to keep him alive over the past decade yelling at him that this woman is safe, that he can trust her.
It is only when he gives in enough to hug her back his face pressed into her shoulder that the scent of her perfume hits him and causes flashes of memory to hit him. They hit him like a truck one after the other, the woman, Andi, holding him while his parents dash off to work. Andi cuddling him in front of a fire. Andi watching as he and another baby with vibrantly changing hair play. Andi comforting him when he was sad.
Immediately and without conscious thought his arms lock around the woman and his nose practically forces itself into her hair as tears well up in his eyes as he asks "Drommy?"
This causes a chain reaction as Andromeda’s arms somehow manage to tighten further onto him as she says "yes sweet boy, i'm here, Drommy is here, shh, its alright Harry, I'm here and im not going anywhere again"
After several more minutes which are emotionally exhausting for everyone involved the goblin clears his throat, only to be met by a glare more deadly than dragon fire causing the poor being to hold his hands up in involuntary surrender, well aware just how deadly a mother can be when their child is threatened. unlike humans Goblins aren't daft enough to suggest that blood is all that determines maternity.
That this response seems to be mirrored by the small Veela girl beside them with the large bronzium gladius is of note but the goblin is hoping that they can maybe start getting on with bank business, unfortunately for him though this hope seems to be dashed when an echoing avian screech echoes throughout the bank and the temperature starts to slowly rise.
Unsure of just what diety they have infuriated to have called such headaches upon themselves the goblin sighs before looking first at the highly strung witch and then looking at the small blonde girl saying "well it looks like your mother has arrived Ms Delacour.”
This causes several moments of confusion on Harry's part as he doesn't even know what a Veela is let alone why the avian scream would mean Gabrielle’s mother is here. But this confusion is put aside when Gabrielle says 'non, Maman would not lose control of her Veela like that that will be my seester"
After several minutes this statement seems to be proven prophetic as a striking triad of blonde haired women enter the room. The eldest of the three appears to be a slightly older woman with intense dark blue eyes and what appear to be feathers laced through her blonde hair, which immediately has the goblin bowing deeply and welcoming "The Duchess Delacour".
Following beside the eldest woman are two others: one woman who appears to be about Andromed’s age with features that seem to be in flux between human and avian despite her regal bearing and the younger woman beside her who appears to be more avian than human at the moment and who upon seeing Gabrielle practically lunges for her.
Unfortunately for everyone involved, Harry still does not know what a Veela is, nor that the woman/bird headed for Gabrielle means her no harm. It is this, combined with his magics inherent protective nature, that causes him to practically shoot out of Andromeda's arms and in a near mirror of what happened earlier to summon his blade from Gabrielle’s loose grip and bring it to rest an inch before the woman's advancing sternum an intense ball of magic and electricity glowing and crackling a vibrant Viridian at the edge of the blade.
This unfortunately causes the young woman to revert to her full avian form and in seconds Harry is staring down a fully transformed adolescent Veela his magic surging as it fights off the growing heat and flames she is releasing. Unconciously his own magic starts to surge again as his own cloak of magic surrounds him battling away the heat and crackling like lightning as it prepares to defend the young wizard.
Despite this it takes a full 4 seconds before anyone intervenes and even then it is the elder most woman who snaps "Fleur enough of this, you will regain your human form right this second, or that boy and his sword will be the least of your worries" this seems to bring the adolescent Veela up short as she quickly takes a step back and seems to be forcing herself under control even as she eyes Harry and his sword warily
Even as the elder woman speaks Gabrielle seeing the potential for her sister to end up like the boys in the alley and realising that Harry is running on adrenaline and instinct carefully reaches her hand toward the sword and places her hand on the hilt trying to lower it's she says "Harry, that is my Seester Fleur. She means me no harm, and I will allow her to bring no harm to you or your Drommy"
Harry looks at the eyes of the blonde girl he is protecting then at the obviously wary eyes of her sister before noticing the looks he is getting from the adults; after meeting Andromeda's eyes still not quite sure, he turns back to look once more into the eyes of Gabrielle and after seeing the beseeching look she is giving him he nods and lowers the blade allowing the elder sister to immediately sweep Gabrielle into her arms and retreat towards what he is assuming are her mother and grandmother.
After several minutes of brief hushed talking between the French Veela Quartet during which time Harry puts down the pendant intent on letting them get some degree of privacy they turn back to face Harry and Andromeda at which point the eldest amongst them begins to speak "Heir Potter-Black, I am the Duchesse Angélique Delacour du Aquitaine, it appears my family owes you a debt for the safe return of mon petite fille, you may of course name your boon and if it is within my power it shall be granted."
As soon as the words cross the duchess` lips it is obvious the effect her words have, the goblin stood in the corner seems to practically salivate while both Fleur and Appoline look shocked and slightly concerned. Turning back to look at Andromeda Harry sees the look of shock on her face and then turning back to look at the Duchess Harry straightens his spine and while trying desperately to remember the stories he had read of Knights and royalty, or those Andi had told him as bedtime stories when he was a babe he sketches a unsteady and slightly uncoordinated half bow as he says "I recognise no debt between us my lady. I only did what my honour required of me. I know what it is like to be attacked without reason and I could not allow the same fate to belong to another"
His response earn him a scowl from the goblin as the being watches the opportunity for riches be thrown away while Harry feels Andromeda's magic beside him practically brimming with an amused happiness. Across the room however it is the Duchess who has the most profound reaction as she smiles at him before turning to look at Appoline and asking "and what say you now daughter?"
Appoline looks between her mother and Harry, her gaze seeming to pierce him; for several seconds Harry feels the touch of distant magic like it is trying to draw him nearer but his mind instinctively crushes it causing Appoline to let out a small half smirk as she says "I think you are right Maman, although I fear my daughter may combust if you do not say it."
Hearing the words from Appoline, Harry is again confused, something he is almost sure is becoming his default state, as he looks to Gabrielle who is seemingly buzzing with excitement as she looks to her grand mere.
After a moment longer, looking at her grand daughter, the duchess answers “I suppose you are right, my dear," before turning to look at Harry and Andromeda saying "well, in that case Heir Potter-Black, you leave me no choice but to impart a boon of my own" then focussing on Andromeda she asks "you are Heir Potter-Black’s guardian Non?"
Realising she is being addressed by a woman who's status rivals even the founder of House Black Andromeda drops into a half curtsy as she says "Lady Andromeda Tonks, Née Black, Steward and Regent of the Most Ancient and Most Noble House of Potter, and Clan Morrigan, Regent in Absentia of the most Ancient and Most Noble House of Black, at your service Your Highness"
The Duchess` eyebrows raise as Andromeda speaks her titles while Harry can only look on confused at the list of titles his Drommy lists and what they all may mean. However, he has little time to focus on this as the Duchess speaks again, saying "Well, Lady Tonks, the actions of your ward this day have saved my grand daughter from suffering the likes of which many can scarcely imagine."
Then, looking at Harry with a smile, the Duchess continues before he can interrupt, saying, "that your ward sees his actions as not of note does not decrease the value in them to my eye, and so i shall grant you both a boon,"
Turning back to Andromeda she continues "i am of course aware of the notice you filed with the Goblin Nation, and the actions of your Chief Warlock to suppress it. I have decided that for the actions of your ward, the Duchy of Aquitaine shall grant you and your ward our protection."
Then, looking back to Gabrielle, who is vibrating like she may explode at any moment, she declares, "you shall be granted a home alongside my kin and treated as the same; it is my hope that you will accept this boon," her tone turns teasing as she says "and that perhaps given time your ward's temperament may rub off on my granddaughter" earning her a pout from Gabrielle.
Andromeda takes a few moments to process what she has just heard as she says, "Your Highness, I am honoured by your offer, but I could not allow us to impose on you in such a way; Heir Potter-Black is not my only charge, my Daughter is about to go back to school as we speak and both my husband and I work as healers within Britain…"
The Duchess doesn't get a chance to respond because Gabrielle beats her to it as she declares, "but Grand Mere, that is perfect. We always need more healers, and it would do Fleur good to have a friend for once."
This outburst earns Gabrielle an offended look form Fleur even as her Maman tries to cover a snort of amusement, and the Duchess works to maintain her composure before she says, "well, Lady Tonks, it appears my grand daughter has already seen fit to bypass those barriers for us."
Andromeda cant help but smile at the blonde girls actions which reminded of Nymphadora and her own actions at that age as she says "indeed your highness, I am honoured, but i would need to ask my ward, and husband…"
This seems to be all that Gabrielle needs to hear as she seemingly teleports to Harry and starts barraging him in French. He barely has time to clutch the pendant to ensure he doesn't lose it before Gabrielle is upon him. What follows has to be the most effective use of puppy dog eyes Harry has ever or will ever witness as Gabrielle proceeds to convince him of the importance of accepting her grand mothers offer much to the amusement of all the adults present and the annoyance of Fleur.
Eventually unable to withstand the barrage from Gabrielle Harry looks up to meet Andromeda's amused gaze, his own both begging for her help and yet asking her to agree as well.
Andromeda looks down at her nephew, trying not to laugh, reminded of the way Poor James had been around Lilly. As she smiles at him before saying, "very well, i shall speak to Ted and Nymphadora" then, looking at the duchess, she asks "if i may ask your indulgence Your Highness, may I leave my ward in your care while I discuss this with my husband and daughter? I do not trust the Chief Warlock not to meddle if I were to return with him to England."
The Duchess smiles at Andromeda as she says, "Of course, Lady Tonks, we will look after your ward like he is of our own blood" Then, losing control of her mask, she says, her voice full of amusement, "Besides it seems as if my granddaughter has already decided she is going to be keeping your ward."
This comment causes Andromeda to laugh even as Gabrielle blushes and whines out "Grandmere!"
Harry for his part still with arms full of blonde Veela does all he can to protect himself from the return of the pout he is already sure should be a war crime as he strokes Gabrielle’s hair like she is a saddened puppy earning him a pleased hum/chirp from Gabrielle who on realising what she has just done blushes even redder but refuses to move even as she stares at her elders daring them to say a word at their own peril.