A Disaster that Which.
Harry wasn't attacked as he slept and because of it woke up grateful, as usual it was as the horizon began to pink and Death was sprawled out over him. People often complained that Harry was cold and though Death didn't sleep as mortals did, he enjoyed Harry's warmth which often resulted in waking up with Death in his bed. Now he was actually awake the room was nice, militant but covered in furs and tapestries. The bed was unnecessarily large which didn't look all that large with the giant of a death god, four mahogany posters carved with vines and fae creatures, the head and foot board covered in just as many carvings each as beautiful and enchanting as the last; thick furs warming the worn stone floors, swallowing the bed and extras rolled up in the bottom of the dresser. Rich blue tapestries on the same worn stone walls, depicting fae and battles and death, the activity not the God. The rest of the furniture was carved mahogany, where the bed was almost centremost in the room there was still enough room for tables besides the bed; the window was on the right of the bed and next to that was a desk; a large unlit fireplace opposite that window, on the same wall was the dresser to the left with a mahogany dressing partition between the dresser and wall and the entrance to the right; a sofa covered in more furs in front of it a small table between the fireplace and the sofa, another door leading to the bathroom was on the same wall as the desk. Other than the window there were brass candle sconces two on each side of the bed, another two above the desk and a pair either side of the door.
"Harry." Death whined, he had lain awake until the sun had risen someway to get out of bed. It had taken a while to get used to Death's... personality. But now it never failed to amuse him.
"Azrael." The god huffed. "I'm going to shower, would you grab me some clothes. I don't care what." Azrael grumbled but nodded into the pillows, Harry wandering into the bathroom with a smile on his face. There was a large, circular pool tub, the bathroom also had mahogany furniture. Another carved dresser, posts around the tub with dark blue curtains, the sink inlaid in a mahogany cupboard and another fireplace. The tub was centremost and the toilet was behind another mahogany partition there were more furs, protected by water-repellent and warmth charms. The large shower was completely opposite to the toilet and he soaked in the cascading warmth, the first shower he'd had in this time line. Once he was clean and wrapped in a towel Azrael gave with slim dress trousers, a crimson robe, it had a high collar and it fastened over his right breast and black dragon hide boots; Harry recognised the scent and rolled his eyes at Azrael's possessiveness.
"You are mine." Azrael was completely unashamed.
"And if you had to share me?"
"I would bare it until they died. And I could remove them from you." Harry burst out in giggles as he finished buttoning up the robe, standing partly behind the dressing partition. Gellert chose to walk in at that moment, wandering and sitting on the sofa. A house elf popped in and lit the fire as Gellert watched the flames.
"You alright Gilly?"
"Is Death here."
"Why yes he is. Smart man."
"You'll be cold, dressed like that." Gellert's eyes didn't move from the fire place and Harry dropped onto the sofa beside him, Azrael's arms draped over his shoulders.
"We're going to England, you'll be hot, dressed like that."
"Right. Where?"
"It's a surprise. Now before we continue do you need a vow or a contract?"
"No, I refuse to limit myself. I will have to trust your word."
"Of course you do. Hand please." Harry held out his hand patiently and waited until Gellert put a glamour on and took it. As, what usually happened, with Harry's appirition Gellert stumbled which brought petty contentedness to Harry.
"Are we in Muggle London?" Gellert looked furious, honestly Harry was surprised or maybe not so much that he had held himself together so long.
"Yup, Tommy lives in a muggle orphanage but he's got good heritage. I'm not gonna tell you though because he doesn't know yet."
"Right. What is his name, who am I asking for and how old?"
"Hm Tom Riddle. His birthday is December 31st so he's thirteen now. But first breakfast and you mister Gilly will reign in your holier than thou attitude because I would rather not have my food spat in by a provoked waitress. By the way I'm paying, I doubt you have muggle money at least not British currency." Another stinging hex was shot at him, he had noticed what he presumed to be Grindelwald's old wand up his sleeve but this hex was again wandless.
"Fine."
"Thank you for being so considerate Grindelwald."
"I have things I need to do before dying."
"Of course, of course." Harry transfigured his robe and cloak into a shirt and jacket, doing the same to Grindelwalds great fur cloak to a smaller more muggle coat. Finding a sweet little café, opened for early workers. The waitress came over, staring flushed and wide eyed at the two men she was to talk to, Harry kicked Gellert in the shin at his nasty sneer, Harry drawing 'Annie's' attention to himself with a happy smile.
"Good Morning Annie."
"Morning... how did you know my name?"
"Your tag dear, we're still wondering on what to order. So may we begin with tea, just English breakfast will be okay."
"Yes, yes that's fine. I'll have that started up for you." The waitress rushed off and Harry turned his smile to Gellert, of whom rolled his eyes.
"Oh please Gilly, turn that frown upside down."
"I would have ak'd anyone else by now."
"You can if you want but I won't stay dead, if it works at all."
"I might have to try it out."
"Okay."
"Here's your tea." Annie set down two mugs with a pot of tea and a small jug of milk. "Have you decided?" The woman seemed more composed now and smiled softly.
"Yes, a full English breakfast for Gilly." He winced at the sharp kick he received at the nickname but carried on. "And an omelette with toast."
"That'll be right up for you..."
"Harry." Annie nodded and left passing the ticket into the kitchen. The entirety of breakfast Gellert was a grump and had kicked Harry in the shin more than once whilst Harry just ate and took in the interior of the café. It was bright and clearly well loved, it was likely it opened early to serve workers on the way to work and from the way it seemed to still be going despite its age it was doing well. They paid and waved goodbye with a bright smile, well Harry did, Gellert continued to scowl. Harry grabbed Gellert and dragged him down an alley to apparate them just out of sight of the wrought iron gates of Wool's Orphanage, the building didn't seem like it should house children, a tower of muddy brick; ivy creeping up the sides and smeared window panes in grubby frames. The garden had quite a few children playing on the dead grass and in the trees that looked half dead and rotting, they seemed as if they should snap any second which really would be a shame for the little blond boy climbing in it's branches.
Harry leant around Grindelwald to ring bell, the door took it's time to open to a staggering muggle woman, one that stank of alcohol but to her credit pulled herself together when she noticed there were adults, and seemingly wealthy ones at that, on her doorstep. It was likely that the children played games with the bell but it was also likely that Mrs Cole had to answer every ring in case she ignored prospective parents when thinking it was a childish prank.
"Oh Hello, Good Morning. How can I help?"
"I'm here to adopt. Fennix Castian." Harry snorted at the name and the woman turned her eyes to him. "This is my son, he is looking forwards to having a little brother." It took everything within Harry not to burst into a fit of giggles. Azrael however, did not have the same limitations and was howling with laughter beside Harry. Mrs Cole waved the two in and lead them to her office.
"We have a number of young boys who would thrive in with a big brother..." The woman began but stopped when Gellert raised a hand.
"I'm here for a specific child." The Matron raised her eyebrows. "One Tom Riddle, he is friends with the son of one of my own friends and having heard his circumstances I wished to adopt him so that he could be nearer school and nearer his friends and of course have his own family."
"But Tom is well a disturb.."
"I didn't ask for your opinion, I didn't even have to explain my reasoning. Go fetch Tom so we may proceed." The woman left fuming and Harry grinned, reversing the transfiguration on his and Gellerts clothes.
"You're good."
"I am not the Dark Lord without reason." Harry rolled his eyes at the response and received another sharp kick this time to the back of his knee, leading it to buckle and him to fall over as Tom and the Matron were coming back.
"Bitch." He received a clip to the back of the head though the man returned to his perfectly stoic mask as Harry sat down and Mrs Cole came in with Tom. It wasn't like Harry could use his magic on such petty things besides, his body was stiff he'd only been back two days.
"Tom I introduce you to Finnix Castian and his son. Mr Castian is the man I said was adopting you." Tom's eyes narrowed and it didn't take him a second to recognise them both as magical, Harry smirked and watched Tom, unnerving him, not that he showed it, whilst 'Finnix' and the Matron sorted out paper work. Soon enough, which Harry felt should be problematic but really he didn't have much faith in Mrs Cole, Tom had packed his things, everything into his Hogwarts trunk. Gellert shrunk it without so much as a blink and led them out of the Orphanage much to the surprise of several it not all of the children within sight. As soon as they rounded an empty corner, Harry grinned grabbed both Gellert and Tom, disapparating them to Nurmengard. The only thing stopping Riddle from landing hard on his arse was his grace and the same could be said for Gellerts reflexes.
"Who are you and what do you want from me?" Straight to the point oh how brash and Gryffindor-esque.
"Well, I just live here. But Gilly wants to be a father and decided to adopt you."
"What?"
"Why don't we sit down." It wasn't a question it was a command, Grindelwald really didn't like muggles if that short encounter was any sort of revelation... not particularly. Harry had already watched Grindlewald decapitate muggles and wizards alike, like chopping a banana, the man was really unfazed by death. Unless it was his own probably.
"Hey Gilly I'm gonna go grab my friend."
"You aren't. We haven't even discussed this fully so you need to park your arse so we can talk."
"Fine" Harry dropped into a chair at the table, as with every other room in this castle it smooth worn stone there weren't furs on this floor but there were deep red tapestries adorning the walls, depicting god knows what wars; there were windows on one wall giant ones, with gilded frames looking out onto a snowy and deadly landscape. Of course the wood work was also carved mahogany and almost all the chairs were the same. Aside from Gellerts, he had a throne as did most bad guys, Harry had noticed. Gellert had one, Voldemort and even Dumbledore had that gaudy throne in the great hall, a matching one in his office. He had noticed the staring but hadn't registered it all that much in his taking in of the room. "Am I supposed to talking?"
"I did say you were supposed to explain." Gellert said absently calling a house elf to serve lunch and refreshments.
"Okay. I'll give you the clipped version. I wanted Gellert to adopt you, teach you I mean why not. You can transfer to Durmstrang or stay at Hogwarts. You'll live here uh. I'm picking up a friend soon she'll live here too, I don't know what school she wants to go to hell she might even want to go to school it's up to her."
"Why, what do you want from me?" Tom's eyes were narrowed, ever the Slytherin.
"I don't want anything. Well nothing you can actually give me per se."
"I thought your name was Finnix?" Tom didn't, not really but it was how to start a conversation.
"Would you like to introduce yourself or am I doing that too?" Harry, again, received a kick to the shin. Gellert dropped the glamour, Tom recognised him almost immediately and very nearly stumbled back.
"Gellert Grindelwald."
"I yes. I know."
"Glad my glorious reputation precedes me."
"I don't think it's so much glorious as violent." Harry knew Tom was calculating the situation in his head. If Harry could talk back and argue with the Dark Lord without repercussions, aside from a spiteful kick or smack, then Tom knew Harry himself was not to be messed around with.
"You don't look like father and son."
"That's because aren't. If I decide I like you this time round I might even tell you the entire truth. Now, Gilly may I leave. You need to get Tom set up. I'll be going shopping by the way." Harry munched on the last of his sandwich and got up.
"Yes whatever."
"Arrivederci, bitches." Harry disapparated before the stinging hex could hit him.
"You're the Dark Lord?"
"Of course."
"You didn't really adopt me because of, him."
"Harry and yes I did. That and anyone he wants must be interesting."
"He wants me?"
"More like he wants you to be cared for, that's where I come in."
"He thought the Dark Lord would be the best choice."
"I don't know kid. Now. Denly." A house elf popped in, in a fur toga and bowed. "Is Toms bedroom ready?"
"Yes Master, between Master and olde lord's bed chambers."
"Good. We will also be going shopping at some point you need more appropriate clothing for this weather." Tom nodded wearily. This was not how he saw his day going and yet this was it. In Nurmengard with the dark lord and strange boy/ man who could argue with him without being cursed. Tom knew full well that Grindelwald's people did not get away with the things Harry did, either the man was was important to the dark lord or he was more powerful, and since Harry had apparated both him and the dark lord from England to Austria then Tom gathered he was powerful. If not both.
Harry grinned as he landed in France. He wasn't sure why but his girl loved France and growing up there. Apparently it was the home of a Bufflebee, Harry didn't know what that was really it looked like bee for the most part but Harry couldn't remember what she had said. He came to a quaint cottage, pale blue with white window boxes and frames, the side wall was decorated in a familiar mural and the garden full of flowers and plants. Stroking the nose of the Thestral door knocker, Harry took a step back to wait. It was loud inside the home as something crashed over and there was yelling.
This circumstance was new, as a small blonde boy opened up the door wide. He looked up to Harry with wide blue eyes.
"Qui es-tu?" (Who are you?)
"I'm here for Luna." The boy looked confused so Harry tried again. "Je suis là pour Luna." (I am here for Luna)
"Quel est ton nom?" (What's your name?)
"Harry."
"Harry!?" The boy ran off babbling leaving the front door wide open and Harry on the doorstep. "Harry, Harry est ici, il existe" (Harry is here, he exists.)
"De quoi parles-tu Benoit?" That seemed to be a woman. (What do you mean, Benoit?)
"Il est à la porte. c'est Harry." Apparently they had heard of him. A blonde head appeared around the corner where the boy had run and was attached to a blonde woman with dark brown eyes. (He is at the door, it's Harry)
"Bonjour."
"Harry, Luna's Harry?"
"Oui."
"Elle est une enfant." (She is a child.)
"Non, Elle est adolescente mais nous sommes amis. Elle est comme ma sœur." (No, she is a teenager but we are friends. She is like my sister)
"Vous ne vous êtes jamais rencontré." (You have never met.)
"Dans cette vie." (In this life)
"Harry." He was attacked by a flying silver curls, catching the girl he wrapped his arms tight around her savouring the familiarity and spinning her around. Burrying his face in her curls he sighed happily he'd only been here for two days but she'd been waiting for sixteen years.
"I'm sorry you've been waiting so long Little Moon."
"That's okay Harry, I knew you'd come and that's all I needed." He lifted her in the air, spinning the two of them around with her supporting herself on his shoulders.
"Oh I've missed you, it's so great to see you again."
"Et tu." Harry roared with laughter, just happy as he smothered her in his arms again. Swaying in their hug he looked around the sweet interior, a ceiling mural of Luna's design but otherwise the walls were a pale grey with blue skirting boards, a white wooden hall table with a silver framed mirror above it and the stairs to the right.
"Luna."
"C'est bon, Maman. C'est Harry." (It's okay, mum. It's Harry."
"Oui, je vois ça." (Yes, I see that.)
"Je vais emballer mes affaires." ( I will go pack my things.)
"Pardon." Luna's mother was stunned, her little brother peeking around the ones skirts staring at her sister with wide eyes. (Excuse me)
"Harry."
"Maman, qui est ici." (Mum, who is it)
"Harry." The little brother yelled in response the mother still shocked, at the name a set of footsteps ran down the stairs belonging to an older boy with strawberry blonde hair and brown eyes.
"Le légendaire Harry." The little brother hummed and pointed at Harry, now standing just inside the door. "Je vois. Qui es-tu pour ma petite sœur?" Harry leant down by Luna's ear. (The fabled Harry. - I see. Who are you to my little sister.)
"This is such a hassle, I know I can't but I wish I could obliviate them all. It is is nice to see that you were so protected without me though." Luna smiled gently leaning back into Harry as she turned to face her family. "Nous sommes juste amis. Elle est comme ma sœur aussi, mes meilleures ami. Mes âmes sœur." (We're just friends. She's like my sister too, my best friends. Soulmates.)
"Comment?" (How.)
"Pendant que Luna fait ses valises, j'aurai besoin d'un vœu inviolable de la part de quiconque etendra la vérité." Harry tilted his head down to look at Luna." Ils sont magiques, n'est-ce pas?" (While Luna is packing, I'll need an unbreakable vow from anyone who hears the truth. They are magical aren't they?)
"Oui." Luna nodded, pulling out of Harry's arms and brushing past her older brother to head upstairs.
"Alors, est-ce qu'on déplace ça dans un salon?" Harry smiled and pushed open the sitting room door anyways, dropping into the plush, soft pink sofa and waited for the other three to gather their bearings. They did eventually come in and agree to the vow, doing a vow with Millicent, Henri and Benoît. Using the same base of vow for all three of them Harry smiles, starting with their mother. "Jurez-vous de ne jamais parler volontairement de ce que je vous dis à patir de maintenant. À moins que je ne donne la permission explicite de le faire, de peur que votre magie ne soit épuisée." (So, are we moving this to a living room? - Do you swear to never voluntarily speak of what I tell you from here on. Unless I give you explicit permission to do so, lest your magic be drained.)
"Je jure." Millicent nodded as she spoke. Repeating it with both Henri and Benoît, Harry smiled and clapped his hands.(I swear).
"fantastique, Luna et moi sommes connectés par l'âme, par magie, par l'esprit et le corps. Ce n'est pas notre première vie ensemble. Elle était à moi avant d'être à toi et je refuse d'être sans elle."The three of them remained shocked until Luna floating her trunk down the stairs knocked them out of it. (fantastic, Luna and I are connected by soul, by magic, by mind and body. This isnt our first lifetime together. She was mine before she was yours and I refuse to be without her.)
"Cela explique beaucoup de choses sur la petite Luna, mais nous la verrons toujours." Harry nodded as Henri spoke. (That explains a lot about little Luna, but we'll still see her.)
"Bien sûr, je n'empêcherais jamais Luna de voir sa famille. En plus, elle ne me laisserait pas l'arrêter." Luna grinned at Harry and sat down beside him, leaning her head on his shoulder. Unwilling to be away from him after waiting for so long. (Of course, I would never prevent Luna from seeing her family. Besides, she wouldn't let me stop her. )
"Au revoir maman, Henri, Benoît. Dis au revoir à papa." Luna got up for her mum to hug her goodbye tightly. Clutching her like she'd disintegrate.(Goodbye mom, Henri, Benoît. Say goodbye to dad.)
"Je suppose que je ne peux pas te convaincre de rester." (I guess I can't convince you to stay.)
"Bien sûr pas maman, désolé." (Of course not mom, sorry)
"Ne t'excuse pas, je savais que je n'en serais pas capable. Tu vas me manquer bébé." Luna moved on to hug Henri and kneeling down to be hugged by Benoît after. (Don't apologize, I knew I wouldn't be able to. I will miss you baby.)
"Tu me verras toujours." Benoît grinned.(You will always see me.)
"Je connais." (I know)
"Do you want your father to know?"
"No." Harry left it at that, Luna would tell him later when she was more comfortable. Luna finished saying goodbye to her family as Harry shrank her things, pocketing them and turning to take Luna's hand, she smiled with a wave and they disapparated into the centre of Place Cachée.
"You up for shopping, as nice as Azrael's clothes are I need my own?" Luna's stays holding her hand as they wander through Frances prettier equivalent of Diagon Alley.
"I need some more paints."
"Of course. Any more clothes?"
"Hm some, but we'll need to go shopping in Austria or Bulgaria too."
"Fine, fine." Luna giggled as they came to a favourite tailors of theirs it was one of the shadier streets but the shop knew them well or would again, they loved the tailor-witch and she never batted an eye at their strange styles.
-
An incredibly 'productive' shopping trip had the both them collapsing in heaps of shopping bags and giggles as they had disapprated to get away from an angry Bulgarian shop keeper. They had knocked over a display and though they fixed it he still chased them down the road as they laughed and had to disapparate to escape him.
"And I suppose this is the friend you mentioned." Harry scrambled up and pulled Luna to her feet, grinning at Dark Lord Grindelwald.
"Gilly meet Luna, Luna re-meet Gilly." To Grindelwalds shock and Harry's third or thirteenth giggle fit, Luna chucked herself at the man hugging him to pieces. They had both been through this enough times that well maybe their morals were a touch skewered but they didn't really care about the crimes of those they met anymore, except rapists/ abusers and Dumbledore. They both held a justified hatred towards the former and perhaps, considering other forgiveness's, an irrational hatred towards Dumbledore.
Now some of those stories were stories for another time.
To his credit or perhaps healthy fear of Harry, Gellert didn't hex the girl only pulled away her fingers and set her back on her feet.
"Missed you Gilly." Luna hadn't stopped grinning, bouncing back over to Harry as Tom came around the corner.
"I don't know who you are but you missed the Dark Lord? I'm surprised, considering, especially since you look like a fairy and he's well homicidal." Despite Tom wearily side eyeing Gellert he seemed to have gained some confidence in the few hours he'd spent alone with Gellert. Either Gellert told the truth or he'd proven he was nice to him and promised not to go all Dark Lord on him. The lack of eye contact had Harry better on the first choice. Luna only shrugged in response, Harry draping his arms over her shoulders his chin resting on her head.
"As I like to say, we're morally ambiguous, desensitised." Harry grinned and levitated their bags up. "Luna's room is to right of mine yeah?"
"Yes." Gellert watched as Harry sent the bags to chase Luna, she having to duck and dance out of the way of them. He was beginning to somewhat regret having the Master of Death in Nurmengard, the thirteen year old beside him was more mature than an immortal and his quasi-immortal best friend who'd gone through who knows how many lives together. Going into Luna's room much similar Harry owns, though flipped with dark green tapestries and just as many furs, Harry knocked out part of the wall joining the two rooms and transfigured a door out of a spare fur blanket, magically putting it in place. Once the tapestry went back it hid the door but neither minded, once Luna had put her new things away, they went into Harry's room to do the same. Luna 'surprise' attacking Azrael with a hug who was, again, sprawled out over Harry's bed, catching her in his arms.
"Azzy."
"Little Moon. It hasn't been long." Luna sat up.
"For you. I haven't seen you for sixteen years."
"Ah yes mortal limitations." Luna snorted, Harry rolled his eyes at the deity.