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“Uuuugh…”
Nymphadora groaned, dangling bonelessly from the door handle as she dragged herself into her flat.
It had been a long, long day. Training had been rough. Moody had been in a pissy mood and decided that the best way to work out his frustrations was to grind his trainees down to a fine paste.
Everything ached. Her legs felt like jelly, her back was fucking killing her, her shoulders were fucking killing her, her ears were ringing and she swore she could still hear a faint echo of ‘CONSTANT VIGILANCE!’ whenever it got too quiet.
She managed to get to her feet, kicking the door closed behind her as she stumbled over to the sofa. She draped herself over the top and let herself topple into a heap onto the soft cushion.
“Nhhhhhhm.” She grumbled into the seat, taking deep breaths as her sweaty clothes soaked into the sofa's soft cotton.
Tonks lay there, dead to the world, for a good five minutes, before rolling over onto her back.
“Feed me!” She called out into the hallway. A moment passed, and Tonks lifted her head up as she glared at the bedroom door.
“I'm sweating all over your couch!”
Crickets.
Tonks sat up on the couch. Feeling around for her wand, she finally fished it out of her back pocket.
“Accio Harry.”
Nothing. No scream from the bedroom as he slammed against the door. No cursing her name. No calling her by her name.
“What? No waaayyyyy!” Tonks kicked her feet like a petulant child before rolling off the couch. She tossed her shirt and then her bra off as she kicked out of her shoes.
She left a trail of clothing on her way to the kitchen, until she was clad only in her knee-high socks - with little nifflers chasing coins on them - and her knickers.
She let out a refreshed breath as she opened the fridge, the cool air providing some relief for her still aching body as she peered in.
Leftovers. Things that required cooking. Sweets. A box of crackers - she wanted real food, damn it! - moving parts to assemble a lazy sandwich.
She stared into the fridge for quite a while, cycling through her options until her standards lowered enough that, with a sigh of defeat, she circled back to the leftovers.
It would have to be spaghetti three nights in a row.
She heard a pop from the living room - why the fuck did she always forget she could just do that instead of walking up seven flights of stairs? - and she spun around, a big grin on her face.
Her boyfriend had arrived to save the day.
Harry was standing directly behind the sofa. His hair was a disheveled mess - even more so than usual - and as Nym walked over, he mimicked her by collapsing face first onto the seat.
Harry groaned, “Nymphadora,” he put on that scolding tone that both irritated her and turned her on, “why is my couch all sweaty?”
“You can spank me later.” Tonks said as she crossed her arms in front of him. Harry glanced up at her, and she smirked, slightly enhancing her assets as her boyfriend's eyes glazed over.
Harry shook his head as he rolled over into a seated position. “Not fair.” He grumbled as he continued to stare at her sexy body - currently in its Mewtwo build: relatively small but perky breasts, well-muscled thighs and a thick, meaty ass - “at some point that's gonna stop working for you.”
Tonks gave him a cheeky grin. “Eight years running and it hasn't failed me yet.”
“We didn't start dating till fourth year.” Harry corrected as he rubbed the side of his head.
“Doesn't mean I wasn't pulling this on you before that.” She said, “Anyways, emergency. Tonksie needs food, now.”
Harry sighed. “There's nothing in the fridge?”
“Nothing good.” She said, “but if you whip something up…”
Harry shook his head, “sorry, babe, I had a long day, I just want to eat and melt into this couch.”
Tonks pouted. She walked over and threw herself on top of him. Harry let out a huff, but he wrapped his arms around her, squeezing her supple ass as their bodies melded together.
“What happened anyways?” She asked. “Minnie Mac had you grading papers?”
Harry almost always got home before her, usually by about an hour.
Harry shook his head. “Nah, I was deep in transmogrification today. I see anatomy charts in the back of my eyelids.”
“Oh, poor you.” Tonks said, morphing her ears into elf ears and giving herself a pig nose.
Harry slapped her ass, “wench. Bet you can't give yourself dragon scales, though.”
Tonks’ face scrunched up in concentration. The skin on her face began to bubble and then harden, morphing very, very slowly until she'd just about had some rudimentary scales. And then, she gasped as her face turned back to normal.
Harry smirked. “Not easy, is it?”
Tonks pouted as she laid her head on his chest. “That just made me even hungrier. Leaky Cauldron? Muggle London?”
Harry shook his head, “not in our budget right now.”
It was the sad truth of being a pair of nineteen-year-olds still trying to make it in the world. Harry, big brain that he was, was tackling a double mastery in charms and transfiguration. Tonks, meanwhile, was one year into the grueling auror academy. Both were exhausting, but more importantly, they also paid peanuts.
As a trainee, Tonks earned just enough to cover the rent on their flat. As an apprentice, Harry earned absolute squat, which was why he also held a part-time job at Flourish and Blotts.
“Hogwarts?” Harry suggested. As an apprentice, he could return to the castle whenever he pleased and eat there for free. The two of them had taken advantage of this fact during several hungry nights.
This time, though, Tonks didn't seem too enthused. “I'm not feeling up for Hogwarts food right now.”
Harry scoffed. “You're not that hungry, then.”
“Do you want Hogwarts food right now?”
Harry made a face, sticking his tongue out in distaste, “definitely not. No offense to the elves, but they need to expand their repertoire.”
Tonks sighed. She wrapped a strand of Harry's hair around her finger, playing with it as Harry ran his hands over her body. “Then we are at an impasse, my good sir.”
“You know, there's always…” Harry trailed off.
“No! Fuck that! I already had my fill this month.”
“It's either that, or we put those leftovers through their third warming charm. The noodles were already practically chewing gum.”
Tonks grumbled, poking him on the nose, “Come on, just whip something up real quick, charm-master! Just wave your wand!”
“Dora, I know exactly what's in that fridge, and it's not much. Unless you want to have a canned chicken salad.”
“Bleh!” Harry chuckled as Tonks gagged. Gently, he slid her off him slightly as he stood them both up from the couch.
“Do we really have to?”
“Last time wasn't so bad.” Harry said, absently flicking his wand to clean the sweat from the cushion. “Come on, let's hop in the shower.”
Harry grabbed her arm and led her towards the bathroom. The two lovers shared a not-so-quick shower, one where they got clean and dirty and then finally clean again, and after half-an-hour, they emerged fully refreshed, hair wet, bodies dripping and with Tonks walking just a little bit more gingerly.
Harry dressed himself very quickly, putting on the first pair of jeans and t-shirt that he saw. He was putting on his white trainers when he heard the tell-tale signs of Tonks toppling over, having been hopping around trying to pull up her ripped jeans while simultaneously trying to fit her head through the arm-hole of her trusty Weird Sisters shirt. With barely a thought, he conjured a giant pillow just in time to break her fall.
After contorting herself for twelve seconds, each body part was finally matched to the appropriate hole. Tonks grinned up at him. “My hero.”
Harry smiled, making a show out of twirling his wand and pretending to blow smoke out the end.
He messed up the twirl and his wand fell onto the bed.
“And that's why you could never beat me in a duel.” Tonks winked as she grabbed his wand and tossed it over to him.
“I have great reflexes. Remember who won the quidditch cup four times in a row? I just let you beat me all those times because you're cute.”
“I am cute.” She said, brushing her ass against Harry's crotch as the two walked out to the living room.
“Should we send out a patronus first?” Tonks asked, now sounding a bit nervous.
“Do you really want your mum to be expecting you?”
Tonks cringed. “Good point. Lets just go.”
…
“Oooh Harry! It's been so long! Has she been treating you well?!”
Andromeda Tonks fussed over Harry as her daughter stepped around them, rolling her eyes along the way. “Shouldn't you be asking me that, mum?”
“Harry's always been the level-headed one, Dora. Since you were kids. Remember when you were eight and you stole your aunt Bella's wand?”
Nymphadora's face turned red as Harry snorted. “How could I forget when you tell the story eight times a year?”
“Never gets old, though.” Harry said as Andi rubbed the nape of his neck.
Tonks stomped her foot, her hair turning blood red. “How was I supposed to know she was actually crazy? I just thought it was an inside joke or something,” she rounded on Harry, “and I seem to recall you helping me hide it.”
Andromeda beamed, “Always been such a loyal boy.” Harry stuck his tongue out at his girlfriend as Andi continued to fawn over him.
“Come, you're just in time, we were just about to eat dinner and I made plenty.”
As the three walked into the dining room, Ted Tonks raised his head.
“Harry!” He smiled kindly before noticing the shade of his daughter's hair. “Dora, sweetie, tough day at work?”
“Well, yeah, sorta. Hi dad.”
“Hey there, Uncle Ted.” Harry smiled at the man before he realized there was someone sitting across from him at the table.
That certain someone had a head of shaggy black hair, perpetually mirthful grey eyes and a mischievous grin.
“Sirius?”
“Hey there, pup, pupette.” His grin widened as Tonks cringed. “Fancy meeting you here. You never come around my place anymore, but it seems that you practically live at Andi's.”
“I wish they would visit more.” Andromeda said as Harry and Tonks took their seats.
“We see you practically every week. Your place is just always a mess.” Harry said.
“Didn't I warn you, Dory? Neat freak.” Sirius said to Tonks.
“I'll go to bat for Harry on this one. That house is unrecognizable now. It's worse than Grimmauld's.”
“Hey!” Sirius barked, highly offended.
Andromeda's wand vibrated. “Dinner's ready.” She flicked it in the direction of the kitchen, and after a few moments, several trays laden with food floated over to the table.
Harry and Nym couldn't help themselves. Their eyes were big as dinner plates as they openly salivated over the familiar, delicious home cooked meals.
The trays had barely touched the table before the two began piling on food.
Ted whistled. “You two must be starving.”
“Long day.” Harry supplied as Nym was already gnawing away at a rib, tearing the meat off the bone like a cavewoman.
“How's all the scholarly work treating you, egghead? I'm sure Minnie and Flitwick are giving you fits.”
Harry had to swallow a mouthful of potato before he could answer, “oh, you know, it's not so bad.”
“How much longer do you think?” Ted asked as the adults were still calmly piling food onto their plates.
Harry shrugged as Tonks took big, long glugs of grape juice before diving back into her plate. “I'd say about a year. Depends on how the theses go. I have a pretty good idea on the charms one, struggling a bit more with transfiguration.”
“Remember Ted's here if you need them proofread.” Andi offered. “What about you, Dora? How are things going?”
Her ravenous hunger now partially sated, Tonks was able to join in on the conversation. “It's been fine. Kinda wish we got to do more field work, though.”
“Don't sell the mundane short,” Ted said, earning an eyeroll from his daughter.
Sirius shook his head. “I can't believe it. You two were supposed to carry the marauder legacy. Now look at you! A cop and a scholar!”
“Sirius, you work at the ministry.” Harry said.
“Yeah! In games and sports!”
“Paperwork and paperwork.” Tonks said, earning a laugh from the table.
They ate in silence for a few more minutes, Harry and Tonks going on their second plate while everyone else was barely halfway through their first.
Andromeda looked across the table to her cousin, “Sirius, by the way, I talked to Cissy, she got the letter too.”
“Yeah, Reggie got one too. Have you talked to Bellatrix?”
Andi snorted. “Bella's rolling through dragon country on that motorcycle. If the letter was even delivered, it's probably a pile of ashes by now.”
Sirius frowned, “you know, she acts like that thing is hers. I might have to ask for it back.”
“She's had it for, like, five years at this point, Sirius.” Tonks pointed out.
Sirius grumbled, “Whatever, I'll get a new one. A project would do me good.”
“What are these letters you guys are talking about?” Asked Harry curiously.
“Black family bullshit.” Both Ted and Nym said in unison, sharing smiles immediately after.
“Language.” Andi warned, though the corners of her mouth were arching upward. “And you're only partially correct.”
The downfall of the Black family had been a hilarious saga that had played out over most of Harry and Tonks’ childhoods. Upon the death of Arcturus Black, Sirius’ mother Walburga had taken over the reins of the family, and the woman had gone on an unhinged spree, disowning people left and right. Andromeda had been first for marrying a half-blood, followed by Sirius for being a rebellious teenager. Bellatrix was out when she refused Walburga's attempts at marrying her off to Rodolphus Lestrange, and also for calling her aunt a rotten old cunt.
Narcissa had managed to hang on the longest, remaining in her good graces right up until Walburga became enraged that she wasn't chosen as Draco's godmother.
By that point, she must have just been chasing a high.
It would have all worked out for her. After all, she still had Regulus, her golden child. The apple of her eye. He would be Lord Black, and the next generation would be secured.
And then she discovered that Regulus had been spending large chunks of the family fortune on lavish gifts for his secret Filipino boyfriend, as well as paying all of his and his family's expenses.
Walburga had had a stroke right on the spot, and she'd hung on just long enough to cast the final heir out of the family. Now, what remained of the Black fortune was locked away in Gringotts, with some members of the family - Narcissa and Regulus, mainly - having waged a now decade-long war to try and unfreeze the funds.
“So this isn't uncle Reggie trying to get you to sue the goblins again?” Tonks asked, her curiosity piqued.
“No, this is even funnier.” Sirius said, producing a regal looking envelope from inside his shirt and tossing it across the table.
Harry grabbed it, pulling the letter out as Tonks leaned in to read along.
“Dear Mr. Black, you are formally invited to attend the will-reading of the late Freiher Karl Phineas Von Schwarzberg-”
“buh-buh-blah-bleh.” Tonks babbled, making her tongue visually twist in on itself for effect, “that's a mouthful and a half.”
“This reading is to be held on All Hallows Eve, Friday the 31st, at the Freiher's grand castle in Wernigerode. An international portkey will be provided once you respond to this letter.”
“Why are you guys getting invited to some random German bloke’s will reading?” Tonks asked.
“I'm guessing he's related.” Harry said.
“They do things differently in Saxony.” Andromeda explained. “They're a bit looser when it comes to blood-relation. In the legal sense, at least. If a big lord dies without any heirs, the estate will cast as wide a net as possible. Anyone that's even slightly related could be picked out as an heir.”
“Why don't you guys want to go? I mean, they're even paying for the portkey!” Tonks said.
“This is all just for show, Dora.” Ted chimed in, “they have to invite everyone that qualifies, but I guarantee you there's some German lord who's already bribed his way into pole position.”
“Still, I mean, you get a free trip out of it.” Harry said.
The adults all shrugged, "It's not exactly Ibiza, now, is it?” Sirius said, “buut, it seems that you two lovebirds are quite interested. Why don't you go instead?”
Andromeda gasped. “Oh, that's a marvelous idea!”
Ted nodded. “I have a feeling you two need a vacation.”
Harry and Tonks gaped, glancing at each other before looking back at their parents, “We… uh… is that… is it allowed?”
“I'm not fully up on my German inheritance law, but it's pretty standard practice all over Europe.” Ted said, “Parents can abdicate claims to their legitimate heirs.”
Harry looked at Sirius.
“As far as I'm concerned, the only thing illegitimate about you is that you turned out to be such a nerd, Harry. But yea, blood adoption is valid.”
The two young adults glanced back at each other, “I- I mean, I'd have to call in sick on Friday. Moody would be pissed.” Tonks said.
Harry stared into his girlfriend's eyes, seeing the hopeful glimmer behind her - currently rose gold - irises.
“Fuck it. We deserve some time off, don't we?”
They hadn't had a vacation since… well, since they were Hogwarts students. They definitely needed to recharge.
“Who knows, maybe you come back and finally decide to get married!” Andi said excitedly.
Harry groaned as Sirius grinned like a shark tasting blood in the water. Tonks’ face turned red, “Mum, for the millionth time, we're not doing any of that until we're settled!”
“I married your father right out of Hogwarts. Didn't I, Ted? And we weren't together nearly as long as the two of you.”
Ted found a sudden interest in another helping of food as Sirius seemed primed to make a comment.
“We'll definitely take the time to refresh,” Harry said, shooting his godfather a warning look, “is there anything for dessert, aunt Andi?”
Tonks shot her boyfriend a thankful look as he successfully diffused the situation. Andromeda stood up and headed to the kitchen while Ted made the assist by asking Sirius about the contract structure in the quidditch league.
“I keep telling those fucking loosebrains that we'll keep losing players to the italians if they don't do some revenue sharing. Can you believe that weasel-fucker that owns the Arrows actually told me…”
Harry and Tonks settled in, letting Sirius’ rant fade into the background as Andromeda's home cooking sank into their bellies, their eyes glazing over as the torpor of rest overtook them.
….
The town of Wernigerode was a place frozen in time. The small, quaint village, in the shadow of the Harz mountains, looked like something straight out of a medieval storybook about knights and maidens and grand quests.
Wernigerode Castle loomed large, perched on a mist-draped hill above the town. While nowhere near as grand as Hogwarts, it was still quite a sight to behold, a premiere example of gothic architecture, with large, arched windows, dark blue, slate tiled roofs and many spires and towers.
It was late evening when Harry and Tonks arrived, the sky dark as a light drizzle fell over the aged stone. They'd walked up here from the town, where one of the villagers had guffawed upon finding out they were heading towards the castle.
“I suggest you turn back now, children. That place… that place is haunted!”
“Seriously, children? Like, do I need to give myself wrinkles or something?” Tonks complained as she and Harry came up to the castle gates.
Harry smiled, “take it as a compliment, Tonksie.”
Her eyes narrowed. “You didn't fuck with the translation charm, did you?”
Harry snorted. “You think so little of me?”
“I think the world of you, that's why I'm suspicious.”
Harry glanced up at the castle, looming large overhead, dark clouds seemingly much more numerous over its many turrets than over the town below, “looks pretty haunted to me.”
Tonks shrugged. “Maybe some ghouls? Or a letifold.”
Harry shuddered. “Fuck that. Letifolds creep me out more than dementors.”
Tonks rolled her eyes. “Such a weirdo.” Her eyes swept over the shuttered gate, “is there supposed to be like a butler or…”
Harry reached into her back pocket - making sure to brush his arm around her waist as he did - and pulled her invitation out.
He pressed both their letters against the faded sigil embossed on the gate, and with a sudden jolt and a rusty creak, the gate began to open.
“Don't act so smug. I would have thought of that eventually.”
“Definitely not going to be detective Tonks, that's for sure.” Harry teased as they walked up the stone path towards the castle. As they drew closer, thunder began to rumble overhead, the clouds seeming swelling and darkening even further.
The path led to a massive pair of double doors. Tonks reached out and grabbed the big, ornate brass knocker, pulling it back and letting it fall.
It let off a thundering clang that seemed to reverberate inside their very souls. After a short wait, they heard a click on the other side, and the door creaked open.
A tiny, ancient looking house elf was there to greet them. Its eyes were completely sealed shut, the weight of its overgrown, bushy eyebrows too much for its lids to handle.
“Ah, you are here. The final guests. You will follow Grummel now.”
The elf didn't wait for their assent before turning around and disappearing into the darkness beyond.
After exchanging shrugs, Harry and Tonks followed him in, the door slamming shut behind them, with a bit more force than they'd expected.
The entry corridor was dimly lit, faint orange candles leaving large pools of darkness between them. Harry and Tonks followed Grummel's shadow, which grew monstrous and deformed under the flickering light.
“What's up with these portraits?” Tonks asked. The corridor was stuffed full of portraits on each side, a procession of stuffy looking purebloods with the most severe expressions either of them had ever seen.
“What about them?” Harry asked as they passed by another one, an older woman who must have been from the 18th century, sporting an outrageously ruffled bonnet with a matching collar and shawl. As they passed, her eyes moved, following their every step as her gaze seemed to turn more severe with each passing second.
“Why is she only moving her eyes? It's kinda creepy.”
Harry shrugged. “Charms fade on portraits over time. Old guy probably slacked on the upkeep.”
The lighting became a little less dim as they walked deeper in. The murmur of conversation began to fade in as they came up on a small group of people standing in front of a massive set of double doors.
They all looked quite young, right around their age, and one of them looked suspiciously like…
“Hmph,” came the familiar, pompous snort, “What are you two losers doing here? Have you been hired on as the help?”
“Malfoy.” They hissed, an instinctive reaction filled with deep-rooted loathing.
And indeed, standing there in his two-hundred galleon robes was Draco Malfoy. Cousin, rival, hateful bigot and all-around pompous git.
“You three know each other, then?” Grunted a stout, dark-haired teen, his easter-european accent somehow coming through despite the translation charm.
“Unfortunately.” Harry said. “You know, you look a lot like Viktor Krum.”
“I am Viktor Krum.” Krum replied.
“Oh! Isn't he the one you keep saying is an overrated feint merchant that's scared of playing in the English league?” Tonks said, the evil grin on her face letting Harry know this was purely intentional.
Harry glared at Tonks as Malfoy scoffed, “of course you'd have such an uncouth opinion, Potter.”
“Viktor Fraud, Krumble…” Tonks started listing off names Harry had come up with.
Instead of panicking, Harry rolled his eyes, and surprisingly, Krum let out a deep chuckle. “Those are very good. I have heard before, but good.” He held his hand out, and Harry shook it, much to Draco's displeasure.
“Men and their quidditch.” Scoffed a girl from behind them, tossing her hair over her shoulder.
Both Harry and Tonks were momentarily struck by this girl, who was absolutely gorgeous. Silky silvery blonde hair that reached down to her mid back, porcelain skin, sapphire blue eyes and a tall, hourglass figure.
“And you are?” Tonks asked, eye twitching as she tried to fight the strange aura the girl was giving off.
“Fleur Isabelle Delacour.” The girl said in a haughty, superior tone. “I am, of course, of the storied Delacour family.”
Tonks shrugged. “Never heard of them.”
“Hmmph.” Fleur crossed her arms and turned away from them.
The last person simply waved at them, “hullo, I am Hans, from Brandenburg.”
“Hello Hans.” Harry and Tonks waved back at the gangly, dark haired wizard.
“Ahem.” Came an aged, gravelly voice that made them all jump.
Somehow, without them noticing, the large doors had opened up, and standing beside Grummel was an old, balding man in business robes, hands clasped behind his back.
“Evening. It seems that you've all arrived. Follow me.”
He led them into the vast dining chamber. There was a huge, multi-tiered chandelier floating over the center of the room. Unattached to the ceiling, it glinted with emeralds, sapphires and diamonds.
Directly below sat a long table made of walnut, stretching out to a set of massive, floor to ceiling bay windows. The windows must have been enchanted in some way, because they bathed the entire dining room in rich silvery moonlight, despite the deep gloom outside, or the fact that the moon had yet to rise.
“Have a seat.” He said as he strolled to the head of the table. The six of them spread out, with Harry and Tonks sitting together, Draco trying to sit as close to Fleur as possible, and Hans surprising them all by doing a front handflip over and onto his chair.
“What the bloody hell was that?” Draco barked as Harry, Tonks and Krum all clapped.
“I call it a Hans-stand.” Hans said with a genial grin.
“Ahem.” The old man cleared his throat once more.
“Man, Hans is really cool.” Harry whispered to Tonks.
His girlfriend nodded. “We should definitely hang out with him after this.”
“I am Heinrich Vogt, I am the executor of Herr Schwarzberg's estate. Each of you here tonight is a potential candidate to inherit the estate. I will now read the list of assets.”
Heinrich cleared his throat and launched into a very dry reading of the Herr's assets. By pureblood standards, they were merely adequate. A modest sum contained in a Gringott's account, a 10% stake in the failing Blitzkrieg broom company, and…
“... As well as full and complete ownership of this very manor.”
“Hmm. I suppose it could be serviceable, after some thorough renovations.” Fleur said as she glanced around the room with silent disdain.
“It would be nice. An escape from the fans.” Krum murmured.
Draco hadn't seemed too impressed with the assets. In fact, he seemed quite disappointed. Hans was smiling, and Harry and Tonks were bursting with excitement.
“Dude,” she whispered, “no more rent!”
Harry nodded giddily, “and that's enough money to see us through the next few years. Nym…”
“We need to get this, I know.”
Noticing their excitement, Draco straightened up, looking over at Heinrich. “Well, get on with it then. Whether its assets or blood purity, I am several rungs above the rest.”
“English Pig.” Fleur grumbled, glaring at Draco as the ponce shot Harry and Tonks a superior smirk.
“Herr Schwarzberg left explicit instructions as to who should inherit his estate. It shall go to whomever is able to spend a single night within the walls of this castle.”
A flash of lightning struck just outside the window, though the ensuing crack of thunder was rather muted in comparison.
“...that's it? What the hell kind of estate planning is that?” Draco guffawed.
“This makes no sense.” Fleur said. “We would all spend the night, and then things would remain as they currently are.”
Hans snapped his fingers, “I should have brought my toothbrush.”
“If you find these conditions unsatisfactory, then you may leave and forfeit your claim to the estate.” Heinrich said in a calm monotone.
“This is way nicer than our hotel room!” Tonks said, once again burbling with excitement.
Draco was sneering at Heinrich, who remained completely unshaken as he waited for the group to respond.
“That is agreeable.” Krum said.
Fleur sighed, “I suppose it will see this through.”
“Fine! But I shall have the master bedroom to myself.” Draco proclaimed.
The others shrugged, “just don't leave too many stains on the sheets, Drakeypoo.” Harry said.
Draco snarled as Tonks clapped her boyfriend on the shoulder, a big grin on her face.
“Very well,” Heinrich gathered up his papers, seemingly eager to leave, “I hope to see you in the morning.”
“You hope?” Fleur quirked an eyebrow.
Heinrich was already power-walking out of the room, “Grummel will show you to your rooms.”
By the time they'd all managed to get up and follow after the aged house elf, they could hear the front door slamming shut as Heinrich had already left the castle.
“He must have another appointment.” Hans said as Grummel led the group out into the entrance hall and up one of the dual spiral staircases.
“I do not recall this when I first entered.” Viktor said.
Indeed, Harry and Tonks recalled walking through a relatively narrow hallway that led directly to the dining room door, not this vast, open space.
“We were clearly brought in through a separate entrance.” Draco said.
“Or the manor's got dynamic architecture." Harry said, receiving several blank looks. “That's when-”
“That is when a property is warded so that parts may shift around and take on different configurations. Like the Mirror Walks at Beauxbatons.”
“Or the moving staircases at Hogwarts.” Harry finished under his breath.
“He was explaining it just fine all on his own.” Tonks snapped at Fleur as they reached the landing.
Fleur, meanwhile, ignored Tonks as she looked at Harry with interest, “you are versed in wardwork?”
“Charms mastery. Well. pursuing one, anyways.” Harry said.
“Running from a real job, more like.” Draco sneered.
“We can't all land a cushy job being a consultant for daddy, or whatever it is you do.” Nym jabbed back.
“Yes, you are less fortunate than I, we've established that.” Draco said. “Besides, you're a liar, Potter. You're McGonagall's transfiguration charity case, everyone knows that.”
Harry rolled his eyes. “I'm pursuing both, actually.”
“Oooh, that's really impressive, Harry.” Hans said cheerfully as Viktor nodded and Fleur looked even more intrigued.
They were now walking down a corridor filled with many doors, each of them marked with photographs that had faded to the point of being unrecognizable.
Tonks was having the time of her life, slapping on a purpose for each room as they passed it by. “We can make this one a gym. Oh, and this one can be a dueling room. And this one can be just for whenever they have a Weird Sisters Hour on the wireless.”
Fleur sniffed haughtily, “how uncouth.”
“I would perhaps have the rooms for family.” Viktor said.
“I plan on renting each room out. Or maybe convert the place into a hotel,” Hans said, “passive income is key, my friends!”
“This is the first room.” Grummel said.
“I shall take it.” Viktor said before anyone had the chance to bicker.
He stepped inside and they moved on, stopping several rooms down, where Hans took the next one.
“Elf, do not forget I require the master bedroom.” Draco said.
“Of course, sir.”
At the end of the hallway, Grummel gestured to the final three rooms.
“We'll take this one.” Harry said as he grabbed Tonks’ hand and went for one of the doors.
The couple had barely stepped foot into the room when Grummel snarled, “No!”
The elf's voice was booming, deep and guttural enough to make all four teens jump in fright.
“What the hell, elf?!” Draco hissed.
Grummel remained firm, glaring at Harry and Tonks. “No room sharing. Pre-marital sex is forbidden.”
“What is this, a convent?” Tonks snapped.
“It's fine, it's fine.” Harry said, gesturing at Tonks with his eyes.
His girlfriend sighed. “Yeah, sure. Never met a puritan elf before.”
“Goodnight, Harry Potter.” Fleur said as she glided into her room, giving Harry a smile before disappearing.
“Is this bitch being serious right now?” Tonks hissed.
“Enjoy the night, Potter, Nymphadora. The only way you'll step foot in this castle after tonight is if I need the latrine cleaned.” Draco said as Grummel led him up the stairs.
“Try not to wet the bed again, Drakey!” Tonks called after him.
“I was six!” Draco snapped back as he disappeared up the stairs.
“Great times.” Tonks said fondly.
Harry grinned, “Plus we never had to go to any more of his birthday parties. Anyway, let's go to bed, babe.”
Harry pulled Tonks into his room.
“Bloody elf thinks he's gonna tell us where to sleep.” Tonks grumbled.
“Huh.”
The room was definitely meant for one person. It was small, with a very cramped looking twin bed.
“I thought there'd be a bathroom in here,” Tonks groaned, “he should have told us where it was!”
“Expand the bed?” Harry suggested.
Tonks purred, “I think it'll be fine for one night, just won't be any elbow room.”
She blindsided him, tackling him onto the bed.
Several minutes later, her sharpened nails dug into his back, she nipped aggressively at his neck as she seemed dead set on making the bed frame collapse.
As Harry rolled them over so that he was on top, Tonks gripping the sheets overhead and arching her back, he hoped that the rooms had good silencing charms in place. Otherwise, Fleur would be getting an earful the next room over.
…
Two hours later…
A powerful crack of thunder startled Harry awake, and for a moment, he was completely disoriented, finding himself in an unfamiliar space.
Then it all came flooding back. The manor. They were here to spend the night.
Harry sighed as he lay on his back. It was pouring outside, the wind howling as if it were a monsoon as thunder continued to rumble ominously. There must have been a sudden storm.
Nym had her head on his chest, body wrapped around his and her back against the wall. Harry was barely keeping from falling off the edge of the small bed.
Gently, he disentangled himself from her, hissing as his bare feet touched the cold stone.
He fished around in the pile of clothes on the floor until he pulled out his jeans. Putting them on, he deliberated for half a second before grabbing his wand as well.
He had long learned to never walk around disarmed when in the same building as Draco Malfoy.
Harry stepped out onto the hallway. It was empty, though the howling wind, pounding rain and rumbling thunder meant it was anything but silent.
Harry scratched the side of his head, yawning as he padded down the corridor.
“One of these has to be a bathroom.” He picked a door at random and tried opening it, only to find it locked. “Alohomora,” still nothing but a click, Harry frowned, gripping his wand a bit tighter as he tried a more advanced unlocking charm.
Still nothing.
“Nah, fuck you.” He rolled up imaginary sleeves as he pressed the tip of his wand against the doorhandle, face scrunching up in concentration. He let his senses spread through the wand, pinpointing the magical resonance of the knob. After a moment's concentration, he heard another click, this time telling him that he'd been successful.
“Heh.”
“You truly are talented at charms.”
“Ah!” Harry almost leapt out of his skin as he spun around, wand aimed squarely between Fleur Delacour's immaculately brushed brows.
“Merlin, you scared the shit out of me.”
“Why do you British always invoke Merlin? Is the man a deity to you?”
Harry shrugged as he pulled his wand back. “Its just something we say. I don't think too deeply about it. What are you doing here?”
Fleur was clad in a rather elegant silk nightgown. There was nothing racy about it, it was loose and flowy, but the girl could wear a sack of potatoes and make it look sexy.
She quirked one of those elegant eyebrows, “Same as you. Looking for a bathroom, no? I walked all the way down there, but every door was locked.”
Harry nodded. “Yeah, if I had to guess, it's an enchantment tied to the wardstone, allows you to really beef up the complexity of the locking charm.”
“Why wouldn't all homes have such a thing?”
Harry shrugged. “Wardstones are expensive and there's limited space. Why put something like that on there when you could use it for something else? Plus, most people don't need every room in their house to be super secure, just one or two at the most, and that can be achieved much more efficiently.”
Harry stopped himself. He tended to ramble on when it came to topics that interested him, and Tonks was really the only person that wouldn't space out.
Fleur, though, looked completely engrossed from beginning to end. “Fascinating.”
Harry cleared his throat. “Well, might as well check.”
Harry turned the knob and pushed the door open.
The room that greeted them lay in absolute ruin. Stone walls veined with cracks that raced towards the sagging ceiling. Torn tapestries, what little of their faded colour remained being eaten away by mold.
The smell of mold and decay permeated the air, and the room's only feature was a broken down old rocking chair, still rocking back and forth while most of its legs lay rotting by its side.
“Mon dieu.” Fleur pulled away, coughing into her closed fist.
Harry backed away as well, “no wonder they kept the doors locked. All the other rooms are probably as fucked as this one.”
“It will cost a fortune just to rehabilitate this place. Perhaps it's not worth the trouble.” Fleur said.
Harry shrugged. Nothing a little elbow grease wouldn't fix, in his mind.
Suddenly a high, cackling laughter began to echo through the corridor, a sudden breeze picking up behind them, blowing the door wide open and making the chair rock faster and faster, the wooden creak growing louder and louder by the second.
A woman was cradling an infant, rocking back and forth, her face turned away from them, hidden by her long, matted hair as they heard her ragged breathing.
Then, in a voice that cooed like a lullaby muddled through broken teeth, she spoke.
“A mother’s love knows no bounds. She makes sure her child wants for nothing. My baby boy, my dear, sweet Otto…”
She lifted her head.
If her face had ever been beautiful, it had long since rotted off, parchment-thin skin clinging to bone as it pooled and peeled. Her eyes were wide, empty sockets.
“My Otto, he needed eyes, and so I gave him mine.”
She held her ghostly baby up, its face emerging out from her thin, raggedy hair. The babe kicked and squirmed, mostly intact, save for the too big eyes swimming around in its sockets, blood oozing down its face.
“Jesus fuck.” Harry gagged as Fleur slammed the door shut. Just as it was about to close, they heard a loud cackling, and the apparition shot out of its chair, baby and all, and headed straight for them.
“Achk!” They yelled as they dived out of the way. The spectre cackled gleefully, her head twisting around as its baby let out an inhuman screech.
“You disgusting ghost bitch!” Fleur yelled, “I will have you exorcised!”
“Nah, she's far too solid, that's a poltergeist. Now what was that spell again…” Harry muttered.
“Wadiwassi!”
“Phrawwwwwwww!” The mother and son duo screeched, fleeing rapidly as they were pelted with glowing knuts.
Tonks stood, hand on her hip while clad in a loose tank top and Harry's boxers.
“Quick thinking, babe.” Harry said, glad that the creepy spectre had been scared off.
Tonks, meanwhile, was glaring directly at Fleur, “I see you had the foresight to pack the slut-gown.”
Fleur looked down at herself. Harry didn't think her attire was all that slutty, but he had the sense to keep his mouth shut.
“Do you English consider this risqué?”
Tonks growled, eyes gliding over Fleur's body as it was clear to Harry that she was grasping at straws. “Yeah, like you're not showing off your legs!”
Fleur licked her lip, making a show out of running a hand over her smooth, creamy legs. “You enjoy seeing my legs?”
As his girlfriend flushed, Harry cleared his throat. “Alright, let's calm down. I'll just make a chamber pot and we'll all take turns…”
Just then, an ear-splitting scream echoed through the corridor. This one was clearly human, and it seemed to be coming from upstairs.
Harry and Tonks shared a look.
“What's going on with that idiot?”
Two doors opened as Viktor and Hans both stepped out of their rooms. “What is going on?” Viktor asked.
“Are you all having a party?” Hans asked, looking very excited, “I very much enjoy the midnight rave!”
Tonks grinned, “nice! Go Hans!”
“We ran into a poltergeist, and that was Malfoy just now screaming upstairs.” Harry said.
“We might as well go and investigate.” Tonks said.
The five of them went upstairs, where they found Draco across from the master bedroom, leaning against the wall with his arms crossed.
“Took you long enough. Aren't you supposed to be an auror?” He snapped at Tonks.
“What happened, Draco, monster under your bed?” Harry asked as he walked up to the door.
“Don't open that!”
It was too late, Harry had already pulled the door to the master bedroom open, and as he did, a tidal wave of thick, crimson liquid rushed out and flooded the hallway.
“Yuck!” Tonks, Fleur and Viktor all managed to redirect the stream before it struck them, making it turn down the stairwell.
“Should have brought my wand.” Hans said, patting himself down.
“That is blood.” Viktor stated as the stream finally petered out, revealing a master bedroom that was covered in blood from floor to ceiling.
“It was trickling down the walls!” Draco said, “I demand a room change. Where is that elf? Elf!”
“What was its name again?” Tonks snapped her fingers.
“Grummel.” Hans said, “Grummel!”
They all called out for the elf for several more seconds, to no avail.
“Well that's wonderful.” Draco snarled.
“I am starting to believe that this place is not worth the effort.” Viktor said.
“Agree.” Fleur said. “They should have disclosed all of these issues during the will reading.”
“You know how it goes. Landlord special and all that.” Harry said.
“It may be a fixer upper, but I still think it has some charm!” Hans said.
“You can have it! I am leaving this crumbling hovel!”
Draco stomped his way down the stairs. His fancy slippers let out a couple of wet squelches before they heard another scream as he slipped off the stairs and tumbled on the way down.
“I will be leaving too.” Viktor said as they followed after Draco. Fleur nodded.
“I guess that leaves you and us, Hans.” Harry said as Tonks vanished the blood from the stairs.
Hans smiled, “I will warn you, neighbor, when it comes to competition, I will stop at nothing to gain the upper-Hans!”
Harry and Tonks both chortled, “Hans, you are the best, man.”
Fleur and Viktor both collected their things from their rooms as they walked down to the entry hall.
“Well, best of luck.” Viktor said.
“Hmmph. This is certainly a place you deserve,” Draco said to Harry and Tonks.
Fleur, meanwhile, was looking at Harry and Tonks, “May I owl you?”
“Like hell you will! You know he's fucking taken, right?” Tonks snapped, pulling Harry towards her.
Fleur quirked an eyebrow, “I meant you both, I find you quite interesting.”
“Come on, you bloody door, open up!” Draco snarled as he violently pulled and jammed the handle to no avail.
“Have you tried to unlock?” Viktor asked.
“Have I - do you think I'm a simpleton? Of course I have!”
Draco and Viktor were both now trying and failing to unlock the door. Harry sighed, “hold on.”
They moved aside as Harry pressed his wand to the handle. Like last time, he spread his senses out, and just as his magic seeped into the metal handle, he felt a sudden jolt.
“Ahchk!” Harry yelped as he was sent flying back, falling into a heap several feet away.
“Harry.” Tonks ran over to her boyfriend, Fleur following close behind.
“Nice work, Potter.” Draco said.
“Oh, hey! Mr. Grummel is here!” Hans pointed to the bottom of the stairwell, where the ancient elf was standing, hands clasped behind his back.
“Fucking elf!” Draco stomped towards the diminutive creature, “this manor is derelict! I demand to be let out this instant!”
Draco seized the elf by the shoulders and gave him a shake. As Grummel's body jolted one way, his head went the other, lopping off his neck and hitting the floor with a soft thud before rolling away like a quaffle.
“What the fuck!”
The lights began to flicker and flash as a loud, deranged cackle echoed throughout the room. The windows slammed open, letting in a rush of wind, rain and debris as Grummel's head levitated several feet in the air, eyes rolling in their sockets as it hung above them.
“What in the blazes is going on?!” Draco shouted in fear.
“Oh, fuck.” Tonks snapped her fingers, “you think the place is haunted?”
Fleur looked at her as if it were obvious, “Of course, we saw the poltergeist earlier.”
“There is a poltergeist?” Krum questioned.
“No, no, I mean haunted haunted. Like the entire castle is haunted.”
Draco's eyes widened as he jabbed an accusing finger at Harry and Tonks, “you! This is all your fault!”
“How is this our fault?”
“The blasted elf told you to sleep separately! You must have incurred its wrath!” Draco looked up at the elf head, “go on and kill them, I did nothing wrong!”
Grummel's head turned to face Draco, and then it went into a rapid dive, heading straight for him.
“Aaaaah!”
With a wet pop, the head exploded into a shower of blood and gore.
“Hhmph.” Fleur put her wand away.
“Maybe warn first?” Viktor said as everyone was now covered in little bits and pieces of elf gore.
Tonks shot the blond a curious look as Harry cleaned them both off.
“What now?” Hans asked.
“Is there a way for us to override whatever's happening here?” Fleur asked Harry.
“We'd need to find the wardstone.” Harry said. “They're usually well-hidden, though.”
“Fuck that!” Draco leveled his wand at the entrance, “BOMBARDA MAXIMA!”
Draco went flying as a cannon-blast shot out of his wand. The large, crimson mass rocketed forward and struck the doors with great force.
A loud gong echoed through the room, forcing everyone to brace as the room shook. Soot fell from the ceiling, but the area struck by Draco's spell remained intact, not registering even a single scratch.
There was a long moment of silence before a shrill, metallic scream cleaved through the air.
A gigantic axe came swinging down from the ceiling. Draco froze as the deadly pendulum looked set to cleave him in two.
At the last second, Draco was pushed out of the way.
“HANS!” Everyone screamed. The gentle German had pushed Draco away, but he'd placed himself in line with the blade, which sliced him clean in half.
“No!” Everyone rushed over as the blade disappeared into the ceiling. Draco stared at the body in horror as Harry knelt by Hans’ upper half.
“Hans! Why?!”
As his lifeblood poured out the bottom of his severed torso, Hans used the last of his strength to reach out to Harry. “Please, before I die… hold my Hans.”
Harry squeezed his hand as his head lolled to the side, dead.
Tonks sniffled, “he was a funny bloke, even to the end.”
Everyone huddled over Hans until a powerful strike of lightning outside reminded them that they were still in imminent danger.
“Harry, we need to find that wardstone.” Tonks said.
Harry swallowed the lump in his throat. “Agreed.” He looked at Fleur and Krum. “Let's go.”
“D-don't leave me here!” Draco scrambled to his feet, rushing after the others as they headed off.
“Where exactly would this wardstone be?” Viktor asked Harry.
“Like I said earlier, no clue, could be anywhere.”
“It is usually located in the basement, close to the foundation.” Fleur said.
“Are you a curse breaker or something?” Tonks asked.
Fleur shook her head, “I have an interest in curse breaking, but I make far too much as a model to consider changing careers,”
Fleur glared as Tonks snorted, “what? Do you find my job to be below you?”
Tonks glared right back, “no… just, it's not exactly a difficult job, is it? Just be pretty, I could do that.” Tonks emphasized her point by shifting her body around, morphing it into a stereotypical bimbo look.
“There is more to modeling than mere looks,” Fleur said. Tonks tripped over her feet, stumbling forward and nearly falling on her face before Harry caught her.
“You need grace, for one,” Fleur said with a smirk.
“All right, all right, I was being unfair to you, princess,” Tonks said as she shifted back to her normal self.
“Still, if you have an interest, you should pursue it.” Harry said, “In this wide world of magic, money really shouldn't be that important.”
That seemed to give Fleur pause, and Tonks couldn't help but beam fondly at her boyfriend.
“Potter, this is not the time to dole out nuggets of destitute wisdom. You need to get me out of here unscathed unless you wish to face my father's wrath!”
“Is this not strange?” Viktor had stopped in front of a bust of a wizard with a pipe in his mouth. The pipe jutted out to the side, small little puffs of smoke coming out.
Viktor grabbed the pipe. He jerked it down, and the wall beside the bust split apart.
“A hidden passage!” Tonks said, “that's gotta be a good sign.”
The five of them stepped into a vast, dome-shaped library, multi-tiered and laden with what must have been thousands of books.
When the last of them stepped in, the stone slid back, trapping them inside.
“Surely we can uncover something in here.” Fleur said as she wandered off to inspect one of the many shelves.
“Erm, might not be a good idea to split off.” Harry said, a bit too late, as Tonks had already gone in the opposite direction while Draco was slinking around the edges with his back against the wall.
“Not bad for feint merchant, no?”
“Huh?” Harry said as he looked over at Viktor, “what are you talking about?”
“I discovered this room. I am not overrated, am I?”
Harry blinked in confusion, “what does that have to do with… you know it was all just banter, right? Everyone talks shit about athletes, it's part of the fun.”
They walked to a nearby bookshelf, and Harry picked a book out at random, only to find it was a book of cabbage recipes. Harry handed it over to Viktor, who passed it further down.
“Banter, yes. You would not face me on the pitch. I would crush you.”
Harry's eyes narrowed, “Not that it matters, but I won the quidditch cup four years in a row. I could have gone pro easily.” He continued to pull more books out, not sparing them a glance before handing them to Viktor more and more forcefully, who was passing them with just as much oomph.
“That is what everyone says. School is not same as professional. You played against children.”
Harry growled, “I would have had the sense of mind not to catch the snitch when I'm down one-sixty.”
That lit a flame in Viktor's eyes, “I chose to end on my terms!”
“You gave up is what you're saying! Did you have money on the irish?!”
The two squared off, and it seemed that a fight was imminent.
“Hold these for me.” Viktor snarled as he dumped the last few books to the person behind him.
Harry blinked, his face paling as he had a sudden realization, “wait, who've you been passing those books to?”
“What do you-” Viktor froze, their quarrel forgotten as they turned their heads.
Towering behind them, cradling a large pile of books in its arms, was a hulking suit of armour, its dark, empty visor gazing down at them menacingly.
Harry and Krum both dived to the side, twin blasting curses shooting from their wands and converging on the suit.
A loud explosion was followed by a plume of smoke and parchment as Harry and Viktor scrambled to their feet.
“What's going on!” Tonks and Fleur came rushing in, with Draco trying to peek but keeping his distance.
When the smoke cleared, Harry was surprised to find that their spells had actually had some effect. Large chunks of the suit of armor had been blown off, including the right side of its helmet. Revealing that it truly was an empty husk underneath.
An empty husk that swung its broadsword at them, barely missing Harry's neck as he rolled to the side.
Tonks and Fleur let their wands go, pelting the suit with piercing and blasting curses. The armour was resistant, but under the persistent assault of four wands, it was slowly whittled down until it finally collapsed into a small pile of scrap.
“Phew.” Tonks let out a breath, “nice wandwork, you're pretty skilled for a model.”
Fleur smiled as she tossed her hair over her shoulder, “I was dueling champion at Beauxbatons, though I never pursued it further.”
“Brains and beauty.” Tonks said.
“Likewise.”
“Found anything useful?” Harry asked after catching his breath.
“Nope, the opposite.” Tonks said.
“Yes, every book we found was on some banal subject. Plenty of sewing techniques, but not even a single family history.”
Viktor sighed heavily, “we are being toyed with.”
Harry frowned, and then, he plopped down on the floor, arms and legs crossed.
“Harry?” Tonks asked.
“Viktor's right. Whatever's haunting this castle keeps trying to fuck with us. Well, I think we should refuse to play.”.
“We just stay here?” Fleur asked.
“Yep. We wait it out until morning.”
She hummed, “a curse this powerful, one that encompasses the entire manor, it would make sense for it to be much weaker during the daytime.”
“Wait it out?!” Draco shouted. He cast a quick tempus charm, showing that it was one in the morning.
“Its only six more hours or so. We can hold off that long.” Tonks said. “Anyone brought any cards?”
“I got you.” Harry said, conjuring a pack of playing cards.
Forty-minutes later…
It turned out to be surprisingly easy for Viktor to doze off. He was on his back, a conjured pillow under his head as he slept with his arms crossed, chest rising and falling slowly.
Draco was sitting against the wall, facing away from them as he gazed into nothing while Harry, Tonks and Fleur sat in a semi-circle, a pile of cards between them.
“The baby was the creepiest part, Nym! Had his mum's eyes in his sockets, nasty stuff.” Harry said.
“Bleh!” Tonks stuck her tongue on in disgust, “I'm glad I didn't get a good look then.”
“I do not believe that was the first instance of something strange.” Fleur said.
“What do you mean?”
“Well, a few hours prior, just after we went into our rooms, I heard some very loud banging and moaning. It went on for a while. Very disturbing.”
Their cheeks reddened as Fleur giggled, covering her mouth with her hand
“Sorry about that.” Harry said.
“Oh, no need.” Fleur said with a sultry smile, “It was quite the symphony,” her eyes raked over both of them as she let out a burst of her allure, “perhaps next time, my voice can join the choir.”
Harry coughed as Tonks’ hair turned a bright, electric pink, “You're evil.” She said.
Fleur bit her lip, “and so much more.”
“You know we're together. Like, commited.” Harry said.
Fleur shrugged, “I like you both, and it seems clear to me you both like me as well. I do not see the issue.”
Meanwhile, off in his little corner, Draco mumbled to himself angrily.
“Stupid bloody German manor. I didn't even want to come. Blaise was hosting a costume party!”
“Its not your fault, Draco. You followed the rules. It was they who fornicated, it was they who sullied the manor.”
“Of course I bloody know that! Worthless scum, they ruin everything! Ever since my sixth birthday party!”
“They deserve to be punished, Draco. They deserve to suffer.”
Draco's eyes narrowed, “wait, is this the spirit of the manor?”
“...”
“It is, isn't it?!” Draco covered his mouth, having raised his voice in excitement. Mercifully, the idiots were too busy ogling at the veela to pay him any mind, “well, out with it then. Do you want to make a pact?”
“... you wish to confer?”
“I wish to get the fuck out of here. Guarantee me that, and I'll let you do whatever you want. Now come on, what do you need?”
…
“Potter.”
The three of them glanced up as they saw Draco approaching.
“What is it?” Harry asked warily.
Draco tossed a book at them. It slid across the floor, coming to a stop at their feet as Viktor stirred, stretching his arms out as he yawned.
“This diary must have belonged to whatever-his-name-is, or one of the other lords of the manor. It was hidden in one of the shelves.”
Viktor crawled over as Harry flipped through it. Many of the pages were blank, some had small notes scribbled on the margins, but then, they came up on the page that Draco had dog-eared.
“Whoah.” Tonks said.
It was a map. A fully animated blueprint of the manor.
“Look.” Fleur placed her finger on a spot, “the basement's right here,” her finger slid across the page, tracing a path as the paper shifted around her, shifting slightly whenever she changed levels.
“We could make it.” Viktor said, “it would be dangerous, but we could make it.”
“You said the wardstone would be there, right?” Draco said.
“Right.” Fleur replied.
“We go down there and break whatever enchantment keeps this stupid house running!” Tonks leapt to her feet as she slammed her fist down on her palm.
Fleur and Viktor were both nodding along, mentally preparing for what they were about to do.
Harry snapped the book shut.
“No.”
“Huh?” Tonks looked at her boyfriend.
“What? This is clear path,” Viktor said.
Draco's eyes narrowed into slits, “what? Are you too much of a coward, Potter?”
Harry shook his head, “I just don't fancy dying. Isn't this all a little too convenient? We already decided we would wait it out, and all of a sudden Draco finds something that gets us to go back out in the open.”
Draco snarled. “You simply can't bear to give me credit. Do you, Potter? You'd rather die than follow my lead.”
“How hard did you look for this book, Draco? Did it take you a while or did it basically fall into your lap?” Harry continued prodding.
“What does it matter?!”
“That is a good point.” Fleur said. “There is no risk in waiting. If the manor could have attacked us again, it would have already.”
“What if staying longer means we will never escape?! Have you thought of that? What if the manor wants us to delay to ensure our doom?” Draco spat.
Fleur's eyes widened as she looked at Harry, “that is a valid point as well.”
Harry and Tonks stared at each other, having a silent conversation before sharing a firm nod.
“We're staying.” Tonks said, “you guys can go down there if you want, but we're gonna stay.”
“Then I shall stay as well.” Fleur said.
Viktor snorted. “I will not leave here with only him,” he looked Harry directly in the eyes, “do you trust your instincts?”
“I do.” Harry nodded.
“Very well, then- Nghh!”
The trio let out startled gasps as a blade emerged from Viktor's chest. The Bulgarian tried to twist around, but he could not dislodge the cold steel as blood spilled from his mouth.
“You two. Always a thorn on my side.” Draco snarled as the ghostly sword vanished from his grip and Viktor fell forward. “I should have dealt with you a long time ago.”
Draco's pupils were gone, his irises now red and his sclera black. There were lines running down his arms, face and neck, pulsating with a dark purple energy.
“He's possessed!" Tonks snapped her wand and sent a stunning charm his way, only for it to bounce off of Draco as if it were nothing.
Fleur's blood-boiling curse and Harry's knockback jinx met the same end. Draco cackled maniacally, and then he felt something brush up against his leg.
Krum was gripping his leg, glaring up at him through gritted teeth as blood continued to spout from his mouth.
“What were you trying to do?” Draco asked as he reached out and grabbed Viktor by the head.
With inhuman strength, he lifted the dying Viktor off the ground, and then, as the others watched in horror, his hand morphed into a horrifying, amorphous mass of flesh that opened up into a monstrous maw, a maw that clamped down and chomped off the top half of Viktor's skull.
“Ah!” Everyone reeled in revulsion and terror. Including Draco.
“Why would you do that? That was absolutely revolting. Just kill them next time, or at least let me know so I can look away.”
Harry's eyes widened, “Malfoy… you… you actually let this happen? You let yourself become a slave?”
Draco smirked, chuckling darkly as his flesh began to bubble, his body losing its shape as his face became more monstrous, “Slavery? Tell me, Potter. Is it slavery when you get what you want?”
“Why would you want to kill us?” Fleur said as the three of them backed away.
“These two? Too many reasons to choose from. You? For being so idiotic that you would gravitate towards them. But mainly? Because I'm a survivor, through and through. And this was my only guarantee.”
“Don't be so sure, Drakey-poo.” Tonks said.
Fleur's eyes glowed as a ball of blue flame erupted from her hand and shot towards Draco. Tonks slashed her wand, pulling every single bookcase in towards him. Harry was flicking his wand rapidly, turning bookcases into lions, eagles and bears.
“Do you really think this will harm me?” Draco sneered. The veela fire fizzled against his skin, the bookshelves shattered, and Harry's transfigured beasts were ripped to shreds as more monstrous mouths bubbled up from Draco's body, dark, slimy amorphous lumps that opened wide and ripped through flesh and bone with wet crunches and harsh cracks.
Draco laughed, he cackled maniacally, the pure power of it all getting to his head rather quickly.
“Don't you realize? There is nothing you can do to harm me!” He held his arms out wide in a dramatic pose as he drank in their looks of despair.
Or he would have, if they hadn't already run out of the library.
“You dare run from me!”
Draco burst out of the library, all fire and brimstone as he gave chase. In his wake, mold sprouted on portraits and mildew spread through the stone.
The trio ran back to the entry-hall and sprinted up the stairs as the now truly demonic Draco raged after them.
Tonks slipped and slid down the stairs. Draco reached out, clawed, necrotic hand poised to wrap around her foot.
His hand clasped around air, the mouth that sprouted from his knuckles also failing to take a bite out of her foot as Harry and Fleur summoned her. Harry half-caught her, and the two fell into a roll as Fleur continued to power the summoning charm, causing them to slide after her as she ran.
The trio finally stopped for breath in the room-filled corridor that had started this entire odyssey.
“Any- ah! - Any ideas?” Harry asked, leaning against the wall as he gasped for breath.
“I was hoping you'd know something.” Tonks said in between gulps of air, “Blondie? You said you were into curse breaking, right?”
“I read about it.” Fleur said, blowing an unkept lock of hair from her face, “in magazines, as a leisure activity.”
“When we get out of here, I'll find you better stuff to read.” Tonks said. “Can't have two nerds in the house with me.”
Fleur and Harry's eyes both widened at the implication, before the peril of their situation quickly whipped them back to reality.
“I… I- perhaps, if the entity has fused with that pig in order to take physical form, perhaps its control over the manor is not as absolute as it was before.”
“I was going to grant you quick deaths out of the kindness of my heart. But you've lost that privilege!”
Draco was barreling towards them, his now deformed body occupying most of the corridor.
Desperate, Harry jabbed his wand at one of the doors, which promptly opened wide, and the three of them ran inside.
This room was just as decrepit as the ones they'd seen before, but there didn't seem to be any entity ready to leap out at them, and, on the opposite end…
“Another door!” Tonks exclaimed.
“Not like we have too many choices.” Harry said.
They ran to the door, pulling it open just as Draco ran in behind them. They ran through, slamming the door shut behind them.
“Wait… this is the same corridor!” Harry exclaimed.
Indeed, they had emerged onto the same exact corridor they'd just left, the same hallway lined with doors on both sides.
The loud banging behind jolted them back into action. They picked a door at random, ran to it, and opened it up just as Draco came out onto the hallway.
They ran through that new door, only to pop out through another one further down the hallway.
“What the hell?” Tonks snapped.
Draco leapt across, entering through the door they'd taken just as the trio ran to a new door.
This time, Draco emerged where they'd just been, but Harry, Tonks and Fleur each came out through three separate doors at the far ends of the corridor.
“What the fuck?!”
What ensued was a mad dash, turning into criss-crossing chaos as all four of them dashed through doors that seemed to change their mind of where exactly they should lead after every single use.
Harry ran across to the next door, Draco hot on his heels. When he came out on the other side, Tonks was running the other way as Draco chased after her, and Fleur was running in a diagonal, just barely avoiding bumping into anyone as she opened another door and came out at the end of the hall. Draco opened the door opposite to it, and Fleur ran back the way she'd come just as both Harry and Tonks barrelled into Draco's back.
It was a dizzying, confusing mess, and at one point it seemed as if there were fifty of them running at the same time.
“I've had it with this absurdity!”
Draco let out an enraged snarl. He waited for them all to be in the corridor and then, with a pulse of power, all the doors slammed shut.
“This ends now.” Draco stalked forward as the trio backed away, forced into a corner.
“Harry?” Tonks asked, hoping for a final miracle to save them.
Harry shook his head. “I can't believe fucking Malfoy is going to kill us.”
“I know! That's the worst part!”
Fleur swallowed, sweat dripping from her brow as their backs met cold stone, “well. If I am going to die,” she palmed the faded, torn drapes beside her, “it will not be with such a hideous backdrop.”
Fleur waved her wand, and the drapes became perfectly pristine, shaded a pastel pink.
“Pink? Really?” Tonks asked.
“Your hair is pink.” Fleur pointed out.
“Yeah, but mine's a punk pink! Not a girly pink!”
“You can both like pink for different reasons, it's fine.” Harry said.
Fleur sniffed as she shot Tonks a superior smirk, as Tonks retaliated with a pout. Harry, meanwhile, began to wonder why they weren't being eviscerated at that moment.
Draco seemed to be glitching, his body twitching as one of his eyes turned entirely black.
“Turn it back.”
“Huh?” Tonks asked.
“This manor has been carefully curated to create an atmosphere of terror, your alteration is not appropriate.”
Draco's mouth twitched as the blonde seemed to be struggling to take over, “what does it matter?! Let me kill them already!”
“They must turn it back. I have worked slavishly for centuries to achieve this perfect appearance. They have sullied it.”
The trio shared a long look, and in an instant they sprang into action.
“We are closer to the holidays at this point.” Harry waved his wand around frantically, putting wreaths, stockings and Christmas lights over the doors.
“A carpet would do this place good.” Fleur said, conjuring a long, fuzzy, pink shag carpet that filled the corridor from end to end.
“And maybe some personal touches.” Tonks said, pinning Weird Sisters posters over scandalized portraits, “Harry, remember that thing you didn't let me get for the place?”
“It's bloody hideous, Tonks, and it takes up too much space.” Harry said with a grin. His eyes scrunched up in concentration as he conjured up a plush beanbag chair in the form of a niffler.
“Huh, you know, it doesn't look as bad as I thought it would. Really brings the room together.”
“Goddamn it! Just give me control, you eldritch failure!” Draco screamed, body now jerking and twitching violently as the spirit could not cope with the changes they'd made to the corridor.
“Lets get the fuck out of here.” Harry said, grabbing Tonks’ and Fleur's hands as the trio sprinted past Draco.
“Goodbye, little cousin! Hope this works out for you!” Tonks waved enthusiastically as they passed by. Draco screamed in rage.
The trio made it out to the top of the stairwell. Harry saw one of the large windows and jabbed his wand at it.
The window burst open with a bang. Harry changed course, wind and rain beating against them as they drew closer.
“How high up are we?” Fleur squeaked.
“It'll be fine!” Harry screamed, sharing a nod with Tonks. The trio braced, and together, they leapt.
Lightning cracked as they jumped out, directly over a thick, thorny bush.
Tonks conjured a mattress right over the thorns, and just as they were about to hit it, Harry's own charm struck it.
When the three landed on the mattress, their feet sank down deep, and then, they were catapulted up and out, flying through the air, hands clasped together as they sailed over the manor grounds, out past the gate and onto the path.
“Ooof!”
Harry remembered to cast a cushioning charm to break their fall, which meant they were merely scratched up and bruised as they stumbled to their feet.
“Feel safe?” Tonks said breathlessly as she glanced up at the manor, whose lights were flickering violently as the storm that surrounded it only intensified.
“Not until we get back to town, come on!” Harry gasped out.
“Wait!” Fleur said before the two of them could sprint off down the path. Harry and Tonks looked at her with wild eyes as Fleur held her wand up.
“We have magic, do we not?”
The couple let out exasperated breaths as they grabbed Fleur's hands. “My place would be best.” The blonde said before twisting in place, the three of them disappearing with a faint pop that was drowned out by the howling winds.
…
Berlin was dark and rainy, a celebration of grey in the early afternoon.
But it was quiet. It was cozy. It was comfortable. Fleur's penthouse suite definitely helped.
Tonks stepped back in from the balcony, shrugging off the bathrobe she'd hastily put on as she held a letter in her hand.
“Can you believe my boss already knows about this?! We're in bloody Germany!
Fleur, who was stretched out on the sofa, wrapped in her own bathrobe, smiled, “It was positive, I take it?”
Tonks grinned. “Very. I guess we're gonna make tomorrow's prophet, too.”
“Your mum's gonna have a heart attack.” Harry said as he walked out of the kitchen, three glasses of wine floating around him.
“Oh fuck.” Tonks’ eyes widened.
“My mother will not be pleased either, and my sister…”
After having crashed for hours in Fleur's hotel room, the trio had notified the local authorities of the situation early in the morning. Last they'd heard, a squadron of German hitwizards, aurors and two teams of curse breakers had been dispatched to the manor.
They'd decided to stay out of it. They did not want to be anywhere near that manor. The trio then spent the next several hours vigorously celebrating their survival.
Harry floated two glasses towards the girls as he held his up, “To Viktor and Hans.”
“To Viktor and Hans,” Tonks and Fleur echoed.
Harry and Tonks plomped down on the sofa, and for a few moments, there was silence as the three sipped their wine and mulled over their thoughts.
“So, erm… what's next?” Harry asked, voice tinged with nerves.
Fleur shrugged. “I will need to look for places in England.”
Harry and Tonks grinned, “You have to get it close to us, we're in London, there's plenty of places around,”
Fleur quirked an eyebrow, “Close to you? Are you not moving in with me?”
Tonks squealed as Harry chuckled, “in that case, we need to break our lease.”
“That'll be a pleasant conversation.” Harry mumbled.
“I can help.” Fleur offered.
“Oh! This time for sure we can get the niffler chair!” Tonks said.
Fleur smiled, “it was rather cute.”
Harry groaned. “It steals your change! And that's a feature!”
Tonks cuddled up to him as Fleur did the same on the other side. “It's so you remember to take the change out of your pockets. It's actually really helpful…”