Harry Gaunt - Chapter 17

Bellatrix covered her head as the glass was blown in through the window, the people around that had been queuing to pay tossed from their feet and away into the aisles. Bellatrix was beside Cissy on the floor, a pain in her chest as she huddled over her. They'd managed to duck just in time behind the raised platform of the window display.

"B-bellatrix?" said Cissy from underneath her. "Bellatrix!"

"I am here Cissy," came a murmur through her hair. "Stay still. Stay still…" Bellatrix shifted a little amongst the shards of glass. "Don't move Cissy."

Bellatrix tried get a look outside, but the air was thick with foggy smoke. Whatever had done this, wasn't messing around.

"Cissy."

"I want to see," said Cissy, trying to peek out from beneath Bellatrix. "What's happening?"

She looked at the holes where the windows should be.

"I don't know," whispered Bellatrix, her eyes searching the streets for who was to blame.

Bellatrix squinted.

"Stay here," she said, placing a firm hand on Cissy's shoulder.

"Here?" squeaked Cissy. "Bellatrix you can't go out there!"

She grabbed a hold of Bellatrix's leg, which might she say was dressed fashionably for once. "No, no Bellatrix." Cissy tried to hold on. "Bellatrix!"

Her slipped away as Bellatrix darted out, the dress she'd been forced to wear sweeping at the bits of glass everywhere.

It didn't slow her down as Bellatrix hurried through the fog, her pulse racing and her hand threatening to tremble. She'd retrieved her wand, not that she believed it would make much difference against whoever had done this.

But she was approaching the spot now, a small space of air that had been cleared of any fog.

"Stupefy!" she cast, aiming her wand for the shape that was just stood there.

Her spell was blocked though, sent away with an easy chuckle. "You're not an Auror," said a voice obscured from view. It was a man's voice, he could see where she was. "Come and see."

Harry turned to face whoever had come.

Bellatrix stepped out from the fog.

"Bellatrix?" said Harry curiously. "What are you doing here?"

He looked at her confused expression. She was the last person he expected to see come through the fog.

"Me?" returned Bellatrix. "I was buying books at the bookshop," she snipped, stepping squarely up to him. "What are you doing here?"

She looked at the way he stood, the way his eyes looked but didn't see. It was just like before, something was off.

"Waiting."

Harry shrugged.

"Waiting for what?" Bellatrix looked around with wide eyes. "Lord Gaunt, you-"

"Harry," he corrected simply. "Just call me Harry. It's easier."

He glanced at her eyes. She'd called him Harry earlier.

"Harry then," said Bellatrix in a careful tone. "Did you do this?"

She looked again at the destruction around.

"That's right," said Harry with a nod, his wand already safely stored away. "How long do you think before the Aurors arrive?"

Their response time was another thing Harry wanted to see. "15 minutes, I'd say," he added, looking thoughtfully at the time now floating above his palm. "Maybe 20."

It would depend on how quickly they'd be informed. "Bellatrix?" said Harry, seeing that she'd gone quiet. Her eyes were pinned to the floating time, her expression one of shocked amazement.

She'd never seen anyone do that, not even Dumbledore.

"Where's your wand Harry?" she asked, trying to see if he still had it. He was unconcerned. "We need to go."

Bellatrix knew the Aurors would be on their way as she walked up to Harry, who'd simply watched in that way of his.

"Go?" he blinked. "Go where? It's not me that should go Bellatrix. Wasn't the dinner clear enough?"

Harry shimmied away just out of reach.

"You don't want to be arrested Harry," snipped Bellatrix, stepping near again. "Come on, we need to go!"

Bellatrix latched onto his arm that had raised to keep her at bay.

"No Bellatrix." Harry tried to gently tug away. "Just go. You're better off, please…"

But Bellatrix wouldn't give, she held on tight. "This way," she hurried, tugging him along just behind her. "We have to get back to Cissy."

"Bellatrix."

Harry wasn't getting through to her, she was trying to help him.

"Mind the glass," said Harry offhandedly as they neared it, seeing that Bellatrix preoccupied with which way to go.

Bellatrix waved her wand, turning the small shards into a fine dust which promptly blew back into their faces.

"Great." Harry was unimpressed.

"It's not supposed to do that," defended Bellatrix as she peeked back at him, her hand slipping gently to his wrist. "Hold still."

She waved her wand again, clearing the dust from Harry's face.

"Thanks."

Harry tried pulling his hand away.

"Come on," tugged Bellatrix as she led him inside. "Cissy? Cissy where are you?"

They looked around at the ruined shop.

"She's over there," pointed Harry with his free hand before Bellatrix could begin to panic. "The damage is worse than I thought…"

Harry hadn't a moment to really look before he was pulled along again, with Bellatrix stomping over books and broken shelves towards Cissy at the back, where she was tending to a few who'd been wounded.

"Cissy, I told you not to move," griped Bellatrix as she and Harry arrived. "Finish that, then we're going."

Bellatrix felt Harry try to slip away again. "Harry," she warned. "Stay put. You're not thinking straight."

"I am fine," returned Harry with heat. He just hadn't thought things through. "And why do you care? We've only met… three times."

Harry would hardly even call that an acquittance, yet here she was still not letting go. "You can let go now. I won't leave."

As soon as she did, Harry was going to apparate away.

"I am not stupid Harry," said Bellatrix without a hitch. "Cissy, will you come on!"

They didn't have time for this.

"There, all done," smiled Cissy to the old man she'd been treating.

"Thank you, dear girl."

Cissy felt Bellatrix's hand touch her shoulder as she came up from the floor, then heard her take a deep breath.

"Wait," stopped Harry. He knew a deep breath when he saw one. "I'll take us. It's not worth the risk if you're not sure."

Harry didn't fancy being splinched, nor would he complicit in hurting Bellatrix. He'd done that enough as he placed a hand on Cissy's other shoulder.

Crack.

They appeared a moment later in Harry's sitting room.

"Wow!" said Cissy, stumbling back. "That was amazing!" she cheered, looking around at the empty room. "Were you robbed?"

There wasn't a single thing in it beyond the lights up above. Had Harry sold all his furniture?

Bellatrix looked around too, her expression dimming. Arcturus had been right about Harry.

"Not possible, my wards are the best," explained Harry, shifting away now Bellatrix had let go. "But no matter, your house isn't far."

Harry began walking to the front door to show them out. "Head right, then cross-over, then…"

They hadn't followed, just watched him blankly from where they'd stood.

Harry swivelled back to them. "Um, please leave?"

Bellatrix crossed her arms. "We've not leaving until you explain what happened," she said. "Cissy and I could have been badly hurt, you owe us an explanation."

Harry twitched, nearing them both with careful restraint. "I owe you nothing," he said with weight to Bellatrix only. "You were not hurt, and even if you were, it would still fall beneath my attention."

A flicker came across Bellatrix's face, an emotion that Harry hoped would be enough to send her away.

She was better off away from him, away from it all.

"We're not leaving," she uttered, smoothing her expression as Cissy glanced between them. They both looked so angry.

"It's alright Bellatrix, we don't need to know," said Cissy, shifting to Bellatrix's side. "We'll go."

She tried to nudge Bellatrix off, and failed under Harry's watchful gaze. He seemed to find it amusing.

"Fine, we'll go." Bellatrix unfurled her arms. "But only if you speak to Lord Black," she affirmed. "You're still allies."

Maybe Arcturus could talk some sense into him.

"He still thinks that?" asked Harry with a raised brow. "I assumed after the dinner that he'd changed his mind."

Harry would have.

Bellatrix shook her head. "He would never renege on an agreement like that. And when I spoke to him last, he was concerned for you." Bellatrix took a step towards Harry, trying understand why Harry didn't care. "He can help you out of this."

She was only just beginning to see what Harry was about, and it wasn't blowing up streets for no reason. There was much more beneath those emerald eyes.

"I am not sure…" said Harry warily, disliking the thought of getting involved more than he already was. It was one thing trying to prevent a powerbase for Voldemort, but to be in another's debt?

Harry had just spent a fortune paying off his debts.

"Lord Gaunt?" said Cissy, wanting to say something as Harry looked at her. "Are you still coming to Hogwarts?" She fiddled with her hands. "You won't be able to if you're in Azkaban."

She wondered if Harry had thought of that, rightly assuming not when his eyes bugged.

Cissy giggled. "Shall we be off then?" she said, smiling at them both.

Harry rubbed a hand over his face, sighing deeply. "Alright," he let out. "Let's go then."

Cissy led the way to the door, followed then by a morose Harry and then Bellatrix, who had to contain her own giggle as she heard Harry mutter.

"Unbelievable," he said as they stepped outside. "They'd do it too."

Harry turned to lock the door, annoyed at himself as Bellatrix slipped past him. She spoke quietly to him, whispering that it was alright and that everything would be fine once they spoke to Lord Black.

Again, Harry wondered why she cared. He didn't answer except for a nod, which seemed enough for her as she stepped away. Harry noticed how her dress was torn, all along the bottom where the glass had been.

She looked every bit like a Pureblood Witch, far more now than she ever did in Harry's future.

Harry hoped it never came to pass, he was determined to see it gone as he joined the pair on the pavement, the tree beginning their walk with Harry stuck in-between.

~~~~~~~

Kreacher appeared without being called. "Master, there be Aurors outside." Kreacher pointed out the window for added emphasis. "Should Kreacher let them in?"

Arcturus tilted up from his desk, far too involved in his papers to notice himself. "How many?" he probed with narrowed eyes.

"Six," said Kreacher, holding up his fingers.

"Damn." Arcturus hurried from his chair, ordering Kreacher not to let them in. "Hide the collectables!"

Arcturus was waving his wand to conceal the various things he ought to have gotten rid of. He came to the stairs and hurried down them, waving his wand at various things before they promptly disappeared.

The last time they'd come, he'd almost lost the Goblin King's tooth from the 11th century.

"Good afternoon," he greeted with a smile as he opened the door. "To what do I owe the pleasure."

He looked across them casually.

"Lord Black," said the first one in refined red robes. "Malcolm Moody, Auror Captain." The man made a small bow.

"Of course, Captain Moody. Always a pleasure." Arcturus remembered him after his last little run in with ministry. "Are you here for another inspection?"

Arcturus glanced for a moment at the men gathered behind, hardened Aurors who looked grizzled and strong.

That seemed a bit much for a few banned collectables.

"No my Lord," said Moody. "We're looking for someone, he's wanted for arrest and was seen leaving Diagon Alley with members of your house."

Moody took a step to the side, trying to get a look inside.

"You're mistaken," returned Arcturus as he pulled the door to. "And I do not appreciation your insinuation, House Black has long upheld this country's law."

"Of course my lord," returned Moody with feigned sincerity. "So you wouldn't mind then if we came inside?"

Moody boldly took a step, his opinion low of a house that abided Muggle Hunting. The wards however, pushed him back.

"You dare try to enter," intoned Arcturus in a breathy way. "You and your thugs think it's that easy?"

Arcturus showed his wand, daring them to proceed with a venous gaze. This was exactly the problem these days, no one held respect for the lineage that had brought this country to where it was, the pinnacle of Magical Society.

Britain would not be ruined by an upstart Moody, nor anyone else as the Aurors showed their hand, vying for an excuse to engage.

"It is a simple matter," said Moody with an air of diffusement. "Tell us where they are. Now."

The men behind inched forwards across the pavement, the group all too eager to enter as Arcturus raised his wand.

But then from the corner of his eye, walking in a line of three along the smooth pavement, was-

"Bellatrix?"

Arcturus looked confused from the front door, the Aurors turning in a sweep with their wands raised.

"Harry." Arcturus looked at the boy. "What are you…"

He was stood with the girls just behind him, his arms rising up in surrender.

"That's nearly 40 minutes," said Harry. "Not good."

That was not good at all, not by far as the Aurors came rushing towards them.

Harry was under arrest.

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