Harry Gaunt - Chapter 28

It was raining in the afternoon when Harry had Care of Magical Creatures, which of the three he'd had before was turning out to be his least favourite.

"Gather round everyone!" said Kettleburn with a peg-leg and half a hand. "See here while the rain yet falls."

Harry raised a brow at the strange turn of phrase, which caused a trickle of water to run down his face. Harry rubbed it away, knowing the others fared no better as they shuffled in a group beside him.

"But sir," said a boy with a raised hand. "Can't we do something about the rain?"

The boy looked around, it was cold too.

"They won't come out unless it's raining." Kettleburn grinned as he tapped a small cage, which reminded Harry of those blue little pixies Lockhart had released. "Now, observe."

Kettleburn waved his wand, unlocking the latch that had held the door closed. The group shuffled back a bit atop the soggy grass, watching as little hands touched the edges.

Flap Flap.

Harry blinked a droplet from his eye.

Flap Flap.

They were pixies alright, just not the blue little terrors from before.

"Behold!" shouted Kettleburn from behind the cage. "Scottish Pixies!"

He laughed as all at once they came flying out, heading straight for heads of hair and girl's ponytails.

Harry sighed as one flew past him, wisely staying clear as he noticed their pale and colourless bodies. They seemed very curious, exploring everything while the rain pattered down.

"The trick with Scottish Pixies," began Kettleburn as a girl swatted one away. "Is firstly the rain, it puts them in a good mood. If it weren't raining they'd be aggressive, more prone to biting."

One of them took a nip from a boy's hand.

"Of course," added Kettleburn diplomatically. "If it were positively pouring down, we'd have a great time." The boy was swatting all over the place, muttering about infernal creatures before it finally went off. "My task for you, if you're up for the challenge, is to tame one!"

Kettleburn began handing out bags of treats with flicks of his wand. "Makes friends everyone!"

He laughed again in his eccentric way, the few students who were actually paying attention managing to catch the bags before they hit squarely in the face.

Harry asked Kettleburn a question. "Sir, may I run and get my own set of treats?" he asked, holding loosely onto the bag he'd been thrown. "I have some experience with Pixies."

If Kettleburn expected Harry to spend the next 90 minutes running around in the rain, then he was mistaken.

"Oh spot on dear boy!" laughed Kettleburn. "Go ahead, let every resource be available to you."

Harry stepped away. "Thank you, sir." And proceeded to walk back towards the single-door that led out to the grassy field. "I'll be right back."

A few others asked if they could go too, which Kettleburn allowed whilst the remaining Gryffindor's set about saying hello to the still quite aggressive pixies.

"Gaunt! Wait up!"

Harry heard the door swing behind as he walked along the warm corridor. He didn't know who it was.

"Gaunt!"

"What?"

Harry turned around in his soggy clothes. "Oh, it's you." It was the boy he'd spoken to while queuing outside Transfiguration.

The boy nodded, catching his breath for a moment. "Good thinking getting away like that," he said, moving so they could walk together. "Do you actually plan on going back?"

It was hard to say for the other Slytherins.

"No, of course not." Harry wiped his soaking hair as they came to a staircase. "It's pouring down."

The boy laughed as they travelled up. "I thought so." Then offered his hand. "I am Evan Rosier."

Harry slowed as they came to the top, then looked at the boy with brown curly hair and kind, open eyes that seemed amused at Harry's inspection.

"I am Bellatrix's cousin." Evan helpfully supplied. "Though I don't see her very often."

Evan would rather not talk about that though, he was much more interested in the man that Bellatrix seemed to enamoured with. They resumed their walk, with Harry saying nothing for the time being.

He wondered if Bellatrix had somehow arranged this, sent a spy to… spy on him. "Did Bellatrix send you?" Harry asked, unrepentant when Evan appeared mildly offended. "Right, of course not. My apologies."

Harry was overthinking things, Bellatrix would rather just come herself if she was really that concerned.

"It's fine." Evan wasn't one to hold a grudge. "You must be close though, if you know her so well?"

Evan wasn't trying to pry, but he could imagine Bellatrix doing that. She'd been much the same growing up, possessive and yet caring at the same time. It had made her a nightmare to play with.

Harry denied any closeness with an immediate- "No, we hardly know each other." Then waved his wand to dry himself off.

Evan looked at it, pondering.

"It's an heirloom," said Harry pre-emptively, the question on the very tip of Evan's tongue. "Did you have something specific to ask me?"

Harry brought them to a stop still holding his wand.

Evan stood opposite him, still wet and without concern for it. "Not in so many ways," he began. "But I have questions, many of us do. And since you and Bellatrix seem so…" Evan wisely skipped ahead at Harry's scowl. "I'd like to know who you are, to put it simply."

Evan hadn't even been told to. It was a purely familial concern that he held for Bellatrix, and Cissy too.

"Well I am afraid I am very busy at the moment," returned Harry. "Perhaps another time."

Harry walked off.

"Another time then!" called Evan, staying put as the only Lord within Hogwarts headed of down the corridor, then was gone a moment later. "How curious," he noted aloud. "I can see why Bellatrix is so interested."

Gaunt had an indifference about him that just wasn't present among the other Purebloods here at Hogwarts. Evan had seen many heirs talk the talk, appear so high above and without care until suddenly, when things went wrong, it all came crumbling down.

It had happened to more than one house since Evan had started in his first-year, and it would do again as he turned around and returned the way they'd come. Evan couldn't afford to skip a lesson, it would affect his NEWT's.

"I'll speak to him later."

Evan didn't have much time. Lestrange was becoming restless.

~

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Bellatrix was currently in Potions with Slughorn, the man drowning on about things entirely unrelated to the brew they were making. Bellatrix hadn't paid much attention for some time now, her mind elsewhere as she absently followed the instructions within the book.

She glanced at her partner for the lesson, a girl who though distant, was very much a part of her family. The House of Rosier was almost as large as the Black family, and had many of its younger members here at Hogwarts: there were three, a boy and two girls.

"Bellatrix, are you done yet?" asked Phyllida in a kindly tone. "I've finished cutting the Ashroot, so we're almost there."

Phyllida had a neat little pile of diced root on her chopping board.

"Yes, perfect. It's ready to go in." Bellatrix gestured to the bubbling cauldron.

"Great!" Phyllida cheerfully brought the board to the edge and swept the Ashroot in. "We got lucky being partnered together," she whispered. "Slughorn's such a dear."

She sent a smile at the friendly Professor, who was busy chatting to student by his desk.

"I suppose so." Bellatrix flicked to the next page of her potions book. "Phyllida."

"Oh, right." Phyllida had been staring. She looked away. "Thanks."

Phyllida was very open with her feelings for people, which included her affection for Slughorn. She and Bellatrix weren't the best of friends so to speak, but they were technically family, along with Evan and Araminta, who was a fifth-year.

"Speaking of," said Phyllida leadingly as Bellatrix read. "I've yet to meet Lord Gaunt." She gave Bellatrix an excited look. "You're acquainted, aren't you?"

She glanced around and leaned a little closer, smiling at how shy Bellatrix seemed. She was shy too.

"We are acquainted," said Bellatrix, not looking up from her book. "He came for dinner during the holidays." She turned a page. "It's hasn't been that long."

"Fascinating." Phyllida said. "And what is he like? Is he at all similar to how the newspaper portrayed him?"

Bellatrix wrinkled her nose. Phyllida didn't usually ask these kinds of things. "He's not at all like that," she defended, glancing up into her cousin's eyes. "Not really anyway."

Harry may have been violent without just cause before, but in Bellatrix's mind he was not a violent person. He was more confused really, lost.

Phyllida listened intently as the potion bubbled on. "You have more than an acquittance then," she concluded quietly, pleased for Bellatrix. "I will say this anyway, even if I know that you are fully-aware of our position in life." Phyllida touched Bellatrix's arm. "You must do everything you can to secure a marriage. Everything."

Phyllida's hand became tense at even the remotest possibility of growing old without a husband, one that may sadly be out of reach for her. She had more than once been called unattractive by her peers.

"Phyllida, you mustn't think like that," said Bellatrix, placing a comforting hand on her cousin's arm. "Don't listen to Parkinson. She's knows nothing of what a true wife should be."

Bellatrix held onto her, their little table far removed in the corner of the room. Phyllida had yet to find a suitor, one at least that wasn't entirely after the Rosier's dowry.

"Does he have any family?" she asked. "Surely he must. Maybe he has a long lost-"

Bellatrix was caught in a flashback, remembering what she'd heard while listening at the door.

'I was compared to a relative of mine… a man I hate and for good reason.'

"Bellatrix?" Phyllida's voice brought her back. "Does he?"

Bellatrix pushed aside the sinking feeling inside her. "No." Harry would do anything to destroy that man. "He's not spoken of any family, least of all to me."

Harry still didn't trust her, even if at times it felt like he wanted to. Bellatrix didn't understand it, she felt she'd been quite clear with her intentions to help him as she stirred the cauldron.

"Mother says some men need more time to commit themselves, more so to the idea - of having a wife."

Phyllida often spoke to her mother about these things.

"I think Harry has other things on his mind at the moment," pondered Bellatrix as she inspected the potion. "He's so difficult to understand. I hardly know anything about his past, or even what he likes beyond packets of Fudge Flies."

And magic. Harry must have worked so hard to become what he is.

"That doesn't matter," said Phyllida, convinced and more upbeat as the lesson drew to a close. "You're with him Bellatrix, everybody can see it. Which means when he finally does um, you know." Phyllida bit her lip, making a face that Bellatrix tried not to laugh at. "It'll be you he sees," she affirmed. "And not some other girl."

That just had to be how it worked.

"If you say so."

Bellatrix returned her attention to Slughorn as he readied to dismiss the class.

"Well done today everyone," he said. "Fine work as always - and from my very best!" Slughorn looked across a few students in particular, Phyllida being one of them.

She looked at him dreamily.

"I'll see everyone tomorrow then." Slughorn bid them good evening after the last lesson of the day.

The students begun packing up their things, leaving the potions they'd made to be collected for later use.

Bellatrix was keen to get out and track Harry down. "Bye Phyllida," she said.

"Oh, Bellatrix-" Phyllida hurried after her as they left the classroom. "-would me and Evan be able to sit with you at dinner tonight?" Phyllida had already spoken to Evan about it. "If you'd like to? Maybe Lord Gaunt could come."

Evan had already promised to speak with Lord Gaunt and make a good introduction.

"Um, I don't know," returned Bellatrix unsurely as they walked back to the common room. "Harry isn't especially… keen on dinners."

If Phyllida really wanted to have dinner with them - or really Harry, then her best chance was to just show up and hope he didn't protest.

"Nonsense, he's Lord Gaunt. It's expected of him." Phyllida had never heard of a Lord that didn't like to entertain. "Will you ask him then?"

Bellatrix looked at her. "I'll ask."

Phyllida smiled in relief, hoping that being seen with him might help her situation, and too so she could get to know Bellatrix's love interest.

"But that's only if I can find him," added Bellatrix as they stepped through the door the Slytherin common room. "He's probably off doing something even now."

Bellatrix showed her exasperation, which earned her a playful smile from Phyllida before slowed to a stop.

Harry was reading a book on the Slytherin sofa, and not just any of them either as Bellatrix looked as well. "He waited for me," she murmured, the two-standing caught as people were forced to walk around them. "I wasn't sure if he would…"

"Well of course he did," whispered Phyllida, giving her a gentle nudge. "Go on."

She set Bellatrix off on a path towards him, which Harry seemed to notice as he looked up a moment later.

Phyllida stayed back and watched it all with close attention, approaching herself but a much slower pace. She watched the way his eyes met Bellatrix's own, the book set aside as his posture raised, his attention on her as she walked towards him.

He was self-conscious, but not nervous. It was like he didn't know how to treat her, and so in-place of what he really felt, reverted to this reserved politeness as the two looked at one another. Bellatrix didn't care though, she still told him to scoot over and make room, which Harry seemed to begrudgingly do.

"Lord Gaunt." Phyllida arrived a moment later. "It's an honour to meet you," she said, inclining her head as Harry looked up at her.

He had the most startling green-eyes.

"Harry, this is my cousin, Phyllida Rosier," introduced Bellatrix, feeling that perhaps they should all be standing for introductions.

"A pleasure Ms Rosier." Harry promptly rose his feet, doing do without prompt as he smiled at the matronly girl. "I am Harry Gaunt, but please, call me Harry."

Lord Gaunt was a bit too much, and Harry was in an excellent mood after skipping Care of Magical Creatures.

"Phyllida then," she beamed in return. "I insist."

Lord Gaunt seemed very friendly as they glanced at Bellatrix, who had jolted to her feet with suspicious gaze. Harry was being unusually nice for some reason. "Phyllida is first cousin to Evan Rosier, while her sister Araminta is in fifth-year," said Bellatrix, the three standing comfortably in the calm common room. "How was your first day?" she asked Harry.

He seemed very chipper, so she assumed it had gone well.

"It was different than I expected," returned Harry, sharing it with both of them. "I very much enjoyed Care of Magical Creatures."

He smiled, or more like grinned for a moment as Bellatrix watched him. "And why was that?" she posed innocently. "Kettleburn can be quite eccentric, and wasn't it raining during fourth lesson?"

Bellatrix looked to Phyllida, who nodded as she noticed the strange interplay the two were having.

"Yes, but it eased off."

"Did it?"

Bellatrix didn't believe him

"It did," assured Harry. "Ask anyone." He looked away and spoke to Phyllida. "It was nice to meet you, Phyllida, but if you'll excuse me."

Harry stepped away only to feel something catch against his sleeve.

He moved swiftly back.

"We're having dinner." Bellatrix said as she him close, appearing as if nothing was happening. "Phyllida and I, would you like to come?"

Her eyes bored into his as Harry was forced to stay put, or risk making a scene within the steadily crowding common room.

Phyllida wasn't quite sure what was happening, only that she wanted to cheer at how intimate they seemed.

"I am very busy," said Harry a second later. "Lord Black will be wanting a reply soon." Harry flicked his eyes to the side. "It's very important."

Phyllida's nearly gasped; had Harry just said what she thought he said?

"I knew it," whispered Bellatrix with a slight tug of his arm. "What did you do?"

She still didn't know what Arcturus had asked of him, and like she expected, Harry had been running off without including her.

"Oh, nothing really." Harry discreetly tried tugging his sleeve away. "And my apologies, Phyllida, but I-"

Slughorn bustled through the common room door, doing a fine job of disturbing the peace as his searched for Harry. He spotted him a beat later, heading over with a note held firmly in his hand.

"Harry, there you are." He hurried in ruffle of robes. "For you, from the Headmaster. He said it was urgent."

He offered the slip to Harry which was received, then paused as if waiting for something.

Bellatrix shifted away, smoothing her robe with concealed annoyance. Trust Slughorn to set Harry free.

"We were just off to dinner sir," said Phyllida, ignoring what Harry had begun to say as he read the note with a dispassionate gaze. She wanted to impress her esteemed Potions Master. "Lord Gaunt has so kindly offered us his company for this evening, my cousin Evan is coming too."

Phyllida gazed deeply into Slughorn's eyed, feeling exhilarated when he glanced at her. But then he looked away, prompting her to look as well as Bellatrix came up behind Harry with careful steps.

She read the note from around his shoulder - which he noticed, and permitted all the same before folding it away.

Slughorn raised a brow at them.

"Is that so," he said in response to what Phyllida had said. "Well in that case then, Harry, don't worry about Dumbledore, I am sure it can wait."

Harry met the professor's gaze. "Are you sure sir?"

"Absolutely." Slughorn didn't see fit to punish him for skipping old Kettleburn's class, particularly in the rain of all things.

"Thank you, sir." Harry nodded gratefully. "I will arrange a time with the Headmaster myself."

Harry passed the note back to him.

"Of course dear boy, you three go on now." Slughorn stepped aside. "Enjoy your dinner."

Phyllida said they would, then skipped ahead as Bellatrix followed beside Harry. She spoke to him quietly a moment later. "Please don't run off Harry," she whispered, resisting the need to hold onto him. "Phyllida's very nice, and she needs this."

Bellatrix knew full well the kind of ridicule the girl received, which to her shame had once been the cause of their distance. But Harry said nothing as they stepped through the exit, then waited to the side as Bellatrix appeared a moment later.

He was thinking about it. Bellatrix's hand threatened to grab on.

"I'll come." Harry said. "But there's someone else I want to invite too."

He glanced at Bellatrix, smiling at her confused expression.

"Who?" she demanded. "You don't know anyone else."

Harry chuckled. "You'll see."

He didn't know if he'd be there, nor if he'd even want to join them as Harry gestured the three ahead. But what Harry did know was that if there was one man that should have never become a Death Eater, it would always be Severus Snape.

Now seemed as good a time as any to prevent that from happening, the other two entirely unaware of what Harry as they walked through the quiet dungeon corridor. Harry had been asked to spy by Arcturus while at Hogwarts, his reasoning being that much of the support would come from students who were - misguided like the members of his 'accursed' family.

Arcturus blamed it all on this new Dark Lord Walburga had told him about, writing about how everything that was happening would be 'the doom of Pureblood Society'.

Harry grimaced. He wasn't wrong.

There had also been a few lines of raving after that, then a simple demand for help from his ally, Lord Gaunt.

And Harry was only too happy to oblige, and had sent an owl with his response as the rain had poured down.

The game was afoot now, it was time to begin.

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