Chapter 16

"But Papa! Harry Potter will be there! He'll keep me safe!" Fleur argued, and stamped her foot as though she was the age that Gabrielle looked.

The girl had a crush, a bad one, on a certain boy and was acting inappropriately in his opinion.

Alain kept his temper, and just looked at the girl who had invaded his office at work for one last appeal to go to the World Cup.

His spy for the British Ministry of Magic showed up, dressed in auror robes of France. Neither noticed her spell being cast as she did it wandlessly and silently.

"Fleur, I am sure that your mother and you can try and put a nice dent in the family vault today shopping for dress robes for the event at Hogwarts. Have a wonderful time darling." He kissed the eldest daughter of his home tenderly, but the dismissal was clear.

"Urgg!" The girl left the room in a huff and a swirl of fancy silk robes.

"I sense vengeance shopping in that girl's future, and after what I have to say, she won't be wearing those robes anytime soon. Not in England anyway."

Alain activated the rune series on his desk that promised privacy. Almost.

"You took History in school, M. Delacour? The true history of England, not the pap that Binns sells."

"Yes, of course." Alain didn't say more, but watched his spy pace.

"I wish I had hard evidence. Secret files accessed in the Ministry that haven't been touched in years. Whispers. Plots. But I had to warn you. You need to keep that girl home." The dark-haired man warned.

"I don't understand. Speak plainly man! You're no Dumbledore!" The deputy minister demanded.

"No, never. Dumbledore has stopped an attempt twice that I know of to get the British magical throne activated. He truly feels that this would be a detriment to the country."

"Depending on the oaths taken, it could be. But they also might get a monarchy that cared for the rights of all, and be of great benefit. But why warn me? The children have no British royal ancestry. Well, not that I am aware of."

The spy just looked at him. "Monsieur. Your wife is known to have connections to the Veela court even if she doesn't flaunt it. And there was a kidnapping of a teenage princess who went missing for a decade, only to surface near the end of the Blood War. I know that she has done her best to recreate herself, maybe with the help of the knights who rescued her. Yourself included in that. You were seen looking several years older in Rome with your wife and a three-year-old in tow only weeks after an announcement of your marriage. But I know who she is. And I am afraid that those who kidnapped her knew as well."

"How did you know that I served as a knight! It was never publicized and I do not claim it!" Alain Delacour had nearly shattered his vows in meeting the lovely princess they were there to extract. That he didn't was a testimony of his commitment to the Order. A commitment that included working with them for the rest of his life. Quietly!

The auror brushed pretend lint off of his robe and gave him a pointed look.

Alain paled. "I need to warn the Knight Commander of the Order."

"You need to keep the lovely Fleur Delacour at home, or there could be a repeat of what was attempted before." The spy warned.

"I can't! I signed a contract when Fleur started school. I had no idea it extended to things like this. She actively wants to compete in that deadly tournament."

"Ecole Merlin is invited. Ask them for protection, sanctuary for her if needed."

"What am I going to tell Apolline? She will be most distraught."

"Do what you can do, to keep her safe." The spy went to one knee. "I beg you, my lord. Do something to act against this as well. Politically."

"You want me to use Apolline's boys, don't you?"

The spy stood, seeing he was being heard and laid out his thoughts.

"I have met Sir Jerome. He would rather shelter in a monk's library researching and enchanting than get involved in politics. But the young boy, Joseph, has taken the same lessons for years that Neville Longbottom and Harry Potter have been. The Order is not stupid, and is training them well for their future. They know that these boys will be on the political stage. They will be able to fight evil with words and laws. Not just with wands."

"Joseph would have to give up being a knight." Alain tapped his lips.

"For this? To save Britain? Do you not think that he would be happy to give up one dream to save a country from evil? One problem I see is this. He would need to be betrothed. Otherwise, every witch mother in Britain would want to use her daughter to become queen."

Alain smiled at that. He was privy to some of the letters from the boy after all. "He is friends with a girl from Britain who he attends school with. Sacred twenty-eight even."

"Do you think her parents would be amenable to the match?" The spy's eyes twinkled in happiness and relief.

"As the parents work for the school, and are as Light as can be, I think that they could be talked into this. But please, there are some complications that have to be taken care of. I need to go to the Veela court with this. Thank you for bringing me this information. Are you safe? Do you want to come home?"

"The World Cup is the perfect cover, as is the tournament. No. Even if I become compromised, I will not betray our cause."

The man bowed and left, feeling relieved. He left behind a political genius and former knight with a lot to plan.

Alain's thoughts were in a whirl. Yes, the spy was right. A two-prong approach to the problem was key. He disliked sharing family secrets with others intensely. For the more something was known, the more likely to get out. However, this was too big to handle on his own.

He needed to speak with the Queen immediately, and hoped that he didn't find himself banished from court forever with his plan.

After all, no one had to know that Apolline was the mother of the future King of Magical Britain.

Fleur had hidden herself, disillusioned in a nearby alcove. She stayed long after the spy left to make sure she wasn't seen. Only being her mother's daughter let her go unnoticed.

'So, Papa wants to put a member of the royal family on the vacant throne of England?' the girl thought to herself. "If anyone is going to be queen, it should be me! And what a better consort than Harry Potter. Yes. We'd make a very handsome couple. And he can even keep his friend on the side if he wished. Discretely. Very discretely.'

**OO**

"The next item of business comes from Augusta Longbottom and Madam Zora Zabini." The clerk of the Wizengamot intoned.

"As many of you know, Madam Zabini gave birth to a Longbottom boy that was not allowed to take the name. She and my brother were secret lovers as our parents forced us into unloving marriage contracts. Her son Blaise should have been heir to our house.

"I do not feel that a squib should be allowed to give everything of the rich heritage of the Longbottom House away, just because he holds the ring. I submit the legal notice to the Wizengamot sent to me by Neville Longbottom. It reveals that squib's plans. In response, I, Augusta Longbottom, legal Regent of House Longbottom, suggest this action.

"Allow Alice Zabini to take the Longbottom name. She is a witch, and a powerful one. She is only nine, but has received a letter from Ecole Merlin, and has started there just this term.

"Name Alice Longbottom heiress for the House of Longbottom.

"I ask for the Wizengamot to recognize this daughter of House Longbottom. Let her mother live in the manor with us. Let her be educated at Hogwarts."

Zora frowned at that. That was not part of the proposal that they had agreed upon!

"Let Madam Zabini be Regent for Alice. Please! I beg you! Please preserve our line, our heritage. Our House."

Copies of the notices were distributed. The very few in the know of the Granger contract had to stifle grins and outright laughs at the justice of everything for what Neville had planned for his grandmother. Some thought the vulture deserved what she got, even if they were afraid to say it aloud.

But for an heir to give his entire inheritance to a foreign power? Remove that gold from their economy, no doubt to be spent fighting against some of their 'darker' members.

"As for any new legislation, this will be tabled until we next meet to allow members time to review it. However, I can state that as long as it is proven that Alice Longbottom is indeed a witch, that I can support her being made heir to the House of Longbottom." Dumbledore intoned.

Others nodded sagely, and the meeting ended.

Zora stayed the minimum time to socialize with potential future peers, and then got out of there as quickly as she could.

She took a portkey back to Italy. She needed a bath after being with those people!

**OO**

The briefing for those going to the World Cup was scheduled at 0800 so that the apprentices, students and squires could have a bite to eat before they left.

Instead of Sir Jerome, or someone else though, it was a very grumpy Monseigneur Brown.

"An anonymous benefactor had gotten us not one but two private boxes at the World Cup several weeks ago as you all know. You've been on your best behavior as to not get left behind, and I commend you. Well done."

The man clearly wasn't angry at some last-minute prank which was going to cancel the trip, but the students could tell something was very wrong.

The headmaster continued. "However, I just received this letter. A letter that can't be ignored.

"Dear Mr. Brown. We have heard that some of your students, like Harry Potter, might be visiting the World Cup. Please know that if you do come, that you will be held to the highest degree of scrutiny. You will be on British soil, and under British law. Muggle baiting isn't illegal in this country. Please let your students know that every culture is different and tolerance is important."

"It would be a shame if there was an international incident especially with such a controversial celebrity in attendance."

"Sincerely, Barty Crouch, International Affairs."

Harry's face fell. He turned to Mad-eye. "I'm very sorry sir. I can't go. There are clearly some kind of extra entertainment activities planned. If I go, and see what I think is being planned, I will interfere. There is nothing in the code regarding muggles. Unless invited though, we don't deal with those issues. We deal with problems that local authorities can't. Not won't or those they condone that are evil. And we go where we are invited. This is clearly an un-invitation!"

Monseigneur Brown pronounced. "Let us talk about this situation amongst ourselves."

Alastor Moody was fuming. "Potter, I think that you're right. Something stinks here. I need to go check on Pinky, and give my friends back home a head's up on this."

Mad-eye quickly made a copy of the letter, and left to go to the Ministry of Magic in Britain.

Harry clenched his fist and went up to the Monseigneur privately. He didn't want to upset the younger children after all. "Do you know how it feels? Knowing that muggles might be tortured, and there is nothing I can do?"

Hermione got up and ran out of the room, clearly upset. Her parents were muggles after all.

Students started talking, more than one shouting out that they wouldn't go either.

Ron tried and failed at a joke. "Hey! Maybe they finally found your relatives!"

Harry gave him a pointed look, while George slapped the back of his head.

The headmaster looked at the younger ones. The timing of this letter was absolutely the worst. The children had been looking forward to the World Cup for weeks.

Adults were going around talking to the children and older students, seeing who understood the message, what they wanted to do. For all that they had a command structure, the Order did listen to even the youngest child. Gave them responsibilities. It was wonderful feeling important, feeling a part of something bigger.

Percy, Fred, George and Ron all looked at each other.

"If they don't go, we don't. They'll be other games." Fred suggested. "Ohhhh. Do you know how much demand there is for private boxes? I can make the Order a fortune!"

Hermione came back with her parents. Dan pulled Harry aside, and quickly consulted with both Sir Hector and Monsignor Brown.

"I would like to see a show of hands for those that wish to stay and support Sir Harry. Please stand, Sir Harry, and come up here." The headmaster asked.

Every single one raised their hand. From the newest student Harry had read a story to his first night there two weeks ago, to the oldest student working on a potion's mastery. She winked at him and gave him a crooked smile.

Hermione strode up. "My lord. My parents, knowing that the children would be disappointed, have an alternate plan to suggest."

The Monseigneur took the paper. "But there's no time to get…clever, Miss Granger. And kind. The Grangers suggest selling the World Cup tickets and going to a theme park. She has three to suggest and will allow us to vote. So, who approves this plan?

Cheers raised the roof, and small groups were split off. Some going to a local place, others going for wild roller coasters. The third group chose to go back to Disneyland Paris.

Professor McGonagall was incensed. "I'll escort Fred and George who had invested in their own box, and will handle selling the Order's seat and tickets. And I'll give that stuck up...person a piece of my mind while I'm there. Muggle-baiting is not illegal! Since when?"

Sir Harry chose to go with the group that had the very youngest children. Luna showed up and along with a few volunteers, were able to take them to Disneyland Paris for several fun hours. The Weasleys stuck with them, thoroughly enjoying the children's rides. Since the main group were younger, they were back early, and Harry made a point to stay with Luna, and the Weasleys in the main hall until time for bed.

All of Harry's allowance for the last couple of months could be seen in the form of small stuffed toys held tight by the little ones that he read to.

"Thank you, Sir Harry! That was so much more fun than just watching people fly too fast!" One youngster said. "But the best part of today was being with you and having you read to us."

Harry nodded, patting the boy on the shoulder.

"The best part of my day was being with you too, Brian. Sleep sweet."

**OO**

The next morning, Harry found that he had truly been in a no-win situation. Soda, crying, had brought the British newspaper to the table. The Daily Prophet was stating that yet another arrest warrant had been issued against him again.

This time though, Harry had ammunition. He took one of his family's pensieves, memories from half a dozen children, and the Weasleys as well.

Sir Harry stormed into the headmaster's office, and was not surprised to see Sir Romano there.

"Is it true sir?" Harry said, trying to remain calm.

"Which part? The fact that your muggle aunt and her family was slaughtered for sport like animals? That they made it an after-event entertainment party for a certain crowd raising thousands of galleons in ticket sales, food and beverages? Or the fact that you are somehow getting blamed for not rescuing them when you were invited to come and do so. It was a trap. We had no warning of this in the least. I don't know how the Dursleys were found. For what it is worth Harry, I'm sorry."

The boffins had come up with a simulacrum that worked very well. They would last weeks before stopping. Since they were transfigurations of meat products, when they stopped, they kept their shape but smelled awful. Perfect prisoner decoys.

They had been ready to use for the Malfoy dungeon. All but one of those elves had disappeared, making even easier to switch out.

But no prisoners were being kept there. There had been no one to rescue.

Sir Hector came in to the headmaster's office as well.

"Edward Long is here to see you, High Commander."

"Charles, stay. You're too close to this Potter, you know the rules. Monseigneur, may I borrow your office? I need to talk to Long and see if he found any rare books recently. Harry, I'm sorry. Please say goodbye to your friends and get them home. They are not going to want to be here for what happens next."

Regulus Brown remembered a time when he was young and helpless to save a group of muggle women. It was part of the training. Knowing that there were going to be people that you couldn't save due to politics, policies, and/or stubborn old men who didn't want to change the system.

"That was evil and cruel and wrong. I hope no one tells me the details." Harry stated firmly.

The headmaster patted his should and with a look pleaded with the people around him to be discrete, and left to take the newest knight for a walk.

**OO**

"You okay, Pinky? Want me to take you to St. Michael's?" Mad-eye asked his former student.

The two of them had gone to help with security the night before at the World Cup, but had been threatened to be 'arrested for trespassing' if they didn't leave!

Mad-eye knew that this whole thing stank, and started to turn away, but Auror Tonks had objected. The young auror had stated that she was there on duty, and showed her badge.

The man had shot a purple nasty looking spell at her. She dodged and shielded, but it grazed her leg.

Alastor had grabbed his former apprentice, and activated his auror emergency bracelet, taking her to St. Mungo's by rote. Once there, he cursed himself for not going to Rome, but it was too late to move her again, and the injury wasn't that bad.

Tonks had slept fitfully all night, and Mad-eye stayed with her in the room, uncomfortable leaving her alone when the world was upside down.

"Yeah, I'll be alright. I'm catching up with you on curse scars though, and I was happy to let you win that contest. Please tell me that Harry avoided that mess last night."

The paper arrived with the breakfast, and Tonks had her answer.

"Those! Those people!" Mad-eye controlled his mouth around the healer in the room.

The matron scoffed. "What was one fourteen-year-old boy supposed to do against hundreds of evil people? My sister just moved to Canada, and I think it's time to join her."

"If all of the good people leave, who'll be left?" Tonks asked. "I'm staying"

"The sheep and their masters will be left, and a few of us willing to take a stand." Mad-eye stated firmly.

"We could create an underground to fight the evil" the healer suggested. "That's what my parents did, well, helped with."

"Sister, that is an excellent idea. We could use a good healer or two. The pay is awful, and the food dubious, but I have a couple of cozy tents." Alastor offered.

The healer nodded. "Let's talk soon. But not here. The walls have ears."

"And eyes and noses." Tonks said, pointing out the frozen picture in her room. "Your work, Mad-eye?"

"I didn't want to disturb anything or anyone with my snorin'."

"That's his story, and he's sticking to it." Tonks said. "Oh, I don't know your name, you clearly know us."

"Doris Crockford. I have never stopped believing in Harry Potter. He's a good lad, and now a knight. He'll save us all one day, but in the meantime, he'll need some help."

"Yes indeed, Healer Crockford, he will. Indeed, he will." Mad-eye concurred solemnly.

"I know Tom Abbot at the Leaky well, we can get secret supplies and such through him. And then there's…"

The group formed its first cell in the fight against terror. No one suggested going to Albus Dumbledore or restarting the Order of the Phoenix. This group knew of the mistakes of the past and didn't wish to repeat them.

They didn't have a name, but they had a purpose.

And the group would grow.

**OO**

The elegant paper revealed the sender even if the Headmaster had not checked the magical signature.

'You wanted a name. Graham Bulstrode. A mutual friend saw him at the barbaric entertainments of yesterday last.

'His daughter is betrothed to the Longbottom squib. They are likely trying dark rituals to gain magic for the boy.

'Look to him for where the missing girls are. LM'

Dumbledore shook his head in shame. Bulstrode. He should have kept a closer eye on him. He pretended to be one of the 'faithful'. Dark family.

Very good, here was a lead that he could give his friend Mad-eye Moody.

**OO**

The former Slytherin directed them for a walk around the grounds while his office was commandeered.

"Why do people call you 'my lord'. It can't be due to all of the pretty bits of metal on spiffy robes." Harry teased, trying to overcome the sadness he felt and failing.

The robes reflecting his dedication were very, very nice. High quality.

"You'll collect honors too. The Queen, Italian, I should specify, gave me a title, a nice manor, and the reward money for some good deed or other. I'm a count, not that it matters. The manor and gold went to the Order long ago. The title can't be sold, so there it is."

"I feel ill." Harry said. "I mean. I know that there's a small part of me happy that Vernon can't ever, will truly never hurt me again. But I always hoped to be, I don't know, friendly acquaintances or something with Dudley."

"There is a child. Just a few weeks old. The goblins told me. Harry, when they know things like this, the child is likely magical."

"Petunia just had a baby, and they killed her?!" Harry yelled, grabbing the attention of a pair of duelists as they were walking, spells going into the barriers. "Sorry!"

They stopped at a set of tiered benches that allowed others to watch the duels and sat.

"Not Petunia's, Dudley's. If they found a baby…"

"Is there someone we could send to check on mother and child? Make sure they have enough to eat? With Dudley dead, I'll inherit again, no. Let everything go to the child's mother."

Harry lost all blood in his face, remembering how mean his cousin was. And stories of Sir Jerome and Squire Joseph.

"She wasn't. I mean. Dudley didn't…"

"No, no. Just teenagers being careless. Not holding themselves sacred. It's harder when you find someone to be close with and you don't have our code. The morals of the world are lax."

How he missed his Auntie Gisele. Lucius Malfoy was behind this latest massacre, Harry was certain. The man was desperate for gold. It had to be him. That man had much to atone for.

Harry rubbed his forehead where his scar used to be.

Harry felt guilty for not feeling worse, but they hadn't been nice to him. Not at all. And he never considered them family.

"If you want to, you can take the flight test early, you have the mark of the Holy Order already. It would be nice to have it done officially."

Harry patted the place on his chest where it was. "That was unexpected."

"Your mark should protect you completely now." The headmaster explained.

"Yeah, there are several coercion potions that don't work on knights. What about a love potion?"

"The penalties for seducing a knight under oath like that are so severe, I doubt anyone has tried it. It's counted as High Treason against the Lord."

"Yeah, I can see that. I don't know if my aim is good enough for the trials. I should practice."

"You've been riding secretly since you were seven, and openly since you were eight. You are very good."

"I'm glad that I didn't find a lance to use against that troll. Poor Neville! That poleaxe or glaive or whatever was ancient! The magic failed at the worst time!

"Why you shouldn't use magic-enhanced weapons against magic resistant opponents. They win, every time."

"If I had gone to the World Cup, do you think I could have saved them?"

"Do we know the numbers involved? I heard rumors of at least a hundred watching. How many guards did they have? Ten? Twenty? You can face off against these terrorists and win, Harry, but superior numbers, even wand-fumbling fools can get lucky. I'm quite sure they meant to kill you as you tried. And if they didn't succeed, get you into Azkaban. How long would you keep your soul there?"

"And the other students would have helped. We could have lost entire cohorts." Harry realized, as once the fighting started, the others would help. It was in their blood.

"I haven't given everything of the Black vaults to the Order yet because of my age. I did give the maximum I could. I don't have access. Is it permissible to use some of it to help the babe?"

"The goblins have rules for this. Taking care of a child is definitely an exemption. Especially under the circumstances." Monseigneur Brown confirmed.

"Good. While I would like to know how Lucius found the Dursleys, we've known that they were looking for years. I didn't think anyone magical knew where they were."

Monseigneur Brown went cold.

"I have a very bad feeling about how they were found. Oh no! And if Malfoy has joined forces with the likes of Umbridge or others…"

The image of that muggle-hating monster came to his mind. The headmaster shuddered.

He started to call for Kreature but realized Kreature was too old to jump to Canada, and far too happy to kill any muggles he found. They were waiting for Draco to call him, but Kreature would never leave Regulus.

"We have our own international connections, Harry. And remember, you still have lots of muggle money. It can be converted to Canadian pesos or whatever they use there."

Harry didn't rise to the bait. It was a way of the instructors seeing how much the students knew.

"I just took my vows! I can't take on a child, but family? Blood? I can't just walk away! What do I do, Monseigneur?" Harry looked lost, and clearly was having flashbacks of being abandoned due to his parents' deaths."

Regulus grabbed his teenage cousin into a hug. "I love you, Harry. You are not alone." The man whispered to him.

Harry let himself be held and comforted for a moment before the man who was his headmaster, mentor, fellow knight and family continued speaking.

"Remember what this place is. Let's get more information, and see what is going on before jumping to any conclusions. You are far too young for a baby, but there are lots of nice magical families looking to adopt. Open adoption would allow you to visit."

Harry nodded and realized that without Dudley's death, he would never even have heard of his new cousin.

Was the child a boy or a girl? Not that it mattered. The baby was magical and in danger. That's all they needed to know.

Regulus, feeling a very odd sense of deja vu, made a list of notes,

An elf popped asking for Harry to meet Sir Hector, and the men walked back to the Monseigneur's office in silence.

**OO**

The next few days were a jumble for Harry. There was an emergency meeting of the ICW scheduled. and several of the High Council were attending.

Andromeda Tonks had not been returning owls or messages so finally one of their people had visited her. The Order was relying on her to fight against the slander in the Daily Prophet. And now represent Harry Potter in legal action in the ICW courts.

The officer wound up arresting her and taking her into ICW custody in Paris. She was clearly under the imperious curse, and no one knew who had cast it.

Then there was the family situation. Dudley's girlfriend Clarissa Mayhew, muggle, was tracked down. Their family was also of the faith, and did not encourage her daughter to abort or keep the baby. They had thought that the Dursleys had moved to avoid paying support.

Finding out that Dudley had an extended family willing to take responsibility for the child was huge! Clarissa was still in high school, and by giving up the child, had a chance for a better life for herself.

Through intermediaries, the girl was given a small settlement that would fund a decent college education. With the papers signed, and it did not take long for the lovely Daisy Dursley to be adopted. By the Grangers. They changed her name to Daisy Lily Granger in honor of Harry's mother, and the Grangers were set up with a small stipend for the child's care, and an education vault. They were offered more, but Harry had already bought their home. Harry insisted on something extra, for 'just in case'.

Mrs. Granger had always wanted to have more children. She completely quit the dental practice where she had been working part-time to stay home and bond with the little one. She continued to teach the art sessions, but for that she could bring her new daughter with her.

Ron sent him a letter apologizing for the howler (that he never received) from his mum as 'she went completely mental over the World Cup thing'.

Harry by this point wanted something rampaging to appear. A nundu, a chimera, a cranky niffler, something to get him a mission as a knight that he could do something about!

Queen Elenore sent him a very fine receiving blanket, baby rattle, and a gift certificate to a magical baby store for the new parents, and thanked him for being such a good and responsible citizen.

It had been debated whether to try and keep Daisy a secret but felt this was the best course of action. Death Eaters would not dare enter holy ground. If they started to be hunted, the Grangers would be put into tents under the wards.

Daisy would be kept safe!

The queen's letter also included a request. She asked him to escort her to a local hippogriff race coming up.

Harry thought he would have a hard time being a good bodyguard when there were flying animals around, and went to Sir Hector about it.

Harry got to go for the afternoon event, and even sit for most of it. It was absolutely wonderful, and he knew one of the activities he would add to his list of things to do for downtime. He wasn't supposed to be there as security, but to be seen as a local knight serving the queen. It was a wonderful thing that she was ancient, or he could just see the press in Britain making into something awful.

The local press ate it up, showing the dashing young man dancing attendance, clearly watching for danger despite being a day out for him. There were even some editorials how the boy had been seen helping in the hospital and orphanage. Not for glory or prestige, but because he was an honorable lad. Italy was so fortunate to have an English Rose transplanted to their beautiful country. And look how he was flourishing!

They left for the ICW meeting early. The High Command didn't want Harry there, but he was to be questioned under veritaserum. Andromeda met them, still angry, and still wearing a monitoring device that would let the boffins at the school if anyone tried to spell her again.

She tried to apologize to Harry, but he waved it off. She didn't betray the Dursleys location. She couldn't as she didn't know where they were. Andromeda had been imperioused to delay any actions Harry took to reclaim his honor. It wasn't a secret, after all, that Potter had used Mrs. Tonks services as a solicitor and barrister.

Madam Tonks also mentioned the legislation that Augusta Longbottom was trying to get passed, with Dumbledore's support.

Clearly, Dumbledore didn't want the Longbottom manor and fortune to the Order, and forever be lost to England.

Andi was quite certain it was her sister or her husband who had cast the imperious spell on her, but despite her best efforts, she couldn't remember it. And she was quite good at Occlumency.

The group was on the ICW meeting agenda, and knew that in this place, the truth was finally going to come out what had been going on in Britain. Dan Granger was in a nearby Parisian hotel with three top level muggle officials who knew of magic along with M. Delacour.

This was going to be a very, very important meeting.

**OO**

Graham Bulstrode was a pureblood from a dark family. The Light families refused to have anything to do with him, because they 'knew' he was dark.

The Dark families snipped and sniped at him for his creature heritage. No! His wife had been cursed when she was pregnant. What was worse was that one of Malfoy's lackeys did have part-troll heritage. Goyle had a fifth great grandparent who was a troll, and no one said anything to him! Why anyone would want to mate with a female troll, he couldn't say.

He had heard from Charles Hector about the 'extra' entertainment going to happen at the Word Cup. It hadn't been hard to get seats. It wasn't even that bad to wait in the dark. To just sit and watch who was there, who cheered, who left when they saw what was going on.

As time went on, it was tougher. Several times, he wanted to leave, but he owed Sir Harry a debt for keeping his daughter safe from that troll at Hogwarts.

Millicent had blossomed at her new school, and enjoyed being Harry's and Neville's friend. She enjoyed working with children, and animals. Doing a job where her physical strength was a blessing, and her looks were accepted as 'normal'.

Being a knight was a high honor he never expected would come to their family, and she had almost made it her first try when it was a year early!

None of the female knights were that beautiful in a physical sense. Powerful, kind. Helpful, caring. Being the kind of person that put their lives on the line to help others.

Graham and his wife Belinda had happily moved to Italy. Their modest home had been an anonymous gift, but he suspected Neville had done it. He was wrong, it was Harry.

After today, Bulstrode would have a death mark if he made an appearance in Britain, regardless of the outcome. But it would be worth it, if people saw the truth.