"You seem to have a rather interesting view on things, Mr. Ashworth, not to mention the fact that you seem to know a lot about the wizarding world in England, despite the fact that you're not from here. Something like that hardly goes unnoticed."
"I like to know what is going on in the world." Harry shrugged. "In times like these, I believe it's important to know what is happening, especially somewhere I plan on going."
"Laudable." Cygnus eyed Harry critically. "I would have to say, I am impressed, Mr. Ashworth. I did not think much of you when Bellatrix first came to us with the idea of inviting you to this gathering. After the incident in Diagon Alley, some of us had begun to suspect that you may, in fact, be a mercenary of sorts from the radical wing of our political opposition."
"And now?"
"Some still believe that you are a mercenary, no doubt."
"How about you?"
"I do believe I would approve of you more than I do the Lestrange boy." Cygnus glanced sharply to the side at his sister. "Just make sure Walburga never hears I said so."
"My lips are sealed," Harry replied, fighting down his shock. The last thing he wanted to do was end up engaged to Bellatrix Black! He hated the woman, for heaven's sake! To his utter relief, her father switched topics, and Harry spent the rest of the evening in surprisingly pleasant conversation with him and the elder Malfoy.
When Malfoy and Black moved on to strike up conversations with others after the meal concluded, Harry took the opportunity to make his rounds. He resolved to at least become acquainted with everyone in the room, the more intelligent ones, anyway, before leaving. He managed to accomplish it by quietly joining the various cliques, one by one, who were grouped about the room and then participating in whatever conversation they were having long enough to at least make a couple of intelligent comments on the subject being discussed, and in some cases, even to tell them more about himself and the fake history he'd made up.
When the time came to leave, marked by the faded energy of those present as well as Harry's own exhaustion, he made for the fireplace to floo away after giving Walburga Black a grateful nod and wave. He was glad that she was otherwise occupied - he had a feeling that talking to her would be near impossible without thinking of her portrait in the future, which he didn't exactly have the fondest memories of.
He found the fireplace in the living room quite readily, though he couldn't find the floo powder to go along with it. He discovered an ornate urn that might qualify, but he didn't want to actually stick his hand into it - long experience with dark artifacts and, much more importantly, two generations of pranksters, had taught him that it generally was a bad idea. Especially in Sirius's home.
"Yes, that's floo powder, and yes, it's safe to stick your hand in the pot," Bellatrix's voice came from behind him.
Harry turned around. She had separated herself from Lestrange - quite a feat, Harry mused, considering how he'd been almost permanently attached to her side during the entire dinner and socializing afterwards. "Give up on your boyfriend?" he asked briskly.
"He's a complete bonehead," she informed him. "Actually, that's a lie. He doesn't even have enough brains to qualify as a bonehead."
"Then what's that make him?"
Bellatrix shrugged. "A slug, or something."
Harry suppressed a chuckle, especially knowing what he did about Bellatrix and her future husband. He couldn't help but wonder, just how much had that marriage changed her? And how much had she changed, to accept it as she must have done at some point in the future. "You want some advice from my secret knowledge of the future?"
"Always," Bellatrix replied, her eager eyes betraying her hope that Harry would tell her something useful.
"Remember that Lestrange - any Lestrange, really - has the brains of a slug, and you'll go further in life than you did in my time."
"Yeugh!" Bellatrix made a face. "Does that mean I actually marry him in the future?"
Harry frowned, realizing what he'd just let out. "Forget I said anything," he said as he turned back around and reached into the urn, grabbing a handful of floo powder. He tossed it into the fire and watched the flames flare up.
"No, wait!" Bellatrix took several steps forward. "Tell me! Please!"
Harry ignored her and stepped into the fire before she could follow him, cursing himself for letting something like that slip.
....
Join my P@treon and get 60+ advanced chapters.
Link: p*atreon.com/0LordSilvere0 (Remove the *)
Free members get 2 chapters free.
Join Right Now