December 20, 1944
Sunday Morning
Home at last.
Harry threw off the covers of his bed and swung his legs off the side of it. The last week of Hogwarts had been quiet and with little else to keep him busy. That dream he'd had was still on his mind thanks to that lack of activity too, as were his conversations with Walburga, Elaine and Corene… Merlin, there wasn't ever a time where he was resting.
It was always Slytherin's study this, Elaine that, Grindelwald news here, Walburga acting suspiciously there. He wouldn't even have much time over the Yule break to rest, not with a few days committed to Sarah's family, another to Corene's and a half-dozen other visits that he'd have to make. Elaine, she wouldn't be left out either, she planned on staying with him over Yule starting this very afternoon.
He wasn't really surprised by that, not with how badly she always wanted to be near him, but personal time or space was definitely appreciated every now and again. Ah well, at least he could write his replies to the letters he'd received before leaving Hogwarts; Walburga, Sarah and strangely enough, Daphne, had all handed something to him on that final day. Harry hadn't read them yet, he figured he owed himself a relaxed evening on his first day back, but that was over now.
There was never much time that could be spent doing nothing, that just wasn't how the world worked, much less one as messed up as the one he currently found himself in.
"Master Harry, sir," Laddey's voice said suddenly, the house-elf right next to him.
Harry nearly jumped at the suddenness of Laddey's presence and voice, but he blinked away the surprise and regarded the elf kindly. "Yeah, Laddey? What's wrong?"
"Nothing is wrong, Master Harry sir, nothing. Laddey was wondering if the Master Harry sir would be having breakfast this morning, Laddey remembered that Master Harry liked us to ask before bringing it up because of Master Harry's Elaine," Laddey looked over Harry's shoulder at the emptiness of the bed, then he looked towards the bathroom as his ears went up.
Laddey looked to be searching for Elaine, Harry realised. Undoubtedly she would've got a kick out of that. Especially with her usual 'superior' status when compared to other magicals, much less friendly, helpful house-elves.
"She'll be here for lunch, she had something to take care of," Harry said, alluding to Elaine as he nodded finally. "Breakfast would be wicked too, thank you Laddey - I'll let you or the cooks decide what it'll be too, I trust all of you."
"Thank you, Master Harry sir. Laddey will tell them… is there anything else Laddey can do for you, sir?" Laddey cocked his head up at Harry, his ears still standing straight up as he watched the taller being.
"Nah, that's all mate. Thank you," Harry patted Laddey on the head and smiled wide as the elf returned the same sort of look at him. Really, Harry felt like all of the house-elves he'd been lucky enough to inherit were nice ones.
It's like a family of Dobbys.
With Laddey gone and breakfast now being prepared, Harry made his way over to the small desk where he'd previously set down the letters. They were all still in position, nothing had happened to them… he half thought Elaine would've raided them in the night. Well, until he remembered just now opposite of the word stealthy she was. Whenever she went to the bathroom, asked for a glass of water, any action at all really, there'd be a large degree of noise.
He still didn't understand how somebody like her sang in the shower either, it went completely at odds with what he expected her to be like in a private, more intimate setting. One that went beyond snogging in classrooms or hiding away in hidden or darkened corners of rooms to sneak affection. In so many ways, she seemed like a normal witch instead of one that had crazy-high ambitions with an agenda that could be incredibly harmful should she rise to power.
Harry shook his head and huffed as he fell into his desk chair. Elaine's attitude and mindset would slowly change, it already had in a few ways. So long as he stayed with her and guided her hand, he could blunt if not outright cease the damage she could cause on magical society. There'd be cases where her opinion would be too strong, he was sure of that, but minor damage was infinitely better than a whole war that would destroy Magical Britain.
' Dear Harry,' Corene's letter started, his mind now focusing on that rather than the previous issues and thoughts it'd been focused on.
' As was discussed during our time at Hogwarts, my family has once more extended an invitation to yours. I'm aware that your family is still in hiding and as such, will not be attending in large part, but your presence would be more than enough. In addition to this invitation, my parents would like to request the furthering of our relations through another pact or contract. It has been nearly one year since the previous one of non-interference was signed and ratified by a neutral party, as such and should you be agreeable, my parents would like to discuss economic partnerships. With the formal portion of this letter now complete, allow me to write to you as a friend would.
Harry, you have my thanks for keeping my secrets as exactly that. I hope my doing the same has raised your trust in me higher than it's previously been, and should that be true, I wish to share with you a joke upon your visit to Castle Carrow. I cannot promise the quality of it, but I'm sure it would prove enjoyable nonetheless.
Finally, let me say that shopping for you was incredibly hard, but I do believe the end result was well worth it. Until we see one another this Yule break, have a pleasant, enjoyable vacation from Hogwarts.
Your faithful friend,
Corene'
Harry set down the letter and shook his head, speaking aloud to himself. "Merlin, she really does sound like she's an old lady."
Really, he didn't get it. Corene was his age, slightly younger in fact, but she spoke and acted as if she were so much older than she truly was. He still didn't completely understand what her family wanted his help with either. It'd only been eluded to a few times, but they never actually went into any details. On to that second paragraph too, since the first he wouldn't bother getting all that into until he was with them… of course, Corene had his trust. She had spoken to him before Elaine more than a few times, she'd even chosen to confide in him.
He could be stupid for doing so, but really, he trusted Corene just as much as he trusted Sarah, Marcus and Vee. Corene would get her response this evening too, he wouldn't push her off like he reckoned he'd do with Daphne; at least the Carrow family actually put forth effort in maintaining contact with him.
Oh, right. Corene would probably tell him about the state of things when he visited too, especially with her father getting constant updates. That was always nice, especially since Elaine had shown a certain quality for withholding information if it wasn't what people liked to hear. Ah well, on to Daphne's letter, Walburga's would most definitely be the last that he read on account of the stress it was likely to cause.
' Harry Peverell,
My parents would like to express their sincere apologies for failing to maintain regular contact with you whilst they remain in France. As I'm sure you're aware despite your generally clueless behaviour, the Muggle war caused severe devastation to my homeland. With the conflict mostly over and my family finally in a secure position, they'll be writing to you monthly, if not biweekly. You have my apologies in addition to theirs for my less than polite behaviour from time to time. I'm sure as your cousin, you don't mind it all that much. Family fights from time to time, but they're still family at the end of the day.
If you're wondering, yes, Elaine was responsible for my having to write something so stupid-sounding. Regardless, I would enjoy getting to speak with you in private post-lessons whilst at Hogwarts. It wouldn't do if we were seen in any intimate manner, not with the Headmaster already hesitant in regards to having young staff, but Elaine tells me you know of her favourite spot in the school. If that's the case, come up to me and speak when next we see one another.
My family and I hope you have an enjoyable Yule. Your gift should arrive before the holiday begins and I do hope you're ready for what it will mean.
Your cousin,
Daphne'
Well, that certainly was different than Harry had expected. Daphne was courteous, strangely so even if she mentioned Elaine was responsible for it. He supposed in hindsight too, it made sense that her family hadn't written to him all that much if they were in France. Harry may lack information regarding the Second World War, but he knew enough to understand how horribly hurt France was.
I wonder what gift they got me and why she wants to meet. It can't be anything good, unlikely that.
Harry shook his head, speculation wasn't likely to help him any. Daphne was nearly as unpredictable as Elaine was, only more outwardly hostile on account of her lacking any sort of 'link' to him.
Before he could think any more on the subject or read Walburga's letter, Laddey floo'd into his room with a tray of food. "Master Harry sir, your food is ready!"
With a push, Harry got himself to his feet and moved over to the small two-seat table that Elaine had brought into their bedroom. The table wasn't large, it could barely be considered larger than his bedroom desk and that showed when Laddey set down enough food to cover the entirety of it.
"Did you have them prepare a whole feast for me?" Harry asked jokingly, blinking when Laddey nodded his head with so much force that his ears flapped all about.
"Yes Master Harry sir, Laddey and the others were happy to have Master Harry back home. Momsey was happiest too, she is looking forward to taking care of Master Harry's and Elaine's babies, sir," Laddey said, hopping from foot to foot as he watched Harry's face.
Babies… Merlin, that's a horrible thought.
Still, not wanting to offend his house-elves on account of how much he loved them, Harry laughed and dipped his head. "Thank you Laddey, tell the others thanks as well for me if you would. As for those babies, I don't think I'll be having them anytime soon - oh, send for me when Elaine arrives too, please."
Harry didn't want to get caught off guard. Not by Elaine since he had Walburga's letter in his room, that wouldn't look good at all. Elaine, with how unhinged she could be, Harry wouldn't put it past her if he woke up tied to the bed. That'd be a horrible experience, Elaine was very devious even if she wouldn't actually hurt him.
Laddey nodded a few times, hugged Harry's legs in an unusually forward way and apparated away.
Harry laughed once it was all said and done. Laddey had grown on him and grown in general, especially if the elf felt confident enough to hug him. That thought made Harry as happy as the first bite of pancakes did and it was while he was slowly chewing those pancakes that Laddey ended up right beside him… again. There were only a few seconds that could have passed, Laddey knew as much too based on the hesitant look he shot Harry.
"What is it, Laddey?" Harry asked, putting down his fork and wiping at his mouth with a napkin.
Hope he hadn't forgot to tell me something, I don't need any more stress right now.
"Master Harry sir's Elaine just arrived. Laddey thought that Master Harry would like to know that before she arrives to his room, sir," Laddey said, eyeing the desk Harry had previously been working at with an apprehensive look about him. fre
Harry's eyes must have widened a fraction at that. Not only had Laddey done exactly as he'd asked and quickly too, but he also seemed to understand that whatever Harry was working on had needed a bit more discretion. He never thought the house-elf was stupid, none of them were, even if they spoke with some manner of illiteracy, Harry just hadn't realised the elf knew more than he usually let on.
It was wicked that he finally was starting to do exactly that too. Who knows, maybe Harry could assign the elf to a position above Head Butler or wherever he was officially slotted in as. Merlin only knows how helpful an advisor or helper would be in regards to all the work he needed to do.
"Thank you, Laddey," Harry finally said as he heard Elaine's voice echoing through the halls. "Please, take the letter on my desk with the House Black stamp and keep it somewhere secure. I'll need it later - good work too, I appreciate how helpful you've always been. You're a good friend, Laddey."
Laddey's eyes went just as wide as Dobby's had when the latter had been called 'friend' by Harry. It was adorable and made Harry's heart hurt for the diminutive person-like house-elf.
"Laddey is honoured to be Master Harry's friend," Laddey said with pure happiness as he bounded over to the desk and plucked the letter from the top of it.
"I'm just as honoured to call you a friend. Remind me when I ask for that letter back to speak with you again, alright? I think it'd be good for both of us," Harry smiled and waved as the elf finally apparated away.
He knew he only had a few seconds to go before Elaine entered through the door too, and in that time as he put the two other letters inside of his desk, he thought about his first morning in Peverell Manor. There was so much that'd changed since then; his life had gone a whole different direction than he thought it was going to and what still weirded him out beyond measure was his body.
It looked almost identical to the one he'd been in when he was in his own time, the only differences were a few extra pounds - which could be his fault - along with a slightly taller stature and the lack of need for glasses. That scar of his, the one on his forehead, it looked faded too, but it was present nonetheless if he looked hard enough. The angry colour and rough look to it seemed softer though, almost as if it were partially treated by whatever being had sent him back in time to another version of his world.
"Hello my love," Elaine said, the twin doors to his bedroom opening loudly and with a good deal of force as she strutted in. "Did you miss me last night? I know the lack of your presence alongside me for nearly a whole day was bothersome, my manners and anger were higher than usual. You'll have to come with me in the future, I think, lest I do something stupid."
Elaine? Do something stupid?
He nearly scoffed as he shook his head. "If we do that, there'll come a time that you won't even leave my side when I'm showering or reading."
Elaine cocked her head and raised an eyebrow as her hands sought out her hips. "I don't see any issue with showering together or reading together, it'd be beneficial in both instances," Elaine let her hands fall and moved closer to him, spotting the food on the table as she did so. "Breakfast - let's enjoy a meal together before I inform you on the current state of things. Come, take your seat so I can sit atop your lap. The added height I get from my favourite spot and the contact while we're both still in pyjamas is particularly comforting."
"Have a rough day?" Harry asked curiously as he made his way over to the aforementioned chair and pulled Elaine by her waist directly onto his lap rather than letting her perch herself on him.
He figured the show of dominance every now and again was helpful to them both. It gave him a bit of agency and showed Elaine that even if he did as she wanted, there'd be some form of compromise; the second was more important than the first, at least in his mind.
Elaine smiled and swung her legs over his other side so that she was fully on him with her legs dangling off the side. "Not horribly so, more tedious and annoying than anything," Elaine gently kissed each of his cheeks then before withdrawing to pick up a second fork. "I wish others in the world were as gifted as you or I, the sheer incompetence that runs rampant through the Magical world is incredibly aggravating. Oftentimes I wish I could make copies of myself so that I could run every position that could make real change. If that were to happen, rather than having to micro-manage everything until it reaches perfection I could simply ensure it by having one of my copies focus on that portion of the Government."
"Not copies of me?" Harry asked with a muse. "What if your copies all wanted time with me too?"
"I wouldn't make a copy of you. None of the others would have our bond and the process to do so would likely be more complicated than if I were to try it on myself," Elaine narrowed her eyes then, poking at the eggs on his plate. "None of my copies or failing that, friends of ours, would be allowed any level of intimacy beyond that of hand-holding or hugging. Your affection in the form of anything sexual or close to is solely mine just as mine is solely yours - I feel like we've established that already, so why don't we get into something that I know you're ever so curious about?"
"More news regarding Grindelwald, then?" Harry asked, laughing when he saw that she still looked vaguely frustrated at his mention of her theoretical copies.
Leave it to Elaine to get jealous about her own clones that don't even exist.
"Yes, there's more regarding him and his followers. None of it's all that important, mind you, not with winter setting in and attrition becoming a real issue for the Muggle forces. All he's doing is holding propaganda-filled speeches that show how he 'successfully' sent his forces to Britain to save them from Muggles. As you can imagine, nobody is convinced even if they hate Muggles," Elaine rolled her eyes and ran a hand down his chest. "Who would think that Purebloods dislike most wizards and witches from the continent more than the Muggle versions of their people?"
Harry didn't say anything, especially since his response would've been one of affirmation. It wasn't surprising in the slightest to him, not really. Even in the future there was still some bit of discrimination on account of where people were from, magic or not.
"If there's no real news about the conflict, what about Dumbledore or Yaxley? Have you heard anything about either of them? Oh, right, I was hoping to speak with you about rituals too, you know, since you're being completely honest with me," Harry watched her face closely when he made that closing remark, hopeful that he'd see some flash or look that either confirmed or denied it.
He didn't know why he thought he'd see any such look. Not when his girlfriend - fiancè - was so good at deception.
"Dumbledore plans on returning to Hogwarts when the Yule break is over, Yaxley as of today, I have still yet to hear from or of since the invasion. He's gone completely quiet, which is worrying, mind you for us more so than for him" Elaine's fingers on his chest started tapping directly on his collarbone, the touch oddly relaxing as she leaned in closer to him. "I can tell you whatever you'd like about rituals too, I believe I've done so already. If you mean to ask which of them I've done as well as when, then I suppose I could do that too. You wanted honesty from me after partial truths and the like, so I'll stay true to the agreement we made - there is something I'd like in return from you if I'm to do so."
Of course there is, there's always something you want from me.
"Go on then," Harry said with an expectant look at the girl in his lap; he would have crossed his arms too, had they not been wrapped around her.
"If I'm to teach you about rituals and inform you as to the one's I've completed, I'd like more affection on a daily basis while we're together. Any form of intimacy will work as it seems to aid me in relaxing just as my ring does," Elaine nibbled on a piece of bacon as she waited for his reply, and really, he gave it almost immediately.
"Deal."
There wasn't any loss for Harry. He got to keep her closer to him so that any and all future plans or actions of hers were known to him… and he got a little more physical stuff in addition to the obvious information she'd give him. It was, win, win, win as far as he was concerned.
"We'll start now," Elaine said suddenly, grabbing his face with both hands as she pressed her lips against his.
Maybe… maybe it was less of a win than he thought.
He really wanted breakfast.
"One complete day together, or near enough," Elaine said with her head on his chest as the pair lay cuddled up in Harry's bed. "I can only imagine how wonderful life will be when this is normal for us."
"Sleeping in the same bed?" Harry asked, his right arm numb thanks to it being under her.
Elaine shook her head, the action making him wiggle slightly. "No, that already feels normal - it has since the second night we did it. I was thinking more about our future lives together. What's one day together when we'll have our whole lives? Hundreds of years together, longer if Magic continues to expand and grow as Muggle technology does. It'll be bliss to share it with you."
Harry would have said something smart or otherwise under usual circumstances, but he couldn't muster anything up. Not after a day of exercise, studying, lengthy conversations that went around in circles and his first bath with Elaine since the Chamber. Combined, all of that was a recipe for exhaustion and he definitely was feeling that while she cuddled up to him under the very comfortable, clean-smelling sheets.
"It'll be nice," Harry got out, yawning as his eyes struggled to stay open.
"It will," Elaine agreed. "Tomorrow morning, perhaps tomorrow in general, you and I will begin planning for that future together. I've gotten us a meeting with the new Chief Advisor to the Minister, that old one we met was… retired, shall we say."
"Why?" Harry asked, curious as the man hadn't seemed all that horrible when they'd met. Really, from what he could remember, the man had seemed polite and eager at the chance to work with a Peverell.
"There was a scandal, I'm sure. When one works at the Ministry, there's always a chance for something to pop up should you outgrow your usefulness or if your ambitions are too high. I imagine somebody or a bloc of people weren't fond of his far-reaching power and decided to remove him regardless of the cost," Elaine snuggled up to him, her head right against his neck so that she blew warm air on him. "It doesn't much matter to me, whatever the reason. Men such as him come and go every few years, sooner if they're negligent or stupid. I'm sure this new one will help us achieve what we need."
Those were the last words Harry heard before he fell asleep for the night.
"You're not a fan of the way they speak, are you?"
Harry blinked and rubbed at his eyes when he heard the vaguely familiar woman's voice. It sounded right next to him, and at the same time, far enough away that he felt as if he needed to go searching for whoever had spoken to him. After he blinked nearly a dozen times and rubbed at his eyes half as much, he realised that the lack of vision he had wasn't because of anything in his eyes, it was due to darkness.
Wherever he was, there was no light, not even a sliver of it.
"It's quite dark," The voice agreed with an amused tone of voice. "I suppose that reflects the current situation for your homeland though, doesn't it?"
"Who are you?" Harry asked, turning to his side and reaching out his arm so that he could rouse Elaine.
Nothing.
Elaine wasn't next to him, nor were the sheets of his bed or the mattress beneath them. In fact, as Harry focused on himself, he noticed that he wasn't laying down in the first place; he was stood up, a different set of clothes on his body and the familiar feeling of glasses resting on his nose - he hadn't felt that in a long time, not since he'd first come to the new time.
"I should hope you've put the pieces together by now. We've met twice before, not that you remember very well that second meeting. My time, it exceeded the limit I had to work with and negatively impacted your ability to remember much of what we spoke about. Unfortunately for the both of us, I'm not the only force with overwhelming power," Blinding light hit Harry's senses then, revealing a woman in a dark robe pulled over her face standing only a dozen feet from him. "There's so much you'd like to ask me, I've heard it when you curse, praise or otherwise mention that 'infernal being' that sent you back in time, well, an alternate time," She said, her face still indistinguishable under the hood despite the amount of light.
Harry raised his hand in the hope that he could manage a glimpse of her face, but any which way that he did it, the light only seemed to go through his arm. Her face, as a result, remained hidden even as he took another few steps closer to her.
"Why don't you talk similar to them?" Harry asked, stopping six or so feet away when the cloaked woman raised her hand a few inches.
"I talk how you'd like me to talk," The woman said. "Your mind comprehends what I say easier if I talk in a manner that you're familiar with. It's better than speaking like Corene, Elaine, Horace… need I go on, isn't it?"
"Will you finally tell me why you sent me back in time to a world that's different than mine?" Harry asked, risking another step towards the cloaked woman.
She shook her head once, the hood not moving in the slightest of ways despite her motion. "Why would I tell you a second time?" The cloaked woman laughed and turned away from him. "You've already changed the outcome of this time in such a way that it'll never reach the end that was meant for it. Whether that's a good thing or bad, I suppose we'll see, won't we?"
"Why even show yourself if you're not going to be helpful?" Harry asked, his annoyance and anger finally slipping into his voice.
"I told you that you've changed the outcome of this particular world and that I've told you why you were sent here before, isn't that helpful enough? No?" The figure shrugged, this time moving the shoulder of her robes while the hood still stayed in place. "I suppose I could help you in one way, though that old mentor of yours said it better already - don't tell anybody that you're from a different timeline, era, world, whatever you'd like to call it, Harry Peverell. Oh, right… I best go check on the person you swapped times with, shouldn't I, or was it one of the others in your new one? I forget, it happens when you're entirely too old."
"Swapped times with?" Harry asked, now moving towards the woman again and reaching out an arm so that she couldn't leave, his mind latching onto her words that somebody else had gone to his time while he was stuck in theirs. "Who went to my time? Who was the bloke I sw-"
Harry felt a hand touch his forehead, and like that, he was whisked away from his 'dream' to see Elaine hovering over him in the darkness of night.
"I never realised you had a small mark on your forehead," Elaine said, smiling at him as the moon light reflected off of her face. "Sorry for waking you, Harry, but you were thrashing around in your sleep. I feared you were having a nightmare that my presence couldn't stop, so I woke you up."
"Was it bad?" Harry asked groggily as he wound an arm around Elaine and pulled her closer to him, the comfort feeling all too good after an entirely too confusing meeting with that woman.
"It looked as if you were possessed or worse, but you're well now," Elaine cocked her head at him, her hand tracing the mark on his forehead. "That mark feels pleasant to the touch, just like the rest of your body… I suppose we should return to resting now. You'll tell me in the morning what you dreamt of, won't you? I've been ever so curious about that cloaked woman I saw in your mind."
"I'm just as," Harry paused to yawn as Elaine pulled him into her arms. "as confused as you are."
Elaine kissed his forehead and sighed as he settled against her, not bothering with anymore words as the happy couple found themselves drifting off into the land of sleep.
December 21, 1944
Monday Afternoon
"There's not much happening anywhere," Elaine huffed, blowing out air with enough force that her hair moved. "This time of the year is entirely too boring - nobody has the gal to make any moves thanks to the Holiday season and horrible weather associated with it."
Harry shrugged beside her, closing the book the pair had been studying from for the better part of the morning.
"It's a good thing too, don't you think?" Harry asked.
"Why would I think that?" Elaine asked curiously, the young woman swinging her feet up so that they rested on Harry's lap.
"It gives everybody a break, to start," Harry said as his hands found the soles of her feet; it was odd to him that there wasn't any sign of thicker skin or imperfections, they seemed just as taken care of as the rest of her body was despite the usual hidden nature of a person's feet. "All the people who fight get to rest and recover, like our Aurors. People who work farms or animal care, well, they don't have to do as much for either side of things thanks to hibernation or the crops being under snow. I don't know much about politics, but I can't think of any elections or things like that taking place in winter either, so it should give them time to plan for the upcoming year."
Elaine opened her mouth to speak, but squeaked when he worked a finger between her big toe and the one next to it. The sound was one he'd never heard from her before, it was incredibly too girlish and light-hearted to be something she'd purposefully let out. Based on the slight widening of her eyes before her face went back into her usually confident, happy look when she was with him, Elaine hadn't expected the sound to slip out either.
"Don't tell anybody about that," She said simply through lidded, content-filled eyes. "Don't stop either."
Harry snickered and continued his impromptu massage of her feet. "Of course not."
"If that only lasted for a month, that'd be good… getting back to your point," Elaine started, her tone still somewhat off thanks to the sound he'd extracted from her. "The fact that it lasts three months simply halts all momentum one way or the other. It doesn't help that those who've stopped fighting entirely or in large part grow content or happy with the lack of action. If that continues for too long regardless of the conflict, they begin to wonder why they're fighting or why they're enacting new laws for their countrymen to follow. Hesitance leads to stagnation."
"Caution beats impulsiveness," Harry countered, smiling when Elaine shook her head at him like a child would.
"I should think that our being together is proof that impulsiveness beats caution, and not the other way around. Did you forget how often I'd jump you early on, even before we were dating? That was when you constantly seemed nervous around me and yet, here we are, cuddled up in your bed at night with pyjamas on - since you won't allow less - and with our heads on the same pillow," Elaine reached over and ran a finger across his lips, shivering when she pulled away.
He wasn't sure if that shivering was thanks to her touch or the foot massage that he was nearly finished with.
"Laddey," Harry called out suddenly, conceding the point to Elaine without saying as much.
Not a second later, Laddey was right beside the couple and standing rigidly as he looked between them. "Laddey is here, Master Harry, sir."
"Would you kindly go and check for mail from Corene for either Elaine or I? We'd like to hear if there's been any recent changes on the Grindelwald, Dumbledore or Wizengamot fronts," Harry said, patting the house-elf on the back when he nodded and apparated away a second later.
"You're as nice to your house-elves as you are to our housemates," Elaine said with a cocked head and indescribable look on her face. "I won't make any derogatory remarks about them, I know where you stand in relation to the helpful creatures. Instead, what I'll do is compliment you on beating me to requesting the current day's news."
"I'll take the compliment, but really, the house-elves who work for me and the one I've met through Corene, they're all wicked," Harry said, finally tapping her feet to let her know he was done.
Elaine smiled at him and stood up. He thought she needed the loo or another book until she walked behind his chair and called hers over. One that was done and he heard her mutter a transfiguration spell, he was completely lost as to her intentions until he felt them on his shoulders; her hands were working the muscles therein, with Elaine repaying his massage with one of her own.
He hadn't expected that, and to him, it felt… big.
"Laddey is back, Master Harry, sir," Harry heard a few minutes later, the apparation noise not even reaching his ears thanks to how comfortable and near to sleep he'd been.
"I'll take the letter," Harry said lazily, holding out a hand and smiling with his eyes closed as Laddey handed them over. "Thanks, Laddey."
With a pop that signalled the house-elf had left, Elaine started to press kisses to the back and sides of his neck. "Read them for us," She said between those kisses, the soft, gentle kisses leaving him tingly the more she continued.
Harry leaned further back into her affections, feeling the front of her body rather than the back of the chair that he'd dozed off on. She must have done more transfiguration while he'd been zoning off, but he didn't mind. Elaine, at least the front portion he was pressed against of her, was soft and only slightly cold.
' Harry and Elaine,
I hope this letter finds you both well, and my apologies in advance for the length of it. Much has happened in the last fourty-eight hours, most of which is peculiar. My hopes are that you'll send this house-elf back to me so that I may receive your insight in exchange for the information herein.
Grindelwald is who I will start with, for the man has been incredibly busy if the reports coming from the continent are to be believed. My father was nearby when he heard that Grindelwald and a team of his most devout attacked a near-empty building with a scant few guards., I believe the building was near the capital building in Cologne. The current interim Magical government has said nothing was taken, but Grindelwald does not take actions as daring as those without reason. That wasn't all he did either, for there were reports of him attacking the recently rescued Magical underground in Petrograd. Again, the reason for that attack is unknown, with reports coming only from local Finnish residents. As of today, he was spotted by one of the undercover Aurors in his forces walking amongst his followers while speaking with them, seemingly in an effort to keep their morale raised.
With that lengthy portion finished, I shall move on to Professor, Deputy-Headmaster and if the rumours are true, soon to be Headmaster Dumbledore. It would seem that Headmaster Dippet may be retiring earlier than he previously wished, my father said, for the stress of the conflict and extra students from all across Europe is too much for the man. Should this prove true, Headmaster Dumbledore will take up said title within a few weeks of us being back in the halls of Hogwarts. His suspicioun hasn't lessened in any of our group either, for his time at the Ministry to recover under their watchful eye has seen him poking around numerous files the likes of which he would never be granted access to. No trouble found him, as we both would know, for his friends are much too powerful to allow that to happen.
Regarding the Wizengamot, there were two bills pushed forward with next to no warning and the two were from typically opposing factions. The Potters put forth a bill targeting the influx of orphans, mainly the building of an additional establishment for them with the addition of a Hogwarts fund. It would be an expensive, lengthy task should it pass, but I'm currently of the opinion that it will not. As for the other bill, it was put forward by Abraxas' father and specifies that all Pureblooded children avoid compulsory service should it be enacted on the grounds of keeping bloodlines pure for the foreseeable future. With every currently seated Wizengamot member being of Pureblood and three of the four factions respecting the old ways, this should pass as easily as the earlier bill regarding Werewolves did.
In conclusion and once more in apology for the overall length of my letter, there has been much happening these past couple of days, all of which was unexpected. Our friend in Grindelwald's camp has yet to send any owl or missive to us too.
With respect and the request for insight,
Corene'
Harry finally set the letter down and huffed. "That was a lot, wasn't it?"
Elaine hummed behind him, working his shoulders with more force.
"Who's the friend in Grindelwald's camp? I don't remember you saying anything about a spy or something like that," Harry asked, starting with the bottom paragraph rather than the top so that he could better press Elaine for information.
"Yaxley is in the process of being turned," Elaine said. "He finds their cause of Muggle elimination or enslavement to be beneficial to all of Magicalkind. I can't say I completely agree regardless of my dislike for Muggles, for they do have their purposes. Regardless, we are attempting to maintain communication by speaking about his family in the hopes that he continues occasionally sharing information regarding Grindelwald's movements with us."
"So he's half-spying and half-helping Grindelwald?" Harry asked, hoping for clarification.
"If you'd like to word it far too simply, sure, that's exactly what he's doing. Would you like my thoughts on Dumbledore, Grindelwald or those bills next?" Elaine leaned forward so that he could see her grinning face above his, those dark brown eyes of hers staring right into his as her grin turned into a full-blown smile. "We both know you were going to ask me questions regarding everything, Harry. You're ever so inquisitive, which is but another trait of yours on a long, ever-growing list that I love about you."
Harry laughed, he genuinely laughed. "I'm glad that all of my questions make you like me more rather than bother you. That'd be a horrible thing, wouldn't it? And yes, you guessed right. I'm interested in what you're thinking regarding everything that we just read - well, I guess I'm actually interested in everything that you think. You don't tend to think about anything stupid."
"I don't, we don't have enough time yet to think about the simple, stupid, minute parts of life," Elaine leaned back again, her face going out of his view as she starting rubbing down his upper arms. "Dumbledore is bothersome and distrusting of me. He has been ever since the Basilisk escaped it's containment in the bowels of the Chamber thanks to my negligence. I can't lie and say it's not entirely my fault, not since I spoke with it regarding our mutual dislike for Muggleborns, but I should have been more careful in speaking with Slytherin's original familiar. Prior to that, Dumbledore thought of me as a lost soul on account of my growing up, though that's a story we'll not get into."
"There's a Basilisk in Hogwarts and you let it out?" Harry asked, blinking at Elaine as he put on his best acting face.
Merlin, I hope I've gotten better. It'll be horrible for me if I have to explain or come up with some other way of knowing.
Elaine laughed, it was huskier than he would have thought or liked, especially since it led to Myrtle's death. "Yes, there's a Basilisk that I've kept hidden away, lest it goes and hunts down another peer of ours. I'll have you meet her soon, she's ever the conversationalist so long as we avoid the rather explosive topics - back on the matter of Professor Dumbledore, my actions and movements would be much restricted if he became the Headmaster. It would be horrible enough that you would need to take control of portions of our little circle of friends."
"He dislikes you that much?" Harry asked, a small edge of disbelief in his tone.
Dumbledore never spoke poorly or acted all that bad to a student. Not even to Malfoy or the goons who followed him and bullied other students. Everybody, well, nearly everybody got away with whatever it was that they wanted.
"Should he become the Headmaster and gain control over the paintings, ghosts and house-elves, I fear there'd be a constant shadow over my shoulder wherever I went. Perhaps even our common room would be troublesome, meaning I wouldn't be able to visit you in the dead hours of the morning," Elaine shook her head. "I'll have to plan for this, perhaps I'll do so while you're away for a few days come Yule proper. Let's move on to Grindelwald now, lest I lose my composure thanks to that meddlesome old man."
Harry nodded a few times with the smallest of smiles on his face despite her incredibly honest remark. He had no doubt that Elaine would get heated or slip into her less sane personality should they continue speaking about Dumbledore; Tom, her counterpart rather than the male-version of her was similar in that regard. Harry thought that was potentially one of the few shared portions of their personalities.
That was a weird thought to have too, considering how he'd looked at her for so long in their relationship.
"Grindelwald, then," Harry finally agreed, rolling his neck and letting out a contented sigh at her ministrations. "What do you think about him being in three spots for two attacks and a rallying speech? Seems a bit busy, doesn't it?"
"Magic and no small number of potions ingested would make that fairly easy," Elaine said with a shrug, enough of one that he felt it against his back. "I wouldn't be entirely too surprised if he hadn't slept through the night, though that would be a bit dangerous considering he'd be in hostile lands - especially the second attack in Russia, that would have been very reckless, which leads me to believe whatever he achieved from it was worth the risk."
"Should we be worried? If he was willing to be reckless like you said, shouldn't that mean he could do something equally as reckless here in Britain?" Harry asked, not overly worried, but enough so that he figured asking Elaine wouldn't hurt.
The last thing he needed was Grindelwald trying to find his home or attacking Hogwarts while he was at it, neither of those thoughts was all that welcome. Well, at least the former would result in a large-scale battle where he could have Elaine and other people he trusted fighting alongside him. If he got attacked at home with only Elaine in his presence, it didn't matter how strong the two were together if they had fifty or even half that many wands pointed at them.
"I'm of the opinion that no, we shouldn't be worried. Grindelwald risked those attacks because he knew the areas lacked any real strength, he wouldn't be so stupid, especially after living here, to think that our homes or buildings are without protection. He's stupid and reckless, especially now that his side has begun to fall into obscurity. Grindelwald no longer concerns me, Harry, least of all while we're together - should he attack us while we're side by side, regardless of the wand he holds, the end result would be that of him losing." Elaine pressed a particularly forceful, wet kiss to the base of his neck then, seemingly to emphasize her point.
"You're that confident in that power boost we get together? He has the Elder Wand, isn't that what you said?" Harry wasn't entirely believing in the strength of a wand, though he had begun to believe about their power growing whilst together; he'd seen it in Elaine's home when they'd practiced against that woman.
"We'll never lose together, and I know what I said, Harry. It simply doesn't matter, for the strength of the greatest wand in an exceptional wizard wouldn't match our power when combined, not when it goes upwards of ten times as strong so long as we're working in tandem," Elaine stood up, pulling Harry with her and then she pulled out his arms.
He wasn't sure what it was that she wanted until she motioned for him to carry her, which he did. After the massage she'd given him, one that far exceeded his, he figured she was owed that much.
"Those Wizengamot laws then? That's my last question until we get into rituals tomorrow," Harry said, laughing when Elaine rolled her head to look at him, for even in his arms she could give him a knowing, strong look.
"I agree with both," Elaine said simply. "Orphans require a good home away from Muggles whilst also ensuring they're raised correctly. Purebloods drive the economy too and lest we falter, we need them - you'll have to tell me about that woman in your dreams again too, before we discuss rituals. There's something that's made me think about just who she could be, but I'll need more information from you."
Deal.
Harry almost said it aloud too, the urge to know who the being was had grown, especially since that last conversation… he just wasn't sure it was smart. Not if the womanly force got mad at him, he'd already learned how bad an angry witch could be.