The Power He Knows Not Chapter 20

Content Warnings: Teasing.

“Mistletoe.”

Harry glanced up at the sprig of mistletoe hanging from the thatched roof of Hagrid’s quiet, dark hut, chuckling quietly. “I wonder how that got there,” he murmured, his eyes sparkling. In the two weeks he had spent as Gabrielle’s boyfriend, he had learned that the Veela didn’t particularly need her wand for minor charms and spells. And the older they got, the better they were at wandless magic. He was beginning to believe Fleur hadn’t been joking about castrating him with fire were he to ever hurt Gabrielle.

He took a step closer, trapping the tiny blonde between the rough-hewn stone wall of the hut and his body.

“I have no clue, monsieur. But you know the rules,” she whispered, moaning as Harry grabbed her wrists, pinning her arms to the wall. It had the added effect of pushing her chest out, her firm breasts straining against her perfectly tailored ball gown.

“One kiss,” Harry whispered, his lips twitching.

“One kiss, oui?” She teased, her eyes sparkling. They’d started their relationship with ‘one’ kiss. However, every time they kissed… it never stopped at just that. The last time they’d ‘kissed’, she had stumbled out of a broom closet with her blouse on inside out and his cum leaking out of her.

“You know, I’d tell you two to get a room but knowing what I do about Veela and their mates… I’m pretty sure you two would enjoy a quickie out here.”

Harry leaped away from Gabrielle, his hand digging into his suit for his wand before he recognized the voice and relaxed.

Gabrielle did not follow suit. She jumped in front of him, shielding him with her body as best she could. Her fingertips sparked and burst into flames, a truly ferocious expression on her face.

“I know the joke was in poor taste, but don’t incinerate me, Madame,” Sirius chuckled, emerging from the shadows with his hands raised in surrender.

Gabrielle's lips quirked, but she did not extinguish the flame dancing on her palm. “Oh. It is you. The Mass Murderer.”

“Is that how you introduce me to all your girlfriends? I’m hurt.” Sirius clutched his heart dramatically.

Harry narrowed his eyes. “One, you have no business being here. Two, Gabby, I had no idea you could do that, but you need to extinguish that flame. Someone will see him,” Harry hissed.

Gabrielle closed her fingers over her palm, shrouding them in darkness once more.

“You didn’t answer my question.”

“I’ll answer it if you answer mine. What’re you doing here?” Harry asked.

“James and Lily would have moved heaven and earth to see their son at his first Ball. All grown up, with a gorgeous girlfriend who obviously cares about him very much.” Gabrielle grabbed Harry’s hand, interlacing their fingers together. “Thought I’d come see you in their stead, even if it was from a distance. Besides, I was going stir-crazy in that cave. A hippogriff is NOT a good conversationalist.”

“You could be caught!”

“I’m in the Forbidden Forest. Well, at the edge of it now but I was in the forest all day. Who’s going to question a dog in a place that has everything from Centaurs to Banshees?” Sirius asked, rolling his eyes. “But if you are that concerned about me, I guess we can talk in the clearing I’ve been camping in.”

Harry nodded, eager to eliminate even the minuscule risk of someone on the grounds catching a glimpse of him. They followed him into the forest, Gabrielle lighting a small fire on her palm to illuminate the way and ensure neither of them caught their foot in the exposed tree roots snaking along the forest floor. Sirius, who had transformed back into a dog, had no need for such aid and happily ambled ahead of them, his tongue hanging out of his mouth.

“So,” Sirius started, sitting down on one of the two flat rocks arranged around a tiny campfire. He flicked the wand in his hand, setting fire to the small logs arranged around a pile of stones.

“Why are there two rocks?” Harry sat down on the other one. Gabrielle tugged on her dress, shivering in the cold winter air. She smiled as Harry pulled off his tux, wrapping it around her shoulders after she had settled down in his lap.

“Thought I’d have a chat with you if I managed to find you alone on the grounds. You’re a hard man to pin down.”

Harry blushed. With everything that had been going on in his life, he had completely forgotten to keep his promise to write to his godfather and keep him updated on the Tournament and all the other happenings in Hogwarts.

“I’m sorry. I-”

“No need to apologize. Just be thankful you have a girlfriend who is much better at keeping me updated than you are.”

“Su-”

“Daphne,” Sirius corrected him. “She also got me this.” He held up the short wand in his hand.

“She’s… resourceful,” Harry murmured, unable to help the proud smile on his face.

“You bet she is. From what I hear, you’d never have gotten together with the lovely Miss Delacour if she hadn’t practically thrown you into her bed.”

“That’s not what happened.”

Gabrielle giggled. “Mon amour, you have to admit, there is some truth to that story.”

Harry wrapped an arm around her waist and pulled her closer. “I’d have asked you out eventually. You’re the only girl I like and I still need a Mrs. Potter. I’m not about to let my parents’ legacy fall into the hands of Malfoy.”

“The ONLY girl you like?” Sirius asked, examining his nails. He was clearly in a mood to have some fun at his godson’s expense.

“Oh god, you want Daphne to murder me, don’t you? You’ll probably get a kick out of it,” Harry groaned, massaging his forehead. “The only girl I liked that I wasn’t already dating,” Harry growled, correcting himself.

“What about a certain Miss Patil?” Sirius asked casually. “Daphne tells me you’re very protective of her. Hell, for that matter so does Hermione. Seems to me everyone but my godson has the time to write to me.”

“Padma?! We’re just friends!” Harry squeaked, the red in his cheeks betraying him. “All that research those two have been doing in the library trying to crack the clue inside the Golden Egg has addled their brains,” Harry groused, burying the lower part of his face in Gabrielle’s hair to hide his red cheeks.

“Can we just circle back for a minute?” Gabrielle asked.

“The floor is yours.”

“You’re dating me just because you need a wife?!” Gabrielle growled, pretending to be outraged. She twisted to glare at Harry, happy to join his godfather in pulling his leg.

“What?! NO!” Harry ran a panicked hand through his hair. “I’m dating you because I like you, Gabby! It’s just that I needed to date someone and I liked you so I’d have asked you out eventually.”

“Oh, so you wouldn’t have dated me if you didn’t need someone to be the future Mrs. Potter?” Gabrielle raised an eyebrow.

Harry turned to his godfather, silently begging the man to save him from his predicament.

Sirius chuckled. “He’s fun to tease, isn’t he?”

“He is. He is a good man who just wants the people he loves to be happy. He worries too much about all of us,” Gabrielle whispered, leaning up to kiss Harry’s cheek. “I do not care why or how we came to be, mon amour. Just that we are together now.”

“Speaking of politics, you are going to need to find a future Mrs. Black. Might I suggest the stunningly gorgeous Miss Patil?” Sirius asked, clearly not done with teasing Harry.

Harry looked at Sirius blankly.

“Prolonged stays at Azkaban aren’t exactly great for one’s fertility, kid. Even if I do find a lovely lady willing to date a-”

“Convicted Mass Murderer,” Gabrielle chimed in. It was how Harry had introduced his godfather to her (only adding the innocent part at the end of a long-winding story that covered his entire third year at Hogwarts), and she was going to call him that for the rest of their lives.

Sirius chuckled and nodded. “That. Well, I’m shooting blanks. I’ll never have my own kid. You’re my heir.”

“Why can’t you adopt someone?”

“Because my heir has to be a blood relative, Gabrielle,” Sirius explained. “It’s either Harry or Malfoy.”

“The English have strange laws.”

“That we do. Anyways, while I’m more than happy to leave my mother and her monstrous legacy to Malfoy, I think we can all agree that giving him one of the biggest fortunes and collections of cursed objects on this island is a very bad idea.”

Harry cursed under his breath.

“Life isn’t easy, huh kid? Having to date four gorgeous women. Such a burden,” Sirius said sardonically.

“You try doing it,” Harry muttered, resting his chin on Gabrielle’s head despondently.

“You’ll get used to it. It’s all about balance.”

“You talk like you speak from experience,” Gabrielle said, leaning back into Harry’s chest. She pulled the tux closer around her, enjoying Harry’s familiar scent of wood polish and warm chocolate.

“I was young and wild once.”

“Please.” Harry rolled his eyes. “Even you didn’t manage to date four people at once. It’s not possible. Not for anyone.”

“Six,” Sirius replied, sounding completely serious. “We had a nice weekly schedule going.”

“Why not seven?” Gabrielle asked, hiding her smile behind her hand. Harry’s godfather was outrageous, larger than life, and a man of passion and mystery.

“A man has to rest. He has to set aside time for his mates so they can plan their next epic prank.”

Harry and Gabrielle stared at Sirius, unsure if he was joking or if he was actually being truthful.

“We’ll deal with this problem later,” Harry muttered. Between the Tournament, his friends and girlfriends, and Ron, he already had his hands full.

“I have a feeling something will fall in your lap. And that it’ll happen sooner rather than later.”

Harry blinked. “What do you mean?”

“Well,” Sirius started, sighing softly. “Have you noticed that you’ve always been at the right place and the right time this year? With Daphne. With Gabrielle. There are powers at work that we cannot comprehend Harry,” Sirius murmured, adding more logs to the fire. “And there’s still the matter of your name popping out of that blasted goblet.”

“You think there’s a connection?”

“I don’t know. But if I were a gambling man… I’d bet my shirt on circumstances bringing you and the future Mrs. Black together very soon.”

Harry cleared his throat awkwardly, unsure how to respond.

“Since we’re on the subject of politics, what’d Susan say to her aunt that’s gotten her so riled up?”

“I have no idea what you’re talking about, Sirius.”

“It’s all over the Daily Prophet.”

“We stopped reading after that vile woman…” Gabrielle trailed off, her face turning red with anger.

Sirius nodded sympathetically. “I saw. Skeeter has always been vile but she’s downright disgusting with you. I’m sorry. But I don’t mean the front pages. I meant pages ten to fifteen, where they usually hide the important stuff.”

“What has she been doing?”

“She’s dragging Dumbledore over metaphorical coals for all the bullshit going on in Hogwarts this year but especially for you being forced to participate in the tournament. It’s not just him. She’s blasting Crouch and Bagman too. Apparently, Bagman now scurries away if someone so much as whispers her name around him. Crouch has simply stopped coming to the Ministry altogether. Some cockamamie story about him suddenly coming down with a serious illness. If I had to guess, that egotistical maniac can’t take being humiliated by the woman who replaced him as Head of the DMLE.”

“What about Dumbledore?” Gabrielle asked.

“They spar every session. It’s slow going but she’s converting people to her side.”

“And her side is…” Harry asked, still in the dark.

“That Dumbledore was given far too much power over your life when you were young. She wants his decisions examined and if needed, corrected.”

“I didn’t say anything to her. But… Susan knows everything now. About the Dursleys. She might have mentioned them to her.”

“I wouldn’t be surprised if she did,” Sirius said grimly. “You’d be surprised at how far a Hufflepuff will go to protect someone they love. Hell, I’m tempted to turn your aunt and uncle to weasels and introduce them to Buckbeak on a daily basis so I think I have an inkling of what she wants to do.”

“What does the Headmaster say in response to her accusations?” Gabrielle asked.

“Talks about the Blood Wards. Never explains what they are, or if he does, the papers don’t print it. The problem is… all of your parents’ friends, me included, knew they had done something to protect you well before they were killed. They were careful not to say exactly what it was to anyone. We knew there was a spy in our midst by then, we just didn’t know who. When Dumbledore announced the Blood Wards… nearly everyone assumed that’s what James and Lily had meant.”

“But don’t sound so sure.”

“That’s because I’m not, Harry. Obviously, I couldn’t raise my doubts back then.” Sirius shrugged. “Call it a silly hunch but your mother wasn’t exactly fond of her sister. As far as I knew, the feeling was mutual. Why would Lily create a means of protection that relies explicitly on the kindness of someone who hates her and her child? What if Petunia had refused to take you in? What if she had taken you in only to kick you out when you started Hogwarts despite Dumbledore’s threats? His entire story is riddled with holes and doesn’t make any sense.”

“So either he does not know everything himself or he does know and is acting this way for a certain reason,” Gabrielle mused.

“Exactly. I really hope it’s the former. For all our sakes,” Sirius muttered. “Because I shudder to think what could be important enough to justify leaving you with the Dursleys.”

Harry noticed the sparks dancing along Gabrielle’s fingers and knew her dormant (but ever-present) protective instincts were kicking in.

“Also a topic for another day, I’d say,” He said hastily. “It’s Christmas. Thanks for the gift, Sirius. It’ll make sneaking in and out of Gabby’s room much easier,” Harry whispered, running a finger up her thigh, using the darkness to hide his action. Gabrielle blushed and hid her face in Harry’s chest, whimpering quietly.

“You’re welcome. I had a similar penknife while I was at Hogwarts. You won’t believe the number of times it saved our skin.”

“Thanks again. Although I’m pretty sure Daphne’s going to nick it at the first possible opportunity.”

“Where is our resident hellraiser?”

“She’s either dancing with Susan or stopping Ron from ruining Padma’s night. It’s honestly fifty-fifty at this point.”

“Ron still hasn’t come around, huh?”

Harry shrugged despondently.

“I wouldn’t be too hard on him. I know a thing or two about jealous younger brothers who feel like they have a thing to prove. I had one too.” Sirius sighed at the expression on Harry’s and Gabrielle’s faces. “I have a feeling Susan hasn’t told me everything he’s done. I’m not saying that you have to condone or excuse his bad behavior, just that you understand where it comes from.”

“What possible reason could he have to treat his date like crap? There’s no universe where he does better than Padma, Padfoot.”

“See, that’s the thing. He sees his cooler older brothers and they all have a thing. They have amazing lives and great partners. Now, as I’ve said, I know a thing or two about younger brothers. Ron could recognize why his older brothers are so successful in life and work to emulate them. Or…” Sirius shrugged helplessly. “He could take all the wrong lessons from them, just like my brother once did. From what you’ve told me, it doesn’t help that his mother spoils him rotten, again, something else that happened with my brother.”

“Where is your brother now?”

“Dead, Gabrielle.” Sirius sighed. “He looked at me and decided he too deserved a tight-knit group of friends, infamy, and the admiration of those around him. My mother used that to manipulate him into joining the Death Eaters. Never saw him again. Now, he was an ass, Harry, but he didn’t deserve what happened to him. I failed him. I honestly won’t blame you if you give up on Ron. I just don’t want you to think you failed your friend twenty years down the line.”

“I don’t even know what his problem is. We all want to be friends with him. Padma is genuinely trying to make an effort. Yet all he cares about is the stupid tournament, the girls I’m dating, and this weird fixation he has on Hermione’s love life,” Harry muttered, frustratedly running a hand through his hair.

Sirius sighed. “Sometimes I forget you were raised by people with the self-awareness of a gremlin. Do you want me to break it down for you?”

Harry nodded.

“He looks at his brothers and sees their fame. But he doesn’t see the work they’ve put into it. He thinks he’s owed that fame. And then his friend, objectively already the most famous wizard in Britain, does something that makes him even more popular.”

Harry opened his mouth to argue, only to be cut off by Sirius.

“I know you copped a lot of shit for it and if it was up to you, you’d give it up in an instant for a quiet year. But you’re missing the point, Harry,” Sirius explained patiently. “His brain isn’t wired to see all that. All he sees are the positives. The adulation. The new friends and love it got you. He’s jealous about that. He’s jealous that he’s not the most important person in your life anymore. He sees you and suddenly Padma isn’t enough for him anymore. Why shouldn’t he get to date both Padma and Hermione?”

Gabrielle frowned. “Are you saying Hermione shouldn’t get a say in the matter?”

“I’m saying Ron has his head so far up his ass that he doesn’t understand Harry doesn’t just get to point at a girl and decide they’re dating now. That’s what he thinks is happening and he wants in on this fantasy too. In chasing the impossible he’s going to alienate all his friends and ruin everything good in his life, just like Regulus did.”

“So what should we do?”

“Well, you can either try the carrot or the stick,” Sirius responded with a shrug.

“I’ve been nice and patient with him all year.”

“Then I think it’s high time you pulled his head out of his ass.”

“And if that doesn’t work?”

“Not all friendships work out, Harry. Sometimes you have to decide who is more important in your life. There’s only so much you can do for a person.”

Harry smiled. Talking to Sirius always worked. He wondered how the man could be utterly juvenile one second and impart sage wisdom the next.

“Thanks, Padfoot.” He glanced at Gabrielle, who silently slipped off his lap and onto her feet. He stood as well, walking towards his godfather and letting the man envelop him in a hug. “Keep me updated,” Sirius whispered, patting his back.

Sirius then turned to Gabrielle, bending to kiss her cheek. “Remind him to write to his old godfather every so often.”

“I will. It was nice meeting you, Monsieur Mass Murderer,” Gabrielle teased, slipping her hand into Harry’s and leaning into his side.

“I’ll stay camped in the forest until the tournament is over, Harry. Send one of the school owls whenever one of you writes a letter. Don’t send Hedwig anymore, she’s too conspicuous.”

Harry nodded, leaving Sirius to his thoughts with a parting wave. They slowly walked back out of the forest, Gabrielle lighting another fire to guide them. They emerged next to Hagrid’s empty hut, slowly crossing the grounds to reach the path that would lead them back to the castle.

They walked down the path lit with fairy lights in silence, both of them preoccupied with digesting their conversation with Sirius. Harry decided it was high time he grabbed the Twins and sat down with Ron for a frank conversation. If that didn’t work… well, he was done treating the redhead with kid gloves.

Harry frowned at the sound of shouting wafting out of the open doors of the castle. He exchanged a glance with Gabrielle. She pulled up her dress, rushing into the Atrium with him.

Hermione was standing right in the middle of the vast room, shouting at a red-faced Ron who was screaming right back at her. Susan and Daphne watched on in stunned disbelief, while a small crowd was quickly gathering to take in the drama playing out in front of them.

Harry’s eyes flickered to the stairs, his gaze fixing on Padma running up with tears streaming down her face.

Harry made his way towards Ron with a murderous look on his face, only to be physically blocked by Daphne.

“Daph-” Harry muttered, in no mood for her schemes.

“Harry, he lives in the same dorm room as you,” Daphne hissed hurriedly, knowing she had mere seconds to get her point across. “You can spend all night fighting him if you want. Right now, Padma needs you. Leave him to us.”

When Harry didn’t move, Daphne sighed and locked her stormy gray eyes with his. “Who’s more important? Ron or Padma?”

Harry growled, glaring at Ron one last time before he pushed through the crowd and ran up the stairs to catch Padma.

Susan moved to restrain Hermione while Daphne and Gabrielle both grabbed Ron’s hands, pulling him away from the infuriated girl.

“Listen to me Weasley,” Daphne hissed, whispering in the struggling redhead’s ear. “If you don’t want me to make your life a living hell for the rest of your time in this castle, you’re going to shut that sewer you call a mouth and come with us. Test me and I’ll have you begging to drop out of Hogwarts before the year is over.” She punctuated the threat by pushing her wand against his back. Thankfully the music blaring in the Great Hall meant that none of the teachers had noticed the commotion outside, but Daphne knew it was only a matter of time before someone came out. And this, she decided, was a matter she wanted to settle personally.

Hermione watched Daphne and Gabrielle pull Ron out of the Atrium. She tried to follow them, only to be stopped by Susan.

“I’m coming too.”

“Viktor’s waiting for you. He has no idea what’s going on and it’s bad form to abandon your date halfway through a Ball. He’s going to think it was something he did. Do you really want to ruin your friendship with Viktor for him?” Susan jerked her head in Ron’s direction.

“What about Ron?”

“We’ll handle him,” Susan said grimly.

Notes:

Sirius with some sage advice. I guess he also wins a shirt cause fate has just gotten Harry together with his next soulmate. I kinda feel sorry for Ron but it's his fault and he's going to get better the hard way. The next chapter will be Harry and Padma getting together, and since you all voted for Bondage as her main interest, expect to see stuff like Shibari! Sirius is also going to play a greater role in the story cause I have a lot of fun writing his character. Oh and no bashing and no secretly evil characters. Just flawed people.