The Spoils of War

THE SPOILS OF WAR

BY AERIE22

CHAPTER TWO

MASTER

It took another day for the powers that be to complete at least their preliminary interrogation of Harry. Of course, there was a press conference. Every ministry official was there for their moment in the spotlight with the great hero, Harry Potter. No one was more intrusive, of course, than Cornelius Fudge. When pressed by the reporters present on Fudge's role in Voldemort's downfall, Harry was at a loss. He wanted to say something biting, but Dumbledore had cautioned him to keep his remarks neutral. So finally, Harry mentioned that Fudge had graciously not interfered with the plans against the Dark Lord, drawing some snickers. Fudge, ever quick on his feet, made some noises about how he thought it best to leave things to the 'experts.'

All questions about the spell Harry had cast, and there were many, were deferred to Dumbledore, who was at his platitudinous best. Of course, the reporters from Witch Weekly and Teen Witch Weekly asked relentlessly about any girlfriends or love interests in his life, and how it felt to be not only the most heroic and eligible bachelor in the Wizarding World, but doubtless, now the richest. Harry tried to remain calm and noncommittal, and thought he had succeeded until he saw the stories these reporters wrote about various 'mystery women' in his life.

And he was asked about Narcissa and Bellatrix. His scowl of distaste at the mention of their names was enough for any reporter present to conclude that the sisters had little to look forward to under Harry's care.

It was now the third day since the final battle and he wanted nothing more than go back to the Gryffindor common room to see his friends, Hermione and Ron, Neville and Ginny, Seamus and Dean, Lavender and Parvati, and relax away from the glare of publicity, adulation, and controversy. He knew he didn't have long to wait, now that the last review of the final battle for the members of the Order of the Phoenix gathered in the Headmaster's office was over.

Nymphadora Tonks had offered to escort him up to the Tower. Then Snape spoke up. "Don't you think you should see after your ... 'property' down in the dungeons," he said with a smirk.

Harry closed his eyes in exasperation and bit off the nasty retort that was on the tip of his tongue. Seeing Narcissa, and especially Bellatrix, was the last thing he wanted. But Dumbledore caught his eye and Harry nodded in resignation.

It was a long walk with Snape down from the Headmaster's quarters to the area of the dungeons where 'The Notorious Black Sisters,' as they were now being called in the press, were being kept. Snape nodded to a portrait at the end of a dark hallway. "The password is 'Succubi'," Snape said with a sneer.

Harry gave the Potions Master a quick glare, but Snape merely swept down the hall and back toward his office.

Harry gave the password and entered. He was startled by what he saw. Narcissa was sitting in a desk chair paging idly through an old charms textbook while Bellatrix was curled up, sleeping uncomfortably on a love seat. Both had shed their filthy robes but were in the same mud and blood-spattered clothes they wore underneath on that faithful day. Bellatrix was in what looked to be gray tweed slacks and a black cable jumper under the filth. Narcissa was in what appeared to be a ruined rust-colored suede skirt that came below the knee and a torn and stained cream-colored silk blouse. Her heeled boots were on the floor beside the desk, leaving her barefooted.

Narcissa looked up with tired eyes. "Come to assess the damage, Potter? Or just assaying your property," she drawled.

Bellatrix stirred and Harry whipped out his wand.

"Oh, put it away, Potter," Narcissa said in a resigned tone. "That spell you cast pretty much took care of anything we might want to do to you."

Harry cocked an eyebrow.

Narcissa sighed. "As your ... 'spoils of war,' we are prevented from doing anything not in your interest. Like killing you," she said with disinterest as she idly paged through the charms text.

Harry simply glared at her.

After a few moments of hesitation, she looked up. "Listen, can you do something about our clothes? We've been down here for two days with nothing but the occasional tray of scraps to eat. And could you do something about a toilet? Something more than a slop bucket? Bathilda Bagshot's History of Magic series was absolutely abysmal reading, but it serves even worse as toilet tissue," she said with a resigned sigh.

Bellatrix sat up and massaged her shoulder, eyeing Harry cautiously. "Got any pain potions?" she asked quietly. "That last curse hurt like hell," she muttered.

Harry blinked at the conditions the women were being forced to live in and was appalled. He had a quick flash of how they would be even worse in Azkaban. But these women were his property. Then, he shook his head at the appalling notion. No, they were his responsibility. "Dobby!" he called out.

In an instant, Dobby appeared and smiled up at Harry. "Yes, Harry Potter, sir! You called your good friend Dobby? How can Dobby help?" Dobby glanced around the room, then shuddered when he saw Narcissa and stepped around until he was safe behind Harry's legs.

Harry looked with concern at his house-elf friend. "Are you all right, Dobby?"

Dobby looked up at Harry with frightened eyes. "Is Dobby going back to his old master, Master Harry Potter?"

Harry blinked a couple times, then realized that Dobby had once worked for Narcissa. He gave the elder Black sister an angry look, then knelt down in front of Dobby. "No, Dobby. Your previous Master is dead. I killed him. Did Mistress Malfoy mistreat you like he did?"

Dobby peered around Harry's body to give a shocked Narcissa a baleful look. "No, Master Harry Potter. Mistress Malfoy treated Dobby well. But whenever she did, Master Malfoy beat Dobby for insolence. Bad Dobby! Bad!"

Harry grabbed Dobby to keep the elf from doing anything to harm himself. Then he held Dobby at arm's length to look the shamed elf in the eye. "Dobby, you've done nothing wrong. And nobody's going to hurt you. Nobody ever will if I can help it."

Dobby suddenly threw his arms around Harry and exploded into tears. "Harry Potter is the greatest friend Dobby has ever heard of," he exclaimed between sobs.

Harry looked up to see Bellatrix staring at him in curiosity and Narcissa watching him in surprise.

He waited until Dobby's storm of tears had crested before pushing the house elf out to arm's length again. "Dobby, is there any reason why no one has been in here to help clean or take care of these ladies?"

Dobby looked down, ashamed. "House elves are being told to bring food here twice a day, but do nothing else."

Harry closed his eyes and sighed. "Who told you that?"

Dobby gave a furtive look around. "Master Filch tells house elves this. He is saying Mister Minister Percy orders these things."

Harry closed his eyes and uttered a quiet curse. "Well Master Harry Potter has a big favor to ask of his good friend Dobby," he said slowly and intensely. "Harry Potter would be very happy and very grateful to his good friend Dobby if Dobby could find clean clothes for Mistress Narcissa and Mistress Bellatrix. He would also be very grateful if the two ladies could have access to a toilet and shower."

Dobby glanced back and forth at the women and Harry. Then he broke out into a broad grin. He little house elf walked over to a blank wall and pointed his finger, tracing a rectangular outline. Where the outline was made, a door appeared. He snapped his fingers and Harry peered in and was surprised. But before her had a chance to react, Narcissa glided by and entered the room. Bellatrix quickly followed.

Harry entered and blinked in surprise. They were all in an elegantly appointed bathroom with a small swimming pool sunken into the floor. He thought he recognized the place, but it was not exactly as he remembered it.

"Where are we?" Harry asked in a shaky voice.

"The girls' prefects' bathroom," Narcissa said quietly as she fingered the fluffy towels with a sigh.

"You were a prefect?" Harry asked.

Narcissa nodded.

Harry was distracted by movement on his left. Bellatrix was taking her dirty and bloody-stained clothes off. He blushed furiously and turned away.

Narcissa arched an eyebrow. "It's not like we need a chaperone, Potter. We have learned to bathe ourselves. Unless, of course, you insist," she drawled. But suddenly, she turned away, looking upset with herself. 'No use putting ideas into his head,' she thought, berating herself mentally.

Harry looked down at a happily smiling Dobby. "Uh, can you make sure they have clean clothes and bring them back to their room in the dungeons when they are ready?" Then he paused. "Dobby, is there anywhere else we can put them where they'll be safe and comfortable, but prevented from escaping?" Harry whispered.

Dobby looked up at Harry and crooked his finger. Harry leaned down and listened carefully. Then he smiled and nodded. He chanced a look in the women's direction, then quickly looked away as he caught a bit of skin from Narcissa and quite a bit more from Bellatrix. He started staring nervously at the far wall. "Dobby will escort you to a new room when you are done here," he managed to force out over his shoulder before nodding to Dobby. Dobby managed to walk him back through the conjured portal to the dungeons, but not before he heard a quiet 'Thank you' from Bellatrix.

* * *

As Harry entered the Gryffindor common room for the first time since the battle, the normal hubbub almost instantly stopped. Then everyone started cheering, led by Ron and Ginny. Harry was suddenly engulfed in hugs and people grabbing his shoulders or patting him on the back. Finally, he found himself turned around and came face-to-face with Hermione, who threw her arms around him and hugged him tightly, beginning to sob. "It's over," she cried between gasping breaths. "It's finally over."

Harry smiled to himself. It was nice to feel Hermione in his arms. After nearly two years of a monk-like existence while he trained, Hermione's warmth and softness was like a balm to his weary soul.

As things began to calm down, Ron led Harry, Hermione and Ginny over to the squashy couch in front of the fire, which some fifth years happily abandoned to their hero.

Harry leaned back between his two best friends and found his left leg embraced by Ginny, who sat at his feet. He threw his arms around his friends' shoulders and sighed happily. "I can't believe it's finally over," he whispered. All three of his friends tightened their grips on him and he smiled.

After a few minutes of quiet contentment, Harry turned and glanced around the common room. "Where's Neville? I didn't see him down here."

He could feel his friends tense. Harry turned his head anxiously back and forth between Ron and Hermione.

Then Ron cursed. "I can't believe they didn't tell you," he exclaimed hotly. Then he glanced at Harry sadly.

Harry's eyes widened in alarm. "What?" he asked in a harsh, anxious voice. He could feel Hermione's grip on him tighten.

Ron lowered his head. "Neville didn't make it," he said quietly.

Harry's eyes widened and began to cloud. "What ... what do you mean?"

Hermione leaned into him. "Neville took a killing curse shielding Luna during the final battle. He died a hero," she whispered, her voice cracking.

At the news, Harry seemed to deflate. "Who did it?" he asked in a tight voice.

Ron frowned. "No one knows. He was right behind you, covering your back, when you made the breakthrough. There was a group of Death Eaters to the side that hit Luna with a couple Crucios. Neville cursed several of them when they started throwing killing curses. Neville shielded Luna. We tried to cover him, but he was out in the open. I got a few and so did Hermione. But there were too many. Then he was gone. A bunch of Unspeakables came up to reinforce us and made quick work of the group. Killed them all. But it was too late for Neville."

Harry was breathing heavily. "How's Susan taking it?" referring to Neville's girlfriend, Susan Bones of Hufflepuff.

Ginny squeezed Harry's calf, which she was hugging as if for dear life. "Not good. Hannah says she hasn't been out of her dorm since it happened. Even her aunt can't get her to come out."

Harry closed his eyes, squeezing a few more tears out. "Who else?"

Hermione looked puzzled and concerned, but Ron sighed. "Wayne Hopkins of Hufflepuff. Terry Boot and Mandy Brocklehurst from Ravenclaw in our year." Ron sighed. "Two fourth-year Slytherins from the D.A. Old Dung Fletcher and Hestia Jones from the Order. About a dozen Aurors and a couple Unspeakables. About fifteen others on our side who weren't part of any organized group ... just people who showed up to fight beside us. St. Mungo's is full up with casualties, from what Dad says."

Harry gave a vague nod, his eyes cloudy. 'So many friends gone,' he thought. "What about the other side," he muttered.

Ginny leaned her head on Harry's knee. "Dad says they found the bodies of eighty or so Death Eaters. Over a hundred were captured," she said.

Ron coughed. "Zacharias Smith and Millicent Bulstrode were killed among the Death Eaters. Marcus Flint lost an arm. No more flying for him, the bastard." After a couple moments, he spoke again. "You'll love this," he said quietly. "Draco Malfoy never showed up. He never took the mark, but several Death Eaters said he was working for ... Voldemort. Even Crabbe and Goyle admitted it when they surrendered. Bloody coward."

Harry blinked. Suddenly, he sat up, his temper rising. "Malfoy!" he growled.

Surprising his three closest friends, he stood up and stalked out of the common room in a fury.

Within minutes, he was on the seventh floor just past the statue of Barnabas the Barmy, pacing back and forth. The door of the Room of Requirement opened and he entered an elegant suite of rooms decorated in the richest of taste.

Narcissa looked up from her vanity, where she was brushing her thick blond hair. She arched her now once-again artfully sculpted eyebrows. "Is this a social call, Potter?"

Harry glowered at her. "Shut the fuck up, bitch! Remember who you're talking to! I own you!"

The woman stared open-mouthed at Harry in shock.

"Where's your sister?" Harry demanded.

Narcissa pointed a now clean and once again perfectly manicured finger to a door that the room had provided for the sisters.

"Lestrange! Get you arse in here! Now!" Harry shouted.

Bellatrix stumbled through the door in a long dressing gown over silk pajamas. She too looked at him with wide, frightened eyes. Harry grabbed her by the arm and flung her on the soft couch next to her sister.

"You!" Harry yelled as he pointed at Bellatrix. "You helped destroy the life of one of my best friends. Neville Longbottom was one of the best persons I've ever known in my life! And you tortured his parents to insanity, leaving him a childhood without a loving mother and father! And now he's dead! He never had a chance to enjoy a life because of you!"

Bellatrix crumpled into the arm of the couch, quivering.

Harry wheeled on Narcissa. "And you! You and that arrogant piece of filth you called a husband did everything in your power, which was enormous, to make sure Voldemort destroyed as many lives as possible!"

Narcissa flinched.

"And when things didn't turn out right for you the first time, you went groveling with your best 'who me?' acts and your fists full of galleons to beg for your freedom like the sniveling cowards you are. Then Voldemort came back, and who were the first ones to come and kiss his arse? The Malfoys! For all your airs of superiority, I've never seen a more worthless group of trash in my life!" Harry screamed.

He was now pacing back a forth in front of the two sisters, growing angrier by the moment. Then he turned on them. "Give me one reason why I shouldn't end your worthless lives right now!"

Bellatrix was still curled against the arm of the couch, while Narcissa looked up at Harry, her entire body shaking in fear.

Harry stopped in front of the couch. He slowly raised his wand. Just as he felt his rage reach its peak, he thought of Dumbledore's words. This was his 'test of character.'

He glared at the two sisters. He took a deep breath. "You are my property," he said in a low, menacing tone. "I am your master. You will do exactly as I say. You will be my house elves if I demand it. You will kiss the ground I walk on if I say so. Understood?"

Narcissa blinked, surprised that she was still alive. Bellatrix, on the other hand, uncurled from her corner of the couch and slowly slid off to her knees, where she gave Harry a deep bow. "Yes, Master," she said without looking up.

Narcissa looked in horror at her sister, then back in fear and uncertainty at Harry. After staring into Harry's smoldering green eyes, Narcissa slowly lowered her head. "Yes," she whispered.

"Yes, what," Harry thundered.

Narcissa, always a survivor, took a deep breath. "Yes, Master," she said with a small nod.

Harry gave the sisters a curt nod and stalked out of the room.