The Crux of the Matter

Chapter Four

Two days before the wedding everyone made the journey to France. In an effort to keep a low profile and stay unnoticed, Harry convinced Ron, Remus and Ginny to take the train to Paris; Hermione needed no extra convincing. Ron was rather excited, at first to be taking a Muggle train, but the excitement soon paled, when he found out that the train ride was much like the Express, just a bit faster. The ride through the Chunnel was a bit exciting, but Hermione refrained from making too many comments about it, after a look from Ginny, which took some of the excitement out of it for her.

From Paris, it was a short Apparation hop to the town the Delacours lived in. Remus offered Ginny his arm for a Side-along. Harry was worried about doing it without his license, but Hermione reminded him that France had slightly different rules than Britain and he still had his 'learner's permit'. Harry pondered what exactly she meant, but put it out of his mind as he concentrated on getting to where he was going.

The next morning, after a breakfast of pastries and fresh fruit, the Weasleys all had to go to the chapel for a rehearsal. Harry, having nothing better to do, tagged along. The practice seemed to drag on forever, at least to Harry. After the rehearsal the group returned to the Delacours and then took the Floo to Paris. They arrived in a tavern that looked as old and nondescript as the Leaky Cauldron, from there they made their way to a small restaurant in the French version of Diagon Alley. Near the end of lunch Fleur announced that the plan for the afternoon was a shopping trip. Ron, Bill and Remus each looked about as excited to make the trip as a three year old being told it was nap time; each for differing reasons. The women all thought it was an absolutely brilliant idea. Mr. Weasley was excited, but for an entirely different reason; Fleur's father had mentioned that they might get a chance to slip out to Muggle Paris for an afternoon stroll along the river.

Harry, Remus and Bill split off from the group early on. Ron was stuck with having to go with the women, because Mrs. Weasley insisted that he had grown another inch in the past three weeks and now needed new dress robes for the wedding. The three of them soon got lost in a book store that sold many old and rare volumes. Remus had pulled out a list of all the books that Harry now owned.

"How did you make up that list so quick?" asked Harry.

"I told you I was an assistant librarian in my Seventh year. Madam Pince taught me all the obscure charms that librarians use."

"Hermione wants to learn them," said Harry, with a grin.

"I suppose she would, but I bet she already knows most of them," replied Bill, pulling two dusty books from a stack nearby. After blowing the dust off them and grunting happily, he tossed them into the carry basket. "These aren't on your list, but are two of the best ones I know of on detecting what enchantments are on an item. We curse breakers swear by these two, and they are very hard to come by."

Remus nodded, adding three more books to the basket.

Harry, not really knowing what to look for just watched the two of them rustle through the stacks. 'Hermione would love this place'

After about an hour and fifty books later they finally left the bookstore just to enter another one. This one was even more specialized than the previous store. It carried only books that were written in French and of those only those that were published before 1875. In the half hour of browsing they had only found two books that looked interesting, when Harry stumbled across an old book that showed several family trees, including the Malfoy and Lestrange families. He dropped that one into the carry basket and they paid for them.

The next store was a bit more exciting as it sold a bit of everything. There were several items for sale, like flying carpets that were on the British Ministry's list of prohibited items. Harry was glad that he had packed one of the self-shrinking trunks and that he had made arrangements to travel as a Muggle. Remus only raised his eyebrows slightly when Harry added a six seat rug to the pile of items they were amassing.

"It has a built in Invisibility Booster," whispered Harry. A couple of the other items Harry added were more practical, like an ever full picnic hamper, complete with a years worth of meals, a refilling wine bottle, that gave a choice of three different wines. Even more practical were the full sized Sneakoscope and Foe Glass that Bill found. He also showed Harry a small leather case that looked like some sort of chemistry set; it had several vials of various powders, some glass tubes, a couple of beakers, forceps and several other items that Harry had no idea what they did.

"Curse Breaker's tool kit. I'll show you how to use all this stuff," whispered Bill, pulling a small book out of the bag. "This is possibly the most valuable part of the kit."

Harry took the book and started looking through it. "It's all Runes. There must be about twenty different kinds in here."

Bill nodded. "Four years worth of study in a pocket sized volume."

When they met up with the others, Harry told them about the picnic hamper. Hermione wanted to see the menu. "Honestly, Harry, do you know what half this stuff is?"

"Yes, several years of doing almost all the cooking at the Dursley's under the ever watchful eye of Aunt Petunia has given me a bit more than basic cooking skills. Especially when about the only thing she ever approved of me reading were cookbooks."

"Ess-car-got?" said Ron.

"Es-car-go," replied Ginny, "They are snails, in a garlic-butter sauce. Taste a bit better than raw slugs."

Ron turned a little green before blushing furiously. Fleur shot Hermione a questioning look, which Hermione answered in French, "I'll tell you later."

The next morning, the day of the wedding, everyone was up early. Ginny was ushered off to a separate room to get her hair done. Hermione was taken to a different room, where Fleur's mother and Mrs. Weasley were getting dressed. They men were left to their own devices for the next two hours. The twins showed up during this time and stopped Ron's grumbling by threatening to test their latest products on him.

The ceremony was loosely based on an edition of the Common Book of Prayer from the mid-1600s, with a bit of earlier French thrown in. The only hitch to the wedding was at the point where the priest asked if anyone had cause why the couple should not be wed. A man, in his early twenties, stood and blurted out that he had been promised to Fleur. The matter was quickly resolved when Fleur's father escorted the hapless would-be suitor from the chapel, by the ear. There was a small celebration following the ceremony, mostly family, with a few friends in attendance. Bill had invited several of his co-workers and a few goblins, while Fleur had invited several of her classmates from Beauxbatons. These all stayed for the reception.

One of the goblins approached Harry and handed him a letter. Harry pocketed it without reading it, he didn't want it to interfere with the day's events. The celebration continued until well past midnight and nearly everyone had a little too much to drink. Harry, Ginny and Gabrielle being almost the only exceptions. Harry remembered what that night with Slughorn was like, a few months ago. He didn't want to end up in the same condition. Ginny and Gabrielle, being the youngest two in attendance were restricted. Gabrielle, even though she was just turning twelve, was more upset with the restrictions than Ginny was. Ginny did get Harry out on the dance floor a few times. The worst part of the dancing, for Harry, was that almost all the females present expected him to dance with them. It was easiest to dance with Ginny after the first few numbers, but he never did relax with the any of the others, except Hermione. Gabrielle made a pest of herself once she found that Harry, at least, understood spoken French.

The morning after the wedding, nobody wanted to do very much. Ron was feeling like a herd of cattle had spent the night landing on his head, after jumping over the moon and let everyone know about it. Hermione, on the other hand, was quiet and sullen. The twins, were far from their usual jovial selves and Remus and Tonks were not to be found before lunch time. Bill and Fleur had disappeared sometime during the night. The group that had travelled by train were due to leave at half five, catching the last commuter run of the day, so those who Apparated planned on staying until at least seven. When the train arrived at the London terminus, the five of them quickly made their way to the Apparation point near platform 9^3/4 . Apparating from there to the Burrow was a bit of anti-climax to the weekend, but when they arrived at the Burrow, they all woke up. Instead of the slightly whimsical structure they had left a few days before there was a scene of devastation in front of them. It looked as if a tornado had ripped through the area, except that they were in England where it was nearly impossible for a tornado to have occurred. The house, while still standing, had taken heavy damage. Large sections of the roof were bereft of covering, with the bare wooden slats showing. Most of the windows were shattered and several of the many chimneys were broken off, flush with the roof. The only structure not damaged, was the shed, where Mr. Weasley housed his collection of Muggle artifacts. The broomshed was completely flattened. Harry ran to the location of the tents and was relieved to find both of them and Witherwings unharmed. Ron just sat amid the remains of the broomshed holding the flinders that his broom had been reduced to, moaning about his loss. Remus tentatively approached the house when a soft crack split the air.

Charley swore loudly when he saw the scene in front of him.

Remus turned and said, "I was just going to go in and start checking the damage on the inside. Why don't you go get everyone else and come back before I do that?"

Charley just nodded before disappearing in a much louder crack.

A few minutes later, several pops and a loud shriek split the silence of the evening. The rest of the Weasleys had returned. Molly was in tears and Ginny ran to her side. Harry quickly ran to the tents, again and dumped his pack on his bed, picking up the flying carpet. Once outside the tent, he tapped it with his wand. As it floated about three feet off the ground he hopped on and activated the Invisibility Booster. Quickly climbing, he leveled out at about five hundred feet; high enough to see a trail of devastation leading all the way back to the village and beyond. He noticed that it seemed to have started in the woods near the Burrow and headed out in two straight lines from there. One headed straight through the center of the village and the other veering off to the side. He followed the one straight through town and noticed that while damaged the village itself was mostly unscathed. The same could not be said about a small house on the far side of the village. A small sign noted that it was also the office of the Quibbler. This cottage was totally flattened. A little further on, in the same path, was another house. Harry after a quick look around, figured it must be the Diggory home, as Mrs. Diggory was sitting on the only intact lawn chair crying, furiously. He baked and flew until he intercepted the other trail of destruction. A third house lay in ruins, this one he assumed belonged to the Fawcets. He also noticed what appeared to be a rising cloud of smoke several miles distant.

Pouring on the speed, he quickly came to the source of the smoke. A fourth house, seemingly being attacked by strong gusts of wind. Harry flew in for a closer look and realized that what he took for heavy wnd gusts were really hammer blows from a large unseen source. Harry quickly turned around and flew back to the Burrow.

"It was giants and there is still at least one at large. It is attacking a house on the far side of town," he yelled, jumping from the carpet before it came to a complete stop. Remus, Charlie and Mr. Weasley quickly sprang into action. Harry made a mad dash back to the tent and grabbed his bow. Mr. Weasley was eye the carpet, skeptically when Harry returned.

"Fine me later, just get on," he said.

The four men mounted the carpet and Harry engaged the Invisibility Booster before they were fifteen feet off the ground. While flying back to the last house house, Harry uncorked a vial and began dipping the tips of several arrows in the contents of it.

"A concentrated sleeping potion Hermione found," he commented to no-one in particular.

"What is the plan?" asked Charlie.

"The giant is Disillusioned or something," said Harry. "I was thinking I shoot him with several of these and then you all Stun him."

Remus and Charlie nodded.

The house was now being attacked by what looked like two storms. Harry nocked an arrow and let it fly. It struck one of the giants and a bellow of annoyance rent the air. He quickly fired of five more shots, each followed by another grunt or bellow. The dust in the air gave shape to the attackers, but not enough for them to really be seen. After the sixth arrow, the other three men cast powerful stunners and were re warded by a very loud thump as one of the attacking giants collapsed. Harry switched targets to the other giant and quickly shot off six more arrows, which had been prepared by Mr. Weasley. Another rounder of stunners and this giant also fell to the ground, rattling windows in the immediate vicinity. Once on the ground, Remus cast a spell that swathed both giants in bandages, so the now resembled very large mummies. Charlie cast may spells to encase them in rope and Mr. Weasley did the same, except his spell bound them in chains. Harry noticed, for the first time, that both giants had set off from the Burrow in very straight lines.

"Ley lines," said Remus.

"There used to be an ancient stone circle where the clearing is," said Arthur. "I always suspected that it was at the intersection of two leys."

"But what does that have to do with giants?"

"Nothing, really. It just seems that most Wizarding houses are built along the leys," answered Remus. "And to most magical creatures they are like Muggle roads."

"I think I understand," said Harry.

"Since you captured them, Harry you should probably..." Arthur never finished his thought, because there were many cracks, as a group of Aurors and several others Aparated to the scene.

The Auror in charge walked up to Harry, "Not you again," he said, smiling. "You are getting better than the whole department. How did you do it this time?"

"Arrows dipped in a heavily concentrated sleeping potion," said Harry.

"That would work. We need to get these two out of here, before the Muggles show up. I believe that you have two gallons of giant's blood owed to you."

"What for?"

"That is the typical reward for capturing one, or in most cases providing the information leading to a capture. You'll have to wait until they come around before you get it, the potion might interfer with its usefulness."

"Oh, right, it might contaminate any potion made with it."

Just then Ron, Ginny and Hermione came over to Harry. "I've got two gallons of giant's blood coming to me from those two," mumbled Harry.

""That sells for about 30 Galleons a gill, that is over 2000 Galleons worth!" said Hermione. "What are we going to do with it?"

"I don't know. I'll split with your family, Ron. We use, what a couple of minums per potion? Two gallons would last a couple of hundred years."

Ron didn't know what to say, but was rescued by Mr. Weasley. "I heard what you just told Ron, you don't have to do that Harry. We don't need the money."

"It's not for the money, you all helped capture them, so you should share the reward."

One of the giants made a loud grunting noise, indicating that he was now awake. He started to say something, but one of the Aurors conjured a few blankets and banished them into his mouth. The giant just glared at them.

Harry looked over at the now glaring giant. "Take the gag out. He wants to say something."

The Auror in charge was about to deny Harry's request when Moody showed up. "Do as the lad says, I want to hear this too."

The giant spit at the Auror after he banished gag. He turned his head slightly to glare at Harry. "Potter," he whispered, loud enough to be heard several hundred yards away.

"Yeah, I'm Potter. What about it."

"Message, from da gurg."

"What is it?"

"He kill you." said the giant, before spitting at Harry.

Moody clapped a hand on Harry's shoulder, "When you make enemies, lad, you don't make small ones." Moody clomped off, chuckling at his own joke.

Eight Aurors walked up and drew their wands and simultaneously cast a stunner at the prone giant. The lead Auror came over to Harry, carrying a glass container. "You can bleed him now."

Harry paled at the thought of sticking the giant, "I've never done this before..."

"No problem, I'll show you how," the Auror said, taking back the container. Ginny and Hermione watched in a sort of shocked fascination. Hermione commented that it was just like drawing a blood sample, but only larger. That settled Harry a little, as he had no problems with the sight of blood, just the idea of him having to draw it.

Hermione also commented that now they would be able to try some of the more advanced potions, especially the heavy duty stregthening and healing ones. Harry nodded as he accepted the container.

"I've put an unbreakable and a preservation charm on the container. It will keep for several years. What should I do when the other one wakes up?"

"Umm...give it to Mr. Weasley. I'm staying with him for the time being."

"No problem. I'll leave it on his desk."

"I've been meaning to ask someone, but haven't had the time. This is the second time now that I am getting a 'trophy' from some creature I've captured. What is that all about?"

"You're right. These are trophies. When you are victorious in battle you can claim a prize, up to and including the body, if it is a creature or all your opponents possesions that he had on him during the fight. And yes, that could even mean his vault key."

"Right of conquest?" asked Hermione.

"Yes. In a way it tends to keep duels from becoming lethal. If you go into a duel knowing that you can lose everything, especially if you are killed, you will tend to be a bit more careful not to die."

Harry looked a bit perplexed. "You mean I can claim the entire basilisk carcass?"

"Yes, Harry, it is yours. I can't believe you've never learned about this. It was on our History O.W.L., question twelve...oh."

"Right, Hermione, oh. I never got that far. Plus I can never remember anything from that class. Maybe we should get Binns out here to lecture these giants, they'd sleep for a month." The Aurors all laughed.

Charlie came over to Harry and the others, "We should probably get back to the house. Mum will be worried. Walk or Apparate?"

"Walk," said Harry stuffing the sealed flagon into his pack, that he now carried everywhere.

When they were out of earshot, Charlie said, "Harry, I already Banished the carpet back to the Burrow. It is behind Dad's shed."

They also tried to figure out what the message to Harry meant. One of the most puzzling parts of it was how the Gurg knew who Harry was, unless it was absolute proof that all the giants were now sided with Voldemort. That was the theory that Ron and Ginny thought most likely.

Arthur made it home before the rest of them did, because he Apparated instead of walking. "The other giant woke up right after you left," he said, handing Harry a second flagon. "Now we need to get started on repairs. Ron, I think the tents are still in the shed, been meaning to get them back to Perkins, but oh well..."

Ron ran off and grabbed the two tents they had used at the World Cup three years ago. He set them up near Harry's tent. Harry dropped the giant's blood off in the workroom and changed, before meeting everyone in the garden.

"Looks like the vegetables are pretty much gone," said Ron.

"Well, I wish that was the least of the problems," said Arthur. "Fred and George will be here shortly, so we have a large enough crew that we should get started. Everyone know how to do the basic repair charm?''

Remus spent most his time showing the teens variants on the repair charm to improve its efficiency or how to target it for a specific item. The had made more progress than Mr. Weasley expected, but the still weren't finished. He called off the repair work as soon as it got full-dark. "We'll finish in the morning."

After a hurried meal, everyone headed to the various tents. Harry, Ron, Hermione and Ginny all entered Harry's tent. Tonks, Remus and Mr. Weasley followed them in.

"Harry, when Bill gets back at the end of the week, can I have a bout a gill of that giant's blood?"

"Sure, what are you going to use it for, it I'm not being too nosy?"

"No, that is a fair question. We are going to use it to set up some blood wards to keep out giants."

Hermione, even though she was extremely tired, perked up at that explanation. "I'd like to learn how to do that."

"I would too," added both Harry and Ginny. Ron finally agreed, that he too would like to learn the procedure.

Harry collapsed to the ground and lay still for about five minutes, before attacking his plate. They had spent the morning finishing up the repairs to Burrow and he was exhausted. Arthur handed him a piece of parchment.

Dear Mr. Potter,

As being the party instrumental in the capture of two rampaging giants, the Minister of Magic, Rufus Scrimgeour has nominated your name for a special award. This award is rarely bestowed on a wizard not of age, and while not quite as prestigious as the Order of Merlin, it is quite an honor. The ceremony for the presentation of this award will take place on the afternoon of 30, July, 1997 at one-thirty in the afternoon. You do not have to be present for the award, but it is highly suggested that you attend.

Percy I. Weasley,

Junior Undersecretary to the Minster.

"Bloody Hell!" exclaimed Harry.

"What?" asked Ginny, dropping tiredly to the ground next to him. In answer he passed the letter Mr. Weasley handed him to her.

"I don't need this, I need to start looking for the rest of those damn Horcruxes," he swore.

"It will be all right, you don't even have to show up for the award ceremony."

"I know, but it will be in the papers and all the attention will just make everyone more interested in me. How can I go sneaking around when everyone will be looking for me?"

"Good point, mate," said Ron as he and Hermione joined the two of them. "What about becoming an Animagus?"

"That takes years to learn," said Hermione.

"Sort of," said Harry, brightening at the idea. "As best I can figure the Ministry approved method is designed to achieve the least number of practicing Animagi. Sirius and my dad took three years, but how much of that time was spent doing the research on their own without any help?"

"I suppose so. If that is the case then if there was someone to show us how it shouldn't take all that long."

"Remus," they all said together.

Before they could do anything else Charlie came up to Harry.

"I'm going back to Romania, tomorrow. If you need anything, send me an owl."

"Like what?" asked Ginny.

"Anything, sis. Potions ingredients, wine, dragon scales and fangs. I'll be back in about a week, that is when Bill is supposed to be back and I don't want to miss it," he finished with a large grin. "Just let me know before I leave and I'll bring it then."

Hermione sat, thoughtful, "A couple of gills of dragon's blood, two large scales and a claw would be useful."

Charlie pulled out a small notepad and what looked like a fountain pen. Harry looked at him. "Working around dragons you need to be able to write down things quickly, a roll of parchment and a quill don't make that very easy," he said, not looking up from what he was writing. "Anything else?"

After a few moments of nobody saying anything, Charlie said, "Right then. That isn't a problem. I'll have you birthday presents too. Later, Dad wants me to get a few things in London." He turned and left them.

"Right, my birthday is on Thursday. After that I guess I want to start this quest I seem to be on."

The next morning, during breakfast, a large eagle owl landed in the kitchen of the Burrow. Everyone looked at the bird, wondering who it was for. Harry reached over and removed the letter, noting the Gringott's seal on it. It was addressed to him.

Breaking the seal he opened the letter.

Mr. Potter.

As the 31^st of this month is your seventeenth birthday, there are several matters of import that must be decided. One of which is the disposition of your vault and your family vault. As you probably know, your current vault was only for your use until you came of age and as such the fees are only paid until then. If you would like to continue to use this vault you need to come in by the close of business on the 31^st and settle the account, otherwise all funds in said vault will be transferred to your ancestral vault.

Another matter is the disposition of the property that has been held in trust for you from your parent's estate. As per instructions in their wills, this property is being turned over to you when you come of age.

The final matter is the final resolution of the estate of Sirius Black. As you have been informed you were his sole heir, as designated by his will. Most of his personal funds and a property located in London have already been disbursed to you. There are still several other properties and an amount of gold to disburse.

Grodfork

Trust Department, Gringott's Wizarding Bank

"I guess we are going to Gringott's, Thursday morning," said Harry, placing the letter on the table. Ginny reached for it. He nodded and she picked it up and began to read it, then passed it to Ron and Hermione. Remus and Tonks entered the kitchen as Hermione handed the letter back to Harry.

"Why all the long faces?" asked a very cheerful Tonks.

Harry handed them the letter.

"I was wondering if this would come. I never really knew the details of their wills, so I didn't know what happened to any of the properties. Any time I asked anyone I was told it was being taken care," said Remus.

"That's fine, Remus. I just...well this is a bit of surprise. I just never really though about all this before. I guess I just figured that my vault, what I got from Sirius and maybe the piece of land that the house in Godric's Hollow was on, along with a couple of other things was all I had."

"Reading that letter, I'd say it was a bit more than that, Harry, quite a bit more," said Remus.

"Yeah, speaking of all this, I've been meaning to ask you to show me how to get to Godric's Hollow."

"No problem, we can go on Thursday after you are finished at the bank."

"Maybe we should wait until Friday?" asked Hermione.

"No, Thursday will be fine. I really want to go then."

Remus nodded. "Let's have some fun this afternoon."