A/N: Here's the new Chapter! Which also means the next FIVE chapters are up on my for early access as well as the chance to vote on the direction of the story!
Time for Fleur to show her worth~
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He really shouldn't let Fleur talk him into this. After all, Harry had already put his foot down once before and told the part veela that they would discuss her employment after she'd had the day to adjust to the sudden change in circumstances. And it definitely hadn't been a full day yet. It'd barely been a couple of hours since breakfast!
What Harry should do is create a round trip portkey for the French Witch and send her home to her family for the next twenty-four hours so she could make a proper informed decision after a decent period of time. He SHOULD deal with Penelope himself, even if this version of Penelope Clearwater is clearly like no version of her that he's ever experienced before.
But… he can tell how much Fleur wants this. And he won't lie, if she was willing to reveal her peeping just to make sure Death got a chance on his cock, Harry has to acknowledge that this version of Fleur Delacour has some serious resolve going on. He finds it incredibly attractive, really, and if not for the presence of a Ministry Official on his doorstep, he would probably already be fucking her right now.
As is… well, Harry just inclines his head with an amused grin.
"Very well then. Consider yourself hired, Ms. Delacour. Let's see what you can do."
Fleur positively lights up at Harry's agreement, looking like she would probably be jumping for joy right now if she weren't trying her best to maintain her composure in the presence of her new employer. Harry, quite frankly, isn't sure why she bothers… there's nothing composed about her disheveled appearance or the fact that her fingers are still dripping with her own juices from watching Death suck and then fuck herself upon his cock.
But maybe there's a different sort of embarrassment that comes from jumping up and down in joy compared to fingering yourself to orgasm multiple times in front of your prospective new boss.
Either way… she definitely doesn't look presentable for a meeting with the Senior Undersecretary for the Minister of Magic. With that in mind, Harry points the Elder Wand, still in his hand, at Fleur. The part veela gasps as she's subsequently cleaned up and redressed, her old attire disappearing to be replaced with a fancy set of robes specifically made to give off the vibe of a high-class servant.
She rises to her feet as his magic swirls around her, looking down at herself in wonder and then squeaking when even her hair changes into a proper business-ready bun atop her head. Finally, it's done and Harry tilts his head to the side as Fleur admires his work, running her hands up and down her own curvy figure.
"Hm… adequate."
That causes Fleur to flush and immediately drop into a curtsey.
"T-Thank you Lord Hallows. I promise, I will endeavor to prove beyond adequate going forward and-!"
But Harry cuts her off with a raised hand.
"I'm talking about the robes Fleur, not you. You're already more than adequate my dear, do not fret."
That makes her full on blush, but it also makes her smile even as she looks a little incredulous that he considers how he's attired her to be 'merely' adequate. Still, she clears her throat and focuses on what's important.
"What should be my goal in this upcoming meeting with Ms. Clearwater, my Lord?"
Harry hums, glancing over at the visual of the front of the mansion again to see Penelope is still waiting there patiently for now. It's already been ten minutes but she's making no move to try to knock again, nor does she look like she's frustrated. Given what Harry knows of your average magical nobles, she's probably used to being made to wait like this. Even if this time it's not so much on purpose as it is because she caught him by surprise.
"… I suppose I am curious to hear what she wants from me. You said she was the Senior Undersecretary?"
Fleur nods wordlessly, also studying Penelope's floating visage.
"Hm, strange that she would come instead of sending someone else…"
Then again, Amelia Bones was apparently Minister of Magic in this world. From what Harry knew of the woman, that wasn't a position she would EVER want for herself. And that meant he didn't really know this Amelia very well… or that the situation in the Wizarding World was even more desperate than he'd previously thought.
"They're taking this very seriously, my Lord. It might be because you're the only Wizard Lord I've even heard of stepping foot on the Isles in quite some time now."
Harry furrows his brow.
"The only one? Truly? I thought you said it was at most nine in ten wizards dead by now."
Fleur nods, swallowing thickly.
"Yes… but the curse targeted those of ancient blood first, Lord Hallows. The Wizengamot is all female at this point… aside from you if you try to claim your seats…"
Tch. Harry had to wonder who even was alive at this point then if all of the Lords were dead. He shoots Death a look, but she just winks back at him as if to say 'you know you love it'. And the truth is… she's right. He likes the mystery. He's enjoying not fully understanding what's going on right now.
And to be fair… it's not like he has anything to fear of death even if this mysterious ailment did try and take him like all the other wizards.
Huffing, Harry waves a hand airily.
"Go see what she wants, Fleur. I'll give you further instructions remotely once we know. Keep her in the entrance hall for now."
If Fleur is upset with the vagueness of her orders, she doesn't show it. Instead, she immediately dips into another curtsey.
"It will be done, my Lord."
With that, she leaves the room at a crisp pace, her heels clicking against the floor as she makes her way down the hall and towards the mansion's front doors. Harry is easily able to split the scrying he currently has going so he can watch Penelope outside and also see Fleur approaching from the inside.
Death, meanwhile, sits down next to him and nuzzles his neck, moaning softly as she presses her extremely voluptuous stolen figure into his side. Harry ignores her provocations though, focusing on the matter at hand.
Once Fleur has arrived in the entrance hall, Harry opens the front doors of the mansion himself, having set up the wards to be able to do that much at least. Penelope Clearwater startles in response, before hesitantly making her way up the rest of the steps and into the mansion.
Her eyes widen when she sees Fleur waiting with hands primly clasped in front of her.
"Senior Undersecretary Clearwater, to what do we owe the pleasure of this unannounced and unscheduled visit?"
Penelope looks around cautiously, brow furrowing further and further as she takes in the scene before looking back to Fleur.
"… I wasn't expecting to run into you here, Lady Delacour."
But Fleur shakes her head with a smile.
"I have just recently entered the employ of a new Lord. Referring to me as a Lady under his roof is not appropriate. Please address me as Ms. or Madame, Senior Undersecretary."
Breath hitching, Penelope takes a few rapid steps forward until she and Fleur are much closer, leaning in to whisper under her breath.
"Fleur, what the hell is going on here? Are you alright? Do you need help?"
Oh? Harry hadn't realized that the two witches were that close. Though from the look of things, maybe the care was one sided. Because while Penelope seemed genuinely worried for Fleur, Fleur looked to be building herself up to take personal offense to Penelope's words.
Before the part veela can blow up at the Ministry Official, Harry reaches out and speaks directly into Fleur's mind.
"Do not force her to stand on decorum and do not take offense on my behalf. Match her energy if need be, it will hopefully lull her into a more talkative state so we can find out what she wants sooner."
Fleur freezes with her mouth already open to deliver what was bound to be a scathing repudiation of Penelope's questions. But when she hears Harry's words, she immediately switches tacks and even plasters a smile on her face. Her hands dart out and snatch up the other witch's, giving them a solid squeeze in turn.
"I've already received the help I needed, Penny. No thanks to your Ministry, mind you."
Those last words, while chiding, were gentle in tone. It doesn't stop Penelope from grimacing though, looking down in shame.
"I… I'm sorry we couldn't help you with your Gringotts Contract, Fleur. We failed you; I know that. But still… can you tell me what you're doing here? What happened?"
Something truly soft appears on Fleur's face at Penelope's apology, and the part veela lets out a sigh.
"… Lord Hallows happened, Penelope. He took care of my contract with Gringotts himself and offered me a position at his side… as his assistant."
Inhaling sharply, Penelope searches Fleur's face for a second.
"And you… you're okay with that? What of your family? Your mother still files routine grievances with us you know... the Wizengamot has to hear each one at every new session as a matter of law."
Ah, now that might explain why Penelope seemed so attached. Nothing like turning the bureaucracy against itself. Fleur lets out a startled little laugh at hearing that, before shaking her head in amusement.
"I'll see my mother and sister eventually. My Lord has already offered to let me go and see them multiple times, in fact. But we've talked enough about me, Penny. Why are you here? What business do you have with Lord Hallows?"
The muggleborn witch glances past Fleur at that question, as if she expects Harry to materialize at the top of the stairs or from one of the entrance hall's many doorways at any moment.
"… I was hoping to discuss that with Lord Hallows himself, Fleur."
Oooh, she shouldn't have said that. Fleur clearly takes it personally and only Harry's previous orders seem to blunt her clipped response.
"The Lord is not taking any visitors at this time. Especially without appointment. I speak with his voice though, so if you have any questions, feel free to ask me and I shall either answer them if I am able, or relay them to him to be answered at a later, more appropriate time."
Penelope frowns at that but slowly nods all the same.
"… Alright then. Is it true that Lord Hallows is the objective heir to the Potter and Black Vaults, and therefore Lord of both Houses?"
Before Penelope is even done talking, Harry is already sending Fleur his response. There's no point in trying to lie, they clearly have all of the information Gringotts has at this point. So he tells Fleur to be honest. The part veela waits until Penelope is done talking and then nods.
"Yes. In fact, I witnessed him open the Potter and Black Vaults myself. There is no doubt about his bloodlines."
Penelope narrows her eyes.
"And the name 'Hallows'? We have no record of such a surname."
Harry sends Fleur his answer to that as well, causing Fleur to simply smile.
"My Lord has decided it is a time for new beginnings. He appreciates the Ministry's discretion on this matter. He knows you will be far more considerate of his privacy than Gringotts has been so far."
That causes the Senior Undersecretary to arch her brow at both the blatant manipulation and the not so subtle underlying threat. Penelope always was a clever woman from what Harry knew of her. She was just also often beaten down by the prejudices of the wizarding world, what with being an intelligent muggleborn witch.
And unlike Hermione Granger, Penelope Clearwater didn't have the virtue of being best friends with a celebrity like Harry Potter. No, instead she often had the distinct disadvantage of being in a relationship with a spineless worm in the form of Percy Weasley. A wizard who would throw her under the bus in a moment in order to advance his career if he absolutely needed to.
Funny how the world where Percy was long dead and so were most other wizards, was the world where Penelope Clearwater had risen higher than Harry had ever seen her before.
"… Of course. In the meantime, the Minister would like me to arrange a proper meeting with your Lord, Fleur."
Fleur's eyes narrow and Harry doesn't have to even say anything for her to respond with a suspicious tone.
"And what exactly would the purpose of this meeting be, Penny?"
Huffing, Penelope rolls her eyes.
"We both know why Minister Bones wants to speak with him. But if you need me to spell it out… the meeting would be regarding his safety as well as his plans for coming to the British Isles in the first place. I assume that Lord Hallows does KNOW the risk of being here as a wizard, right?"
Fleur doesn't mention that Harry actually hadn't known about the danger until she'd told him. She just nods sharply; her lips pressed into a thin line.
"… Then needless to say, the Minister wants to know how he intends to protect himself from what has already killed every other Wizard Lord like him, and most other wizards besides. The Ministry has a vested interest in his survival, obviously!"
Heh, it looks like Penelope is letting some of her real frustration leak through. Fleur, meanwhile, is clearly waiting for him to tell her what to do. After all, a meeting isn't something she can just decide for him…
Hm, but does Harry really want to cooperate with the Ministry? On the one hand, it's the Ministry. He has yet to enjoy cooperating with any form of the Ministry of Magic in any of his adventures. On the other hand, it's a Ministry led by Amelia Bones, which is certainly something entirely new. Perhaps, unlike the Gringotts Goblins, the Ministry of this world will actually impress him for once…
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The Vote:
[ ] Agree to meet the Minister at the Ministry - 7%
[X] Offer to allow Minister Bones to come over for dinner - 85%
[ ] He's not interested in interacting with the Ministry right now at all - 7%
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