Season of Change - Chapter 21

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Season of Change

by:
Elsbeth

There were only a few things in Harry Potter's life that never changed, he was the son of Lily and James Potter and that he was born a male. What happens when he discovers the truth.

Aislin

Disclaimer: I own nothing, all of it belong to J.K Rowling, I am just playing in her sandbox for a while.

Authors Note: AU: Its not my first fanfic but its my first Harry Potter, so I hope you enjoy it. The story starts at the end of the 5th Book.

Language Note: "I'm speaking a different language"

Black family Etiquette : Note as someone pointed out in the Black family tree (I have a lovely copy of it) how technically Narcissa and Andromeda are not Alya's Aunts, you are correct. However, in many families including my own, it is common to call older cousins, usually those near our parents age Aunt and Uncle. Members of the Black family do the same.

Chapter 21

North of Paris, near the Normandy village of Cambremer, in the heart of the Pays D'Auge, two young women suddenly appeared out of thin air before walking towards a large French farmhouse.

"I can't believe that there are actually shops like that." Alya giggled; astounded that if anyone told Harry he would be buying lingerie for himself, he would have questioned their sanity.

Fleur threaded her arm through Alya's. "Vous didn't object after I dragged you into zee shop ma chére. Plus no one twisted your arm to buy that cute red Babydoll, so now we just need to find a boy-"

Alya rolled her eyes. "Trust me Fleur; as I already told you, no boy is 'ever' going to see me in 'that'."

"How about that little blonde girl you keep telling me about." Fleur hip bumped her friend with a grin.

"Luna?" Alya blushed then she started to walk away strutting. "Maybe or if you ask nicely, I'll wear it for you as well."

Fleur cackled with glee then ran up, grabbing her friend by the arm dragging her into the house.

Inside, Apolline Delacour sat at her desk slowly leafing through several reports on the family's Calvados and cider production. Although her husband currently worked for the French Ministry, her husband's family had been brewing apple spirits since the 13th century, selling to both magical and muggle alike.

"You two looked like you 'ad fun." Apolline smiled as the two girls entered the room. She couldn't be happier to see her daughter enjoying herself with someone other than a relative. Like many in her family, it had been difficult for Fleur to keep her friends once she came into her Veela inheritance.

However, it was no simple relationship. She and her husband had met Harry Potter the day after the second task for the TriWizards Tournament to thank him for saving their youngest, Gabrielle. The half-Veela found it difficult to believe that the young woman in front of her now was the same young man.

The only thing she hated was keeping it secret from her husband, although if it weren't for her Veela senses creating havoc with her when meeting the young woman, she probably wouldn't have been told either.

"Nous avons fait, maman." Fleur smiled as she kissed her mother on the cheek in greeting.

Alya had reluctantly admitted that the first time she had been shopping for her own clothes had been right after her transformation. Moments afterwards, plans for a marathon-shopping day were in the works.

"I've never been much of a shopper. But I will say breakfast and shopping in Calais then more shopping and lunch in Paris was actually a lot of fun."

"Even shopping at Louise Feuillère?"

Alya blushed. "Yes."

Apolline just raised an eyebrow at the mention of one of Paris famous lingerie shops on the rue des Dames. Fleur had mentioned she had some sort of relationship with the boy while at Hogwarts and from what her Veela senses were telling her now, the two appeared to have picked up where they left off.

"Your father will be late, so it will only be the four of us for dinner tonight. Although perhaps if he gets here early enough, your Mr. Lupin would like to join us? "

Alya frowned. "We'll have to see how it goes. I would love to say this is going to work out well, but you never know."

"Oh, on another subject, Alya, my mother and the rest of the ritualists will be here tomorrow afternoon."

"Razim and Wadi'ah?" Alya was looking forward to meeting the two curse breakers again.

"My husband will be meeting them at the Ministry in the morning," Apolline replied. The two would be portkeying from Malta. "Is there anything else we need to do?"

Alya shook her head. "No, but I will still go down there after dinner and make sure everything is set."

"You still don't mind cleansing someone else first?" Fleur asked.

"No, I think it's a good idea. As I was telling your grandmother, my aunt had been under the influence of the Abd-Sihr for a long time. So there is a real chance that removing the bindings will be fatal. This way, everyone will have experienced the ritual at least once before we try something more difficult."

Alya still didn't know how she felt about that. Bellatrix Black should be given a chance to have her own life back, but it was hard for her not to see in her Bellatrix Lestrange.

"Let's worry about that later." Fleur grabbed Alya by the hand. "Mama, we're going to go back to my room and look over our new things."

~o~O~o~

After putting away their new clothes, Alya stood in the guest room only in her knickers looking through her wardrobe amazed how large it had become in such a short time. "It's almost as if they're reproducing on their own."

"Well Alya, if you'd like to talk about reproducing." Alya heard Fleur say behind her.

"Who would have thought one of the TriWizards champions was such a perv." Turning around grinning, Alya squeaked as the French witch sauntered into the room wearing a beautiful peach negligee that hardly hid anything at all.

"So 'ow does eet look?" Fleur smiled as she struck a pose.

"You're beautiful. I mean it's beautiful." Alya spun back around blushing. "We're going to be late for dinner."

"Nous avons beaucoup de temps" She heard Fleur say but before she could tell her that she didn't think they had that much time, she felt Fleur's beautiful breasts pressed upon her bare back.

"I love your clothes." Fleur rested her chin on Alya's shoulder. "Perhaps there is something for me in there tonight?"

The raven-haired witch only replied with a soft moan, as she felt a hand slip under her bra cup to gently caress her right breast.

"Fleur?"

"Hush ma chére." The French witch stopped any more objections by turning Alya around and covering her mouth with her own lips.

As the two continued, Alya noticed how her body reacted so differently than before. However, any rational thought disappeared when Fleur suddenly slid her hand down into Alya's knickers.

~o~O~o~

Stepping through a set of doors, followed by a flow of other men and women, Remus Lupin looked around the train station inside the capital called Paris Gare du Nord. Traveling as a muggle wasn't new to him, although it had come as a surprise when it was suggested.

"Mr. Lupin, eets a pleasure to meet you again." Sebastian Delacour noted with approval that the man's wardrobe had changed for the better since he met him last night before the third task of the TriWizards Tournament.

Remus looked up as a well-dressed, short plump man with a neat goatee approached.

"Mr. Delacour, it's nice to see you again as well and please call me Remus." Stepping forward he shook the man's hand while noticing several large black cloaked individuals standing near him.

"Then call me Sebastian, and these are my associates who work in the Ministry with me. " With a smile, he led the way through a set of double doors that the non-magicals didn't seem to notice.

"I was surprised at the invitation and the tickets. I'd hoped to speak to Milady Black sooner but she's a difficult person to arrange a meeting."

"I've been told she likes 'er privacy. She's also aware that you're a person of interest for a number of groups, so traveling by non-magical means provided some additional protection." Sebastian continued as the group passed numerous witches and wizards going in and out of France.

"You seem well informed about Alya Black's intentions. Sirius never mentioned it but I wasn't aware that your two families were acquainted with one another."

Remus already knew from James, that his father, Charlus Potter helped sneak men across the channel to assist the French resistance. James involvement with Dumbledore had also been a cause of disagreement between the two of them, as the senior Potter never forgave Dumbledore for his inaction against Grindelwald during most of the war.

"Yes, my family 'olds the Blacks in 'igh regard for the support they gave French magical families during the war with the Grindelwald and the Boche*, 'owever, my daughter 'as known Alya for some time. Speaking of the two of them, 'opefully they've already returned from their little expedition."

"Expedition-?"

"They just went shopping." The older man laughed.

As the two flooed to Delacour manor, Remus just shook his head. According to rumors, the Head of House Black managed to damage two major political parties, place a new Minister of Magic into power and from what he learned in an Order meeting, more than likely led a raid on Malfoy manor. For an encore, she goes shopping in Paris. Truthfully, he would never understand women.

~o~O~o~

As they appeared, Remus dodged a blonde haired bullet as she came flying across the living room.

"Papa!"

"Bonsoir ma petite princesse." Sebastian Delacour smiled as he greeted his youngest. "Gabriella do you remember, Mr. Lupin?"

"Hello." Gabriella smiled then turned back to her father. "Fleur and Alya won't let me play with them."

"That's because they aren't playing."

Remus looked over as one of the most beautiful women he had ever seen approach from the house. "Madame Delacour, it's good to see you again"

After kissing her husband, she greeted her new guest. "Mr. Lupin, welcome and please call me Apolline. I trust your train ride was uneventful?" The French witch, much like her husband, spoke English with only a soft accent.

"A little long but otherwise it was a rather pleasant trip."

"Excellent, have you eaten?"

"Yes, I managed to grab something before I got on the train."

Nodding, Apolline looked down at her daughter. "Why don't you take your papa upstairs to wash up? You can tell him how your day was while he is eating dinner."

"It appears I have my marching orders, Remus." Sebastian chuckled. "I'm sure my beautiful wife will escort you to Milady Black."

The werewolf had to smile as the as the young girl suddenly started to speak in rapid French while she dragged her father through the house.

"Come, my daughter and Alya are by the river." Apolline stepped outside to walk down a small flight of stairs leading to an apple orchard.

As the two passed by the well-kept trees, they spoke of the recent happening in England. Remus also mentioned his discussion with her husband about the Blacks supporting French magical families during the war with Grindelwald.

"Of course, you might not be aware that the Blacks are related to a number of important French families. Although if you're interested in war with the Boche-" Apolline pointed to a large barn off in the distance, "Sebastian's father used to 'ide downed English and American airmen before sneaking them back across the channel. If you look you can still find graffiti carved into the walls."

"Are those ruins?" Remus asked as the two approached a riverbank.

"Yes, it's an old outpost when the Northmen first came to France." Pointing towards the river, Apolline said. "We will find the two of them down this path at the old shrine to the goddess Eir."

Remus frowned for a moment. "Norse goddess of peace and healing?"

"Very good but less known, she is also attached to death as one of one Frigga's handmaidens, a Valkyrie."

Moving towards more ruins, Fleur appeared over an embankment waving to her mother. "'Ello, my name is Fleur, you must be Mr. Lupin. I remember you from the TriWizards tournament."

"Where is Alya?"

"She's down in the shrine, meditating, mama."

Apolline nodded. "Come Fleur, we will leave the two of them alone. Remus, just take the path, Alya is in the center of the ruins."

After the wizard thanked the two women and disappeared down the trail, Apolline turned to her daughter giving her a serious look. "Alright my little flower, we couldn't discuss it at dinner but what's going on between you and Alya?"

With her mother being half-Veela, Fleur knew better than to deny anything. "Much the same really as before though Alya's changed a bit. She can be a terrible flirt, almost as bad as me."

Looking back towards the direction of the ruins, she continued. "I really just wanted to show her how special it is to be a woman but I will admit, it might have gotten a little out of hand."

"At least you cast a Privacy charm." Apolline sighed. "Please be careful, she is much younger-"

Fleur shook her head. "No mama that is where you are wrong. One of the things I am most sorry about is calling Harry a little boy. From what I know now, he never had a chance to be one. In fact, in many ways Alya is much older than I am."

"What about this Bill you keep talking about?" Apolline cupped her daughter's face in her hands.

"Men have their uses." Fleur couldn't help but giggle when her mother snorted but then she got serious. "I don't know mama but I do know that she's my friend and Alya needs me more. She won't say it, but she's having a trying time juggling everything. So for now, I'll just be here for her if she needs me."

~o~O~o~

Sitting on a stone slab, with her magic swirling around her, Alya could still feel that strange pull that brought her initially to this very spot. Although several locations had been suggested for the ritual, she knew as soon as she stepped onto the Delacour land that this would be the place. However, it wasn't for the ritual's sake she sat in the shrine of Eir this evening. Alya hoped that its familiar presence would calm the butterflies that were taking hold of her stomach.

Alya didn't really know where Remus Lupin, the last of the Marauders, true loyalties lay. Several things bothered her. For all of his explanation for not visiting Harry at Privet Drive when Harry was younger, to him seemed rather weak. Secondly, blindly following the Headmaster decision to leave Harry alone after the watching his godfather die, didn't endear him to Alya in the least.

Was it even worth reconnecting with the man? She would have to see.

"Milady Black?"

"Good evening, Mr. Lupin." Alya spoke, still with her eyes closed feeling her father's old friend cross the ward line. Nervously biting her lip for a second, she rose from the ground brushing herself off.

Ignoring the surprised look on her old Professors face, she said. "I would offer you a chair but I think after sitting for so long, I need to walk around. Would you care to join me?"

Remus started to follow Alya on one of the trails that passed through the ruins when he noticed a couple of green-cloaked men following them.

"Ignore them, Mr. Lupin, they are just my Custos." Alya tried not to be annoyed at her two cousins, accepting the fact that she was, especially now, a target for certain groups. Worse, she couldn't trust her father's best friend enough to be alone with him.

"Thank you for seeing me on such short notice."

"It's no problem, the least I can do for my father's friend." Alya continued with the façade still feeling bad that she was being dishonest with the man. Although she had a feeling that Sirius would be secretly amused. "I assume the inheritance was put to good use?"

"Yes, and before anything else is said let me offer condolences for your father. He was a good friend. You look a lot like him."

Alya smiled sadly. "People's first reaction is that I take after my aunts, but thank you for that though.'

While the two continued to walk around taking a little about the Wizarding world, she made sure to point out the various Norse structures before they were headed back towards the orchards.

"So Mr. Lupin, are you ready to tell me why you're here? I assume it's on behalf of Albus Dumbledore, perhaps to convince Harry to drop the allegations of financial mismanagement with the Potter money?"

"No, I'm not working for anyone; I just actually want to speak with Harry." Remus had been somewhat frustrated with his talk with the young woman. She was very difficult to read, reminding him of the times he spoke with Andromeda Tonks.

"I see." Alya gave him a look then motioned to a small clearing off the path. With a wave of her wand, she conjured two chairs and a small wooden table before calling for one of the Delacour's house-elves.

"Perhaps some refreshments?"

Sitting with a glass of cider, Alya tried not to sound bitter. "Why now? For the most part, you along with his friends abandoned him after the death of his godfather. Perhaps you're thinking of trying to convince him to return to Privet Drive?"

Remus tried not to cringe at the young woman's tone. He had a similar lecture already from Nymphadora after asking her for the meeting with Milady Black. "No, I have no desire to force him back with his relatives. I actually want to apologize for exactly that, ignoring him when he needed us the most."

"I see, I'm sure he would appreciate the apology but once again why now? You could have written a letter."

Remus sighed. "Recent events have shown that I put my trust in the wrong people. Although I will forever grateful to Dumbledore for allowing me to go to school, my confidence in his leadership had been severely shaken."

"I'll be sure to pass that on to Harry." Alya took a sip of her cider. Admittedly, she felt bad about not trusting Moony but she still hadn't seen anything to prove that his loyalties had really changed.

Sitting back in his chair, he reached for the glass that had been placed in front of him. Without a thought, he drank half of it down before he started to cough.

"Fifty year old Calvados, I'm told that most Normandy Wizards and Witches prefer it over Fire Whiskey." Alya explained with a small smile on her lips.

Clearing his throat, Remus looked at the bottle before topping off his glass. "So is there any way you would trust me to speak to Harry in person."

Alya shrugged. "Not that I can think of."

From his coat, Remus drew his wand, which almost cost him a stunner to the face until he raised it in the air and said. "I Remus John Lupin do hereby swear on my life and my magic that I mean no harm to Harry James Potter and that I am sorry for any trouble that I might have caused him throughout the years, so mote it be."

"Bloody hell." Alya whispered, almost dropped her glass.

"So you see-"Remus was then shocked as the young witch started to cast some complex privacy wards around them.

"Stop talking, Moony. Let me think."

While Alya sat there, biting her lip and tapping her finger on her glass, Remus couldn't help but stare. Someone else he knew when she was thinking hard made the same pose. She also used to tell all of them to shut up as well.

"Oh sweet Morgana, you're Lily's daughter."

Alya eyes shot up. "Wait, how do you know that?"

"Lily had the same look when she was thinking hard. Plus, I can see the resemblance, especially around the eyes. No wonder you're so protective of Harry, you're his sister." Remus grinned but suddenly looked confused. "But when?"

Alya laughed. "Oh, it's much more complicated than that. Alright, read this then give it back to me."

The confused werewolf looked down at the note. ALYA CASSIOPEIA BLACK USED TO BE HARRY POTTER.

"What?"

Alya made a slight face. "Technically that isn't true, I've always been Alya Black I just didn't know it."

"Impossible."

"People use that word around me a lot you know." The young woman smiled.

Remus sat there shocked, then realized something. "Wait you have this under a Fidelius Charm?"

Ayla snorted. "Of course, Mooney, can you imagine if this became common knowledge? It's bad enough they were calling me insane last year."

Remus couldn't help but noticed that the young woman did look like a combination of his friend's wife and that of the Blacks. Reaching for his glass, he downed it in one gulp before pouring himself another.

"How?"

Raising her hand, with her other she collapsed the privacy wards. "Jacob why don't you take your son home, I'm sure your wife still has dinner waiting for you."

"Are you positive, Milady?"

Alya smiled at the two men. "I'll be fine thank you."

As the two men disappeared, she sat back and once again began to tell the story of the battle in the Department of Mysteries and the events there after.

~o~O~o~

Authors Notes: A special thanks to djkauf for a little elvish editing. If you like the story please leave a Kudos, if you have the time I would love to hear from you. My Muse mugged me with this one, pretty much forced me to write it at pen-point :) Thanks to all for reading! - Elsbeth

PS Dont worry my other stories haven't been dropped, just taking a break

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Comments

And still

you capture the voice of these characters so clearly I swear I can hear them talking! I rather suspect that the first thing I'm going to do once the final chapter of this is released is to first go back to the beginning and savor each word as I read it again. Of course with appropriate snacks and drinks nearby so I can enjoy it in one sitting as much as I can.

Hugs
Grover

that sounds like

a fine ideal. since they will never make this a movie (such a shame)
great chapter, thanks

Capture the voice of these characters

Elsbeth's picture

Thanks, thats one thing I'm truly trying to do. Some are harder than others of course but I'm happy I am getting them right. Thanks again for reading

*hugs*

-Elsbeth

Is fearr Gaeilge briste, ná Béarla clíste.

Broken Irish is better than clever English.

Ah, another ally for Alya. I

Ah, another ally for Alya. I only hope that Remus is able to help her more than he did for Harry.

Remus

Elsbeth's picture

Seemed only right :) I like the character, not necessarily the pairing with Tonks always seemed forced. Thanks again for reading

-Elsbeth

Is fearr Gaeilge briste, ná Béarla clíste.

Broken Irish is better than clever English.

Goddess, this is fabulous.

You are really a tease about who Alya will be in a relationship with, though...Or are you setting things up for her to be in a triple or more, rather than a couple?

Nice to see the Delacours and Remus on board. One thing that intrigues me...the characters tend to invoke Morgana's name more than Merlin's in this story, even though Morgan(a) was supposed to be a Dark Witch in the Potterverse. I wonder if we're going to find out a little more about her in this story...

One thing about the picture: it's very cool, but didn't Alya have black hair like Dear Auntie Bellatrix?

Auntie Bellatrix?

Elsbeth's picture

Well the photo is actually Luna. Alya had black hair just like her aunt and father. I do tend to mix and match but I do tend to use morgana, mab and mauve when females are speaking. Im happy your liking the story & thanks for reading

-Elsbeth

Is fearr Gaeilge briste, ná Béarla clíste.

Broken Irish is better than clever English.

Remus Lupin

I am so happy that Remus has made an appearance. I always liked him. He was nice, courteous, likable, helpful and caring, in spite of his horrific childhood and his on-going malady. He was always Harry's favorite teacher, especially as Remus taught him the Petronus Charm.
Now, he's 'in' in the secret. Great! He will be a constant source (except for his 'period') of good advice and stability that Alya needs. She's still very young, in spite of Fleur's belief.

Great story! Keep it up. I look forward to the next episode already.

Red MacDonald

She's still very young

Elsbeth's picture

Very true, and thankfully she has a really good support group. if she was doing this on her own, she probably wouldn't be doing as well.

Thanks for reading

-Elsbeth

Is fearr Gaeilge briste, ná Béarla clíste.

Broken Irish is better than clever English.

Absolutely Brilliant

Completely and Utterly brilliant. You're writing is fantastic and the story has gripped me. I haven't been back to bigcloset in almost a year and I return to find this lovely gem. and I was impressed throughout it all. I'm looking foreward to more.

My girlfriend is starting it and is entranced. I'm loving it. I can't wait to continue reading it.

Also glad that someone is finally pointing out Dumbledore's manipulative nature and his many flaws.

Dumbledore's manipulative nature

Elsbeth's picture

Welcome Back :) i'm happy the both of you are enjoying the story. Interesting enough, one doesnt have to go off canon to show Dumbledore's manipulative nature.

Thanks for reading

-Elsbeth

Is fearr Gaeilge briste, ná Béarla clíste.

Broken Irish is better than clever English.

Elsbeth dear, so happy....

To see a new installment and a HOT one too! Just loved the scene with Fleur! I also see a few more pieces of the Head of House Black's plans falling into place! Thank you Els dear for keeping this one coming! Loving Hugs Talia

Fleur!

Elsbeth's picture

Fleur is fun if you let her hair down and she isnt being a complete brat as at the start of the stories. HP/Fleur is actually one of my fav pairings.

Happy your liking it & thanks for reading

*hugs*

-Elsbeth

Is fearr Gaeilge briste, ná Béarla clíste.

Broken Irish is better than clever English.

Each chapter is so

Each chapter is so fascinating! Love this!! : )

alissa