Anita Blake/Harry Potter Fic: Confluence (en.sea.xvii) (multiple pairings)
TITLE: Confluence
AUTHOR: 38gnihsurc
PAIRINGS: Bill/Fleur, Harry/Ginny, Harry/Bill, Harry/Jason, Anita/her many canon men, and I'm sure there will be other pairings later.
RATING: en.sea.xvii, overall
DISCLAIMERS: J. K. Rowling and Laurell K. Hamilton own all of the characters. I'm just having some fun.
WARNINGS: Crossover/slash fic... and, given the style of AB books, there will probably be some degree of bloodplay or furry-fun, or just plain ol' bdsm, in the future.
NOTES: This is a crossover between the Anita Blake and Harry Potter universes. I had an idea while watching the fourth HP film, and my muse was chipping away at it for a few days. Now, I can't stop writing it. Hopefully, it's not too farfetched!
Harry watched the happy couple dancing in the Weasleys' garden, amid friends and family. He watched from the sidelines, tucked away under a tree near the fence that surrounded the property, while nursing a tall glass of pumpkin juice.
Ron was staring at Hermione, Harry saw; she wasn't paying any attention to him. Instead, he saw that her attention was focused on Ron's older brother, Charlie---who was having a serious conversation with a girl Harry didn't recognise.
He sighed and looked away. His green eyes turned their focus onto the horizon; the summer sun was setting and the sky was turning from a brilliant orange to the blue of twilight.
It was beautiful. Being a teenaged boy, he could easily admit that he never took much time to appreciate the simple things in life, like sunsets. But, as he stared off into space, he decided that if he survived the next year he would take plenty of time to appreciate everything he had previously taken for granted.
When he heard the distant sounds of Hermione's shriek and Fred's and George's laughter, he smiled sadly and thought about what his friends had offered.
They couldn't go with him. He didn't want them to meet the same fate that was waiting for him. They wanted to help, to fight, but he didn't want them to die for him. He lost Sirius and Dumbledore---and Harry felt that Cedric would still be alive if he hadn't shared the trophy cup.
There was too much loss. If he lost Ron and Hermione... it would be too crushing, too suffocating. It would be too much to bear.
"Harry?"
He startled at the sound of Ginny's voice. He felt his stomach flop; her voice, since their stolen moments and delicious kisses, had that effect on him.
"Hi, Ginny," he said softly.
She smiled and took off her wide-brimmed straw hat. As she toyed with the blue ribbon that was wrapped around the hat, she said, "You slipped out awfully early."
Harry sighed. "I... I wanted to get out and think on some things."
"Like?"
"Ginny..."
She tossed her hat at him and then sat next to him, leaning against the trunk of the tree as she stretched her legs out. Harry felt her sweet scent wrap around him; he tried not to look at her perfectly painted toenails as he struggled with ignoring the effect she had on him.
"I can listen, you know," she murmured.
"I know," he replied quietly. "Thanks. I just... I don't know what to say yet."
"Let's just sit," she suggested, putting a hand on his arm. "Alright?"
"Alright," he agreed, glad that he wouldn't have to answer questions or offer up his secret thoughts. "Let's just sit."
After the sun disappeared behind the hills, Ginny sighed and rested her head on Harry's shoulder. He smiled sadly, pressed a kiss to her forehead, and closed his eyes.
TITLE: Confluence
AUTHOR: 38gnihsurc
PAIRINGS: Bill/Fleur, Harry/Ginny, Harry/Bill, Harry/Jason, Anita/her many canon men, and I'm sure there will be other pairings later.
RATING: en.sea.xvii, overall
DISCLAIMERS: J. K. Rowling and Laurell K. Hamilton own all of the characters. I'm just having some fun.
NOTES: This is a crossover between the Anita Blake and Harry Potter universes. I had an idea while watching the fourth HP film, and my muse was chipping away at it for a few days. Now, I can't stop writing it.
St. Louis was a hard city to get used to, Harry thought to himself as he walked down the street in the middle of the night.
He was sure that part of it was that it was an American city, and he wasn't used to being in another country; but, another part of it was definitely the vampires and wereanimals that walked among humans. Laws defending vampire and wereanimal rights! Laws recognising vampires' and wereanimals' very existence! It boggled his mind.
But, he was glad he was there. He was glad to get away, to be himself among a city of strangers; after sneaking into the orphanage of Tom Riddle's childhood and stealing two of Voldemort's horcruxes, he decided to give himself some distance from the Death Eaters, and from the danger he would be in when Voldemort discovered what he had done.
At first, he had disappeared into New York City. It seemed like the proper place to go, for an American experience. But, after he stumbled into a university library and started flipping through some pretty interesting journals, he discovered that St. Louis was where he wanted to be.
His job wouldn't be done until all of the horcruxes and Voldemort were dead; he couldn't escape it. Stumbling upon articles about necromancy, spiritual power, and a woman named Anita Blake, while in a university library with his very American cup of Starbucks coffee, was too much of a coincidence to ignore.
Fate kept bringing him back to the reality he left behind.
It had been two weeks since he moved to St. Louis. It took him some time to find an apartment and settle into a routine---and, he was afraid to speak to this woman. He knew where she worked, but he also knew she would refuse the case he would present to her. No one was allowed to raise a murdered corpse because of the threats it imposed upon society at large (and the murderer). But that was in the United States; Harry wondered if he could lure this necromancer to a country in which there was no recognition of this power, to a subculture that was hidden from the Muggle world, and convince her to perform her job there.
But, he was afraid to hear her say no. If she said that, his hopes would be dashed and he didn't know what he'd do then.
It was a logical plan. Destroy the last horcrux, and unearth some of Voldemort's victims, in hopes that they would go after the dark wizard. If zombies really destroyed everything in their paths, Harry guessed they would do their worst on the Death Eaters that stood in their way, and then settle the playing field a bit.
They were not Inferi---so, Harry wondered if they had the same aversion to fire. That would be a problem... but he felt he could find a way to work around that.
It felt right---to be in St. Louis, to be wandering around the sidewalks at night, to be experiencing life without the stigma his scar usually brought upon him---even if he didn't have the answers and information he needed.
The sidewalks were surprisingly busy at night, he noted silently. He found it odd that people would willingly walk around at night with vampires on the loose; he even noted on the night of the full moon, that people were walking around without fear of being attacked. He wondered if Remus would be happy there.
He had been thinking about Remus for a few minutes, when he realised he had turned onto a street that he had never explored before. He knew he was close to the river, but other than that, he had no idea where he was.
There was a bar called "Dead Dave's" on the corner. He guessed it was owned by a vampire. It made sense to him, anyway.
The next building front was for a club called "Danse Macabre." He noted the long line of hopeful entrants outside, behind a velvet rope, and guessed that it was a popular club. Yet, he didn't feel like going inside. He didn't want to dance. He only wanted to travel around and get a feel for the city.
Harry didn't know what lured him towards "Guilty Pleasures," but he knew his feet were traveling towards the door before his brain had registered the change in direction.
He got closer and saw posters posted on the windows that said Brandon would be performing that night. A wereleopard, Harry noted after reading a bit more. An attractive wereleopard, Harry thought to himself after studying the picture of the long-haired, lavender eyed dancer.
A discrete wave of his wand and a few mumbled words on his identification card changed his age to the appropriate age for admittance into the club, and he passed the bouncer some money. The bouncer was reluctant to let him in; he stammered an excuse for why he wanted to see the male dancers, which seemed to be acceptable to the tall, bulky male, because he let Harry pass.
He walked through the door, feeling his cheeks heat up as his insides twisted in embarrassment. He had never fully considered his sexuality; Ginny had captured his heart, so he assumed he was completely heterosexual. As he passed the posters of attractive dancers on his way to the main room, he wondered if that was the truth.
The instant he walked inside the main room, he felt warm and very pleasant. He smiled, rubbed his stomach lazily with his hand, and surveyed the scene in front of him.
There were plenty of women in the audience. Harry almost laughed at the way they were behaving---and then, he saw the dancer on the stage.
It was Brandon. He was moving on the stage in a way that Harry had never thought possible. It was as if Brandon's body was liquid; he flowed into elegant movements, to the rhythm of the music, in a way that Harry couldn't fathom.
His hair caught his attention, but it was Brandon's eyes that held onto it. Harry wondered if he acknowledged that startling shade of violet because he, too, had an unusual eyecolour.
No matter the reason, Harry decided silently as he made his way to the bar to order a drink, Brandon's eyes were gorgeous.
"You're a fan of Brandon, are you?" the bartender asked with a leer on his face.
Harry blushed a little and nodded, before ordering a pint of whatever draught was on tap. He threw a couple American bills down onto the counter and took his glass of beer as he made his way to one of the very few vacant tables in the bar.
When the tall, dark haired figure took the stage, Harry wondered if he would be dancing as well. But, then, he cleared his throat and began to speak in a beautiful french accent.
Half of the words Harry couldn't make out, because he spoke them in French, but he caught the gist of it. The man, named Jean-Claude, was inviting a woman from the audience onto the stage for a more personal performance.
There was a scuffle at the door; Harry turned to see what was going on, and saw nothing but a few men at the door, flanking a small woman, all looking very serious.
Jean-Claude stepped off of the stage once the dance had started, and his presence was replaced by another man. This man was blond, but Harry couldn't get a good look at him because he clung to the shadows.
The dark-haired man walked past Harry on the way to the entrance where the guests were waiting. Harry felt a wave of wave energy rush over him; in that moment, he knew Jean-Claude wasn't human. As he studied the man, he realised that he was a vampire. He started cataloguing Jean-Claude's traits and then noticed how many other vampires were working in the club.
Harry sighed and shifted in his seat. He wasn't enjoying the show anymore. It wasn't the vampires' fault, nor was it the woman's fault as she made girlishly romantic eyes at Brandon. He just felt that it was time to go.
He finished his drink and stood to go. As he made his way towards the exit, he saw a large man, with short dark hair and wide, brooding shoulders, grab another man. There was a flash of long, red hair and a british voice to accompany the movement to the wall.
"Who are you?" The dark man growled. "Why are you here?!"
Harry's eyes widened when he heard Bill Weasley's voice. "I'm here looking for a friend! I'm not... I'm not here to cause problems!"
"Wolf, don't test me---"
"Richard," the woman said in a much calmer voice. "Don't cause a scene."
"Anita, don't tell me how to treat werewolves who walk into my territory. I'm Ulfric, not you."
"I'm not a werewolf!" Bill yelped.
Harry sucked in a deep breath, gripped the wand that was tucked into his jeans pocket, walked towards the group, and said in a loud voice, "He's not a werewolf."
Five pairs of eyes turned to look at him. Harry swallowed hard and walked up to them. "He's not," Harry reasserted. He shot a tiny smile to Bill. "H'lo, Bill."
"Harry... god, we've been worried about you," Bill said back, quietly and quickly.
"I'm fine, but we have to talk about Vold---"
Jean-Claude turned his body towards Harry, very slowly. "Who are you, petit agneau?"
Harry cleared his throat. "I... can we have this conversation someplace more private?"
The vampire nodded. His long dark hair tumbled over his shoulder. "Mais, oui. Follow me. We shall go into my office." He turned and smiled at the woman, Anita. Harry wondered if she was the Anita he was hoping to meet. "I believe you know the way, ma petite."
Richard growled. Jean-Claude ignored the sound and took Anita's hand. The dark haired woman gave him a sideways look, but walked with him. Richard glared at Bill, but released him. Bill fell into step with Harry; Richard walked with the young man beside him.
"Are you okay?" Harry asked Bill, looking up at him with wide, green eyes. "How'd you find me? What---"
Bill smiled back at him, and Harry stopped talking. The scars didn't detract from his appearance; if anything, they added to the cool-rebel image Bill had been cultivating for as long as Harry knew him. Of course, Bill tried to hide them by wearing his long hair down, but anyone who got close enough could see them and have a glimpse of the danger this man had known. At least, Harry thought that the scars made him more cool.
"I'm fine," Bill assured Harry. "A little bruised, but fine."
"How'd you---"
Bill chuckled. "You gave Mum quite a scare, you know that. Taking off in the middle of the night. Merlin, Harry, you've been gone for months. We haven't the slightest idea what you've been up to... and Hedwig's been a real cow since you took off. Ron said she's been better since going back to Hogwarts, but barely."
"How'd you---"
"I'm getting to that," Bill interrupted again. "When you crossed the ocean," he explained as they walked towards a door at the end of a long hall. "You took a large sum of money out of your account."
Harry sighed and nodded. "To pay for the plane ticket."
"Exactly. Anyway... after that, Ron and Hermione guessed you'd go someplace away from the Voldemort mess, someplace to think and figure out your next move. I guessed America. After that, it just took some of Dad's Muggle connections, some quick thinking, and here I am."
"Why you?" The second the question left Harry's mouth, he blushed and started to ramble. "I mean, not that I'm not glad to see you, but---"
"Remus is healing, after the last full moon. Tonks is with him... even if he doesn't want her around," Bill explained. "Mum and Dad can't go because of the Order, Ministry, and Ron and Ginny. The twins are busy with their joke shop. Hermione and Ron are back at school, and they don't think clearly when it comes to you. Charlie is back in Romania, and Fleur is pregnant."
"Whoa. Congrats, Bill."
Bill smiled. "Thanks. Twelve weeks. Our fingers are crossed... everything looks good so far."
"Brilliant."
The red-haired male nodded and put his hand on Harry's shoulder as they walked into the private room. The others fanned out around Harry and Bill; Harry felt his nerves tingling in anticipation. The werewolf known as Richard was very tense; Harry could see his muscles flexing under his shirt. Anita hopped up onto the desk, shooting a smirk in Jean-Claude's direction; the vampire smiled back at her and joined her on the desk's surface.
"Jason," Richard said as calmly as he could manage, to the other man in the room. "Could you go outside and watch the door?"
Harry caught the trace of a pout, before Jason caught it himself and nodded.
Jean-Claude nodded at Jason and offered him a tiny smile. Richard added: "We'll be finished here in time for you to go to work."
"Fine with me," Jason said, before strutting across the room towards the door.
Harry watched the way he moved---and noted how similar his movements were to Brandon's and Richard's. They were too fluid. He guessed Jason was a wereanimal, too; he decided if he was a wereanimal, he would be a wolf, because of Richard's assertion over him. He didn't understand what place Jean-Claude had in their relationships, but he guessed it was a fairly important place.
Once Jason left the room, Jean-Claude returned his attention to Harry. "Your name, petit agneau?"
"What are you calling me?" Harry asked.
"Little lamb," Anita said with a roll of her eyes. "Jean-Claude---"
"Ma petite... let the man talk."
"I have to get home by three to feed the ardeur, so---"
"You can feed it here," the vampire said simply. "There are plenty of bodies here to feed from... your cat can feed you tomorrow."
Harry shot a worried glance at Bill, who returned the expression with one of his own.
When the vampire looked at Harry again, the young man summoned his courage and spoke. "My name is Harry Potter."
"And what kept you from telling us that outside?" Anita asked.
"There are people who want me dead," Harry said. "Who want Bill dead. Who want a lot of decent people dead. And I'm trying to stop them... so I really can't be dead, if you catch my---"
"Who wants you dead, petit agneau?"
"People in England," Bill said quietly, for Harry, who felt himself shaking slightly. Harry was grateful that his friend had taken over. "We're wizards. We're from the wizarding world in England. There's a dark wizard, trying to kill Harry and everyone else that is against him, and he came here to---"
"To give myself some breathing room and to regain my bearings," Harry finished. "I destroyed two more horcruxes, and I was scared that Voldemort would find out---"
"What the fuck?" Richard expelled.
Harry inhaled slowly, and then began telling the whole story. He left very few details out, and by the time he was finished telling the strangers everything but why he needed to speak with Anita Blake, there was a knock on the door.
Jean-Claude walked over and opened it. Jason said softly, "Nathaniel wants to come in. He's cold. And we've got a bouncer for the door."
"Go to work," the vampire murmured. "Shall I see you before dawn?"
"I hope so," Jason said with a smile. He cast a look towards Harry and Bill, smiled again, and then stepped away to let Brandon into the room.
Harry blinked, and then realised that Brandon was an alias for Nathaniel.
Anita opened her arms and Nathaniel approached her. "You okay?" she asked quietly.
He nodded and mumbled something about being cold and needing contact. She nodded, and wrapped her arms around him, rubbing his back as her legs hooked around him.
Richard snorted in disgust. Harry gathered that he was very uncomfortable with the personal lives of his colleagues. He wondered what their story was.
"How does your friend smell like wolf, but claim not to be one?"
"I was attacked by a werewolf," Bill said quietly. "But, I don't think it was bad enough to make me change."
Nathaniel turned his head away from Anita's shoulder. He studied Bill's skin. "Your scars would have healed," he said softly.
"Yeah," Bill muttered, looking down at his dragon skin boots. "I gathered that much."
"So, why are you here?" Richard asked.
"I'm looking for Harry," Bill said, gesturing towards his friend. "Things are becoming rough back home."
Harry's eyes widened. "What---"
"The Death Eaters are gaining in numbers. McGonagall is having a hard time keeping the school secure and maintaining the Order. Snape is still missing... not that he's an asset to us at the moment, but---"
Harry sighed. "I'm sorry I left."
"Nah, don't worry about it, mate," Bill told him. "We figured you left for a reason. We just want to help, so you can come back and help the Order." A grin graced his face. "Oh, and McGonagall is furious with you for dropping out of school." He chuckled and added: "If you ever go back, I think she's going to load you up with detentions for spite."
Harry grinned. "That sounds like her."
"So..." Anita said softly, carefully. "Why did you come here, Harry?"
"I was in New York, blending in and getting perspective... when I found some articles on necromancy in an academic paper."
Anita's eyebrows furrowed. "Why are you interested in necromancy?"
"Lord Voldemort uses inferi, I mean, zombies, to protect some of his prized possessions... and... well, I also have a theory or two about using zombies against him."
"Ma petite can help you work through your theories," Jean-Claude said smoothly, confirming Harry's suspicion that this woman was the expert he had hoped to run into. When Anita frowned at the vampire, he smiled at her and added, "Their problems might affect our existence here. Europe has vampires and lycanthropes and all sorts of magic, perhaps even more than here."
"I know, but---"
"And if this Voldemort is as powerful as the young man explained, then we will either have to deal with him now or later."
Anita closed her mouth and nodded. "True. Okay. Fine. But... can we get out of here? And Richard, would you stop giving Bill the Ulfric eye?! You're driving us all crazy."
"This is my territory."
"I'm not a wolf," Bill repeated. "I swear it. I don't want to take over any of your territory, nor do I want to be a part of your pack. I just came to help Harry out. We'll be out of your hair soon."
Richard sighed and tried to relax. "I'll grant you safe passage," he growled. "Until I find in any way that you've tried to outmaneuver me---"
Bill extended his hand for a shake. "I won't try anything like that," he promised.
Richard gave in and grudgingly shook his hand. "Fair enough." He looked at Anita. "I'm going back outside."
"Thanks for taking Micah's shift," Anita said quietly. "He's been taking everyone else's and the Furry Coalition won't be any good if he works himself into the ground."
"I don't mind doing my part," Richard admitted. "See you guys later." He turned and walked to the door; when he put his hand on the doorknob, he turned back to the group of people and said, "I want to be kept informed."
Jean-Claude nodded. "Of course," he agreed. "We will meet on this again, I am certain." When Richard had gone, the vampire smiled. "Shall we retire to the Circus?"
"Jason..." Nathaniel said softly, from Anita's shoulder.
"Asher will see that he comes home safely," Jean-Claude assured the young wereleopard. He turned to the wizards. "Monsieur Weaz-lee et petit agneau, please be our guests. We can talk more comfortably in my domain."
Harry looked at Bill, who shrugged. Harry shrugged, too. "Sure. Why not?"
TBC...
AUTHOR: 38gnihsurc
PAIRINGS: Bill/Fleur, Harry/Ginny, Harry/Bill, Harry/Jason, Anita/her many canon men, and I'm sure there will be other pairings later.
RATING: en.sea.xvii, overall
DISCLAIMERS: J. K. Rowling and Laurell K. Hamilton own all of the characters. I'm just having some fun.
WARNINGS: Crossover/slash fic... and, given the style of AB books, there will probably be some degree of bloodplay or furry-fun, or just plain ol' bdsm, in the future.
NOTES: This is a crossover between the Anita Blake and Harry Potter universes. I had an idea while watching the fourth HP film, and my muse was chipping away at it for a few days. Now, I can't stop writing it. Hopefully, it's not too farfetched!
Harry watched the happy couple dancing in the Weasleys' garden, amid friends and family. He watched from the sidelines, tucked away under a tree near the fence that surrounded the property, while nursing a tall glass of pumpkin juice.
Ron was staring at Hermione, Harry saw; she wasn't paying any attention to him. Instead, he saw that her attention was focused on Ron's older brother, Charlie---who was having a serious conversation with a girl Harry didn't recognise.
He sighed and looked away. His green eyes turned their focus onto the horizon; the summer sun was setting and the sky was turning from a brilliant orange to the blue of twilight.
It was beautiful. Being a teenaged boy, he could easily admit that he never took much time to appreciate the simple things in life, like sunsets. But, as he stared off into space, he decided that if he survived the next year he would take plenty of time to appreciate everything he had previously taken for granted.
When he heard the distant sounds of Hermione's shriek and Fred's and George's laughter, he smiled sadly and thought about what his friends had offered.
They couldn't go with him. He didn't want them to meet the same fate that was waiting for him. They wanted to help, to fight, but he didn't want them to die for him. He lost Sirius and Dumbledore---and Harry felt that Cedric would still be alive if he hadn't shared the trophy cup.
There was too much loss. If he lost Ron and Hermione... it would be too crushing, too suffocating. It would be too much to bear.
"Harry?"
He startled at the sound of Ginny's voice. He felt his stomach flop; her voice, since their stolen moments and delicious kisses, had that effect on him.
"Hi, Ginny," he said softly.
She smiled and took off her wide-brimmed straw hat. As she toyed with the blue ribbon that was wrapped around the hat, she said, "You slipped out awfully early."
Harry sighed. "I... I wanted to get out and think on some things."
"Like?"
"Ginny..."
She tossed her hat at him and then sat next to him, leaning against the trunk of the tree as she stretched her legs out. Harry felt her sweet scent wrap around him; he tried not to look at her perfectly painted toenails as he struggled with ignoring the effect she had on him.
"I can listen, you know," she murmured.
"I know," he replied quietly. "Thanks. I just... I don't know what to say yet."
"Let's just sit," she suggested, putting a hand on his arm. "Alright?"
"Alright," he agreed, glad that he wouldn't have to answer questions or offer up his secret thoughts. "Let's just sit."
After the sun disappeared behind the hills, Ginny sighed and rested her head on Harry's shoulder. He smiled sadly, pressed a kiss to her forehead, and closed his eyes.
TITLE: Confluence
AUTHOR: 38gnihsurc
PAIRINGS: Bill/Fleur, Harry/Ginny, Harry/Bill, Harry/Jason, Anita/her many canon men, and I'm sure there will be other pairings later.
RATING: en.sea.xvii, overall
DISCLAIMERS: J. K. Rowling and Laurell K. Hamilton own all of the characters. I'm just having some fun.
NOTES: This is a crossover between the Anita Blake and Harry Potter universes. I had an idea while watching the fourth HP film, and my muse was chipping away at it for a few days. Now, I can't stop writing it.
St. Louis was a hard city to get used to, Harry thought to himself as he walked down the street in the middle of the night.
He was sure that part of it was that it was an American city, and he wasn't used to being in another country; but, another part of it was definitely the vampires and wereanimals that walked among humans. Laws defending vampire and wereanimal rights! Laws recognising vampires' and wereanimals' very existence! It boggled his mind.
But, he was glad he was there. He was glad to get away, to be himself among a city of strangers; after sneaking into the orphanage of Tom Riddle's childhood and stealing two of Voldemort's horcruxes, he decided to give himself some distance from the Death Eaters, and from the danger he would be in when Voldemort discovered what he had done.
At first, he had disappeared into New York City. It seemed like the proper place to go, for an American experience. But, after he stumbled into a university library and started flipping through some pretty interesting journals, he discovered that St. Louis was where he wanted to be.
His job wouldn't be done until all of the horcruxes and Voldemort were dead; he couldn't escape it. Stumbling upon articles about necromancy, spiritual power, and a woman named Anita Blake, while in a university library with his very American cup of Starbucks coffee, was too much of a coincidence to ignore.
Fate kept bringing him back to the reality he left behind.
It had been two weeks since he moved to St. Louis. It took him some time to find an apartment and settle into a routine---and, he was afraid to speak to this woman. He knew where she worked, but he also knew she would refuse the case he would present to her. No one was allowed to raise a murdered corpse because of the threats it imposed upon society at large (and the murderer). But that was in the United States; Harry wondered if he could lure this necromancer to a country in which there was no recognition of this power, to a subculture that was hidden from the Muggle world, and convince her to perform her job there.
But, he was afraid to hear her say no. If she said that, his hopes would be dashed and he didn't know what he'd do then.
It was a logical plan. Destroy the last horcrux, and unearth some of Voldemort's victims, in hopes that they would go after the dark wizard. If zombies really destroyed everything in their paths, Harry guessed they would do their worst on the Death Eaters that stood in their way, and then settle the playing field a bit.
They were not Inferi---so, Harry wondered if they had the same aversion to fire. That would be a problem... but he felt he could find a way to work around that.
It felt right---to be in St. Louis, to be wandering around the sidewalks at night, to be experiencing life without the stigma his scar usually brought upon him---even if he didn't have the answers and information he needed.
The sidewalks were surprisingly busy at night, he noted silently. He found it odd that people would willingly walk around at night with vampires on the loose; he even noted on the night of the full moon, that people were walking around without fear of being attacked. He wondered if Remus would be happy there.
He had been thinking about Remus for a few minutes, when he realised he had turned onto a street that he had never explored before. He knew he was close to the river, but other than that, he had no idea where he was.
There was a bar called "Dead Dave's" on the corner. He guessed it was owned by a vampire. It made sense to him, anyway.
The next building front was for a club called "Danse Macabre." He noted the long line of hopeful entrants outside, behind a velvet rope, and guessed that it was a popular club. Yet, he didn't feel like going inside. He didn't want to dance. He only wanted to travel around and get a feel for the city.
Harry didn't know what lured him towards "Guilty Pleasures," but he knew his feet were traveling towards the door before his brain had registered the change in direction.
He got closer and saw posters posted on the windows that said Brandon would be performing that night. A wereleopard, Harry noted after reading a bit more. An attractive wereleopard, Harry thought to himself after studying the picture of the long-haired, lavender eyed dancer.
A discrete wave of his wand and a few mumbled words on his identification card changed his age to the appropriate age for admittance into the club, and he passed the bouncer some money. The bouncer was reluctant to let him in; he stammered an excuse for why he wanted to see the male dancers, which seemed to be acceptable to the tall, bulky male, because he let Harry pass.
He walked through the door, feeling his cheeks heat up as his insides twisted in embarrassment. He had never fully considered his sexuality; Ginny had captured his heart, so he assumed he was completely heterosexual. As he passed the posters of attractive dancers on his way to the main room, he wondered if that was the truth.
The instant he walked inside the main room, he felt warm and very pleasant. He smiled, rubbed his stomach lazily with his hand, and surveyed the scene in front of him.
There were plenty of women in the audience. Harry almost laughed at the way they were behaving---and then, he saw the dancer on the stage.
It was Brandon. He was moving on the stage in a way that Harry had never thought possible. It was as if Brandon's body was liquid; he flowed into elegant movements, to the rhythm of the music, in a way that Harry couldn't fathom.
His hair caught his attention, but it was Brandon's eyes that held onto it. Harry wondered if he acknowledged that startling shade of violet because he, too, had an unusual eyecolour.
No matter the reason, Harry decided silently as he made his way to the bar to order a drink, Brandon's eyes were gorgeous.
"You're a fan of Brandon, are you?" the bartender asked with a leer on his face.
Harry blushed a little and nodded, before ordering a pint of whatever draught was on tap. He threw a couple American bills down onto the counter and took his glass of beer as he made his way to one of the very few vacant tables in the bar.
When the tall, dark haired figure took the stage, Harry wondered if he would be dancing as well. But, then, he cleared his throat and began to speak in a beautiful french accent.
Half of the words Harry couldn't make out, because he spoke them in French, but he caught the gist of it. The man, named Jean-Claude, was inviting a woman from the audience onto the stage for a more personal performance.
There was a scuffle at the door; Harry turned to see what was going on, and saw nothing but a few men at the door, flanking a small woman, all looking very serious.
Jean-Claude stepped off of the stage once the dance had started, and his presence was replaced by another man. This man was blond, but Harry couldn't get a good look at him because he clung to the shadows.
The dark-haired man walked past Harry on the way to the entrance where the guests were waiting. Harry felt a wave of wave energy rush over him; in that moment, he knew Jean-Claude wasn't human. As he studied the man, he realised that he was a vampire. He started cataloguing Jean-Claude's traits and then noticed how many other vampires were working in the club.
Harry sighed and shifted in his seat. He wasn't enjoying the show anymore. It wasn't the vampires' fault, nor was it the woman's fault as she made girlishly romantic eyes at Brandon. He just felt that it was time to go.
He finished his drink and stood to go. As he made his way towards the exit, he saw a large man, with short dark hair and wide, brooding shoulders, grab another man. There was a flash of long, red hair and a british voice to accompany the movement to the wall.
"Who are you?" The dark man growled. "Why are you here?!"
Harry's eyes widened when he heard Bill Weasley's voice. "I'm here looking for a friend! I'm not... I'm not here to cause problems!"
"Wolf, don't test me---"
"Richard," the woman said in a much calmer voice. "Don't cause a scene."
"Anita, don't tell me how to treat werewolves who walk into my territory. I'm Ulfric, not you."
"I'm not a werewolf!" Bill yelped.
Harry sucked in a deep breath, gripped the wand that was tucked into his jeans pocket, walked towards the group, and said in a loud voice, "He's not a werewolf."
Five pairs of eyes turned to look at him. Harry swallowed hard and walked up to them. "He's not," Harry reasserted. He shot a tiny smile to Bill. "H'lo, Bill."
"Harry... god, we've been worried about you," Bill said back, quietly and quickly.
"I'm fine, but we have to talk about Vold---"
Jean-Claude turned his body towards Harry, very slowly. "Who are you, petit agneau?"
Harry cleared his throat. "I... can we have this conversation someplace more private?"
The vampire nodded. His long dark hair tumbled over his shoulder. "Mais, oui. Follow me. We shall go into my office." He turned and smiled at the woman, Anita. Harry wondered if she was the Anita he was hoping to meet. "I believe you know the way, ma petite."
Richard growled. Jean-Claude ignored the sound and took Anita's hand. The dark haired woman gave him a sideways look, but walked with him. Richard glared at Bill, but released him. Bill fell into step with Harry; Richard walked with the young man beside him.
"Are you okay?" Harry asked Bill, looking up at him with wide, green eyes. "How'd you find me? What---"
Bill smiled back at him, and Harry stopped talking. The scars didn't detract from his appearance; if anything, they added to the cool-rebel image Bill had been cultivating for as long as Harry knew him. Of course, Bill tried to hide them by wearing his long hair down, but anyone who got close enough could see them and have a glimpse of the danger this man had known. At least, Harry thought that the scars made him more cool.
"I'm fine," Bill assured Harry. "A little bruised, but fine."
"How'd you---"
Bill chuckled. "You gave Mum quite a scare, you know that. Taking off in the middle of the night. Merlin, Harry, you've been gone for months. We haven't the slightest idea what you've been up to... and Hedwig's been a real cow since you took off. Ron said she's been better since going back to Hogwarts, but barely."
"How'd you---"
"I'm getting to that," Bill interrupted again. "When you crossed the ocean," he explained as they walked towards a door at the end of a long hall. "You took a large sum of money out of your account."
Harry sighed and nodded. "To pay for the plane ticket."
"Exactly. Anyway... after that, Ron and Hermione guessed you'd go someplace away from the Voldemort mess, someplace to think and figure out your next move. I guessed America. After that, it just took some of Dad's Muggle connections, some quick thinking, and here I am."
"Why you?" The second the question left Harry's mouth, he blushed and started to ramble. "I mean, not that I'm not glad to see you, but---"
"Remus is healing, after the last full moon. Tonks is with him... even if he doesn't want her around," Bill explained. "Mum and Dad can't go because of the Order, Ministry, and Ron and Ginny. The twins are busy with their joke shop. Hermione and Ron are back at school, and they don't think clearly when it comes to you. Charlie is back in Romania, and Fleur is pregnant."
"Whoa. Congrats, Bill."
Bill smiled. "Thanks. Twelve weeks. Our fingers are crossed... everything looks good so far."
"Brilliant."
The red-haired male nodded and put his hand on Harry's shoulder as they walked into the private room. The others fanned out around Harry and Bill; Harry felt his nerves tingling in anticipation. The werewolf known as Richard was very tense; Harry could see his muscles flexing under his shirt. Anita hopped up onto the desk, shooting a smirk in Jean-Claude's direction; the vampire smiled back at her and joined her on the desk's surface.
"Jason," Richard said as calmly as he could manage, to the other man in the room. "Could you go outside and watch the door?"
Harry caught the trace of a pout, before Jason caught it himself and nodded.
Jean-Claude nodded at Jason and offered him a tiny smile. Richard added: "We'll be finished here in time for you to go to work."
"Fine with me," Jason said, before strutting across the room towards the door.
Harry watched the way he moved---and noted how similar his movements were to Brandon's and Richard's. They were too fluid. He guessed Jason was a wereanimal, too; he decided if he was a wereanimal, he would be a wolf, because of Richard's assertion over him. He didn't understand what place Jean-Claude had in their relationships, but he guessed it was a fairly important place.
Once Jason left the room, Jean-Claude returned his attention to Harry. "Your name, petit agneau?"
"What are you calling me?" Harry asked.
"Little lamb," Anita said with a roll of her eyes. "Jean-Claude---"
"Ma petite... let the man talk."
"I have to get home by three to feed the ardeur, so---"
"You can feed it here," the vampire said simply. "There are plenty of bodies here to feed from... your cat can feed you tomorrow."
Harry shot a worried glance at Bill, who returned the expression with one of his own.
When the vampire looked at Harry again, the young man summoned his courage and spoke. "My name is Harry Potter."
"And what kept you from telling us that outside?" Anita asked.
"There are people who want me dead," Harry said. "Who want Bill dead. Who want a lot of decent people dead. And I'm trying to stop them... so I really can't be dead, if you catch my---"
"Who wants you dead, petit agneau?"
"People in England," Bill said quietly, for Harry, who felt himself shaking slightly. Harry was grateful that his friend had taken over. "We're wizards. We're from the wizarding world in England. There's a dark wizard, trying to kill Harry and everyone else that is against him, and he came here to---"
"To give myself some breathing room and to regain my bearings," Harry finished. "I destroyed two more horcruxes, and I was scared that Voldemort would find out---"
"What the fuck?" Richard expelled.
Harry inhaled slowly, and then began telling the whole story. He left very few details out, and by the time he was finished telling the strangers everything but why he needed to speak with Anita Blake, there was a knock on the door.
Jean-Claude walked over and opened it. Jason said softly, "Nathaniel wants to come in. He's cold. And we've got a bouncer for the door."
"Go to work," the vampire murmured. "Shall I see you before dawn?"
"I hope so," Jason said with a smile. He cast a look towards Harry and Bill, smiled again, and then stepped away to let Brandon into the room.
Harry blinked, and then realised that Brandon was an alias for Nathaniel.
Anita opened her arms and Nathaniel approached her. "You okay?" she asked quietly.
He nodded and mumbled something about being cold and needing contact. She nodded, and wrapped her arms around him, rubbing his back as her legs hooked around him.
Richard snorted in disgust. Harry gathered that he was very uncomfortable with the personal lives of his colleagues. He wondered what their story was.
"How does your friend smell like wolf, but claim not to be one?"
"I was attacked by a werewolf," Bill said quietly. "But, I don't think it was bad enough to make me change."
Nathaniel turned his head away from Anita's shoulder. He studied Bill's skin. "Your scars would have healed," he said softly.
"Yeah," Bill muttered, looking down at his dragon skin boots. "I gathered that much."
"So, why are you here?" Richard asked.
"I'm looking for Harry," Bill said, gesturing towards his friend. "Things are becoming rough back home."
Harry's eyes widened. "What---"
"The Death Eaters are gaining in numbers. McGonagall is having a hard time keeping the school secure and maintaining the Order. Snape is still missing... not that he's an asset to us at the moment, but---"
Harry sighed. "I'm sorry I left."
"Nah, don't worry about it, mate," Bill told him. "We figured you left for a reason. We just want to help, so you can come back and help the Order." A grin graced his face. "Oh, and McGonagall is furious with you for dropping out of school." He chuckled and added: "If you ever go back, I think she's going to load you up with detentions for spite."
Harry grinned. "That sounds like her."
"So..." Anita said softly, carefully. "Why did you come here, Harry?"
"I was in New York, blending in and getting perspective... when I found some articles on necromancy in an academic paper."
Anita's eyebrows furrowed. "Why are you interested in necromancy?"
"Lord Voldemort uses inferi, I mean, zombies, to protect some of his prized possessions... and... well, I also have a theory or two about using zombies against him."
"Ma petite can help you work through your theories," Jean-Claude said smoothly, confirming Harry's suspicion that this woman was the expert he had hoped to run into. When Anita frowned at the vampire, he smiled at her and added, "Their problems might affect our existence here. Europe has vampires and lycanthropes and all sorts of magic, perhaps even more than here."
"I know, but---"
"And if this Voldemort is as powerful as the young man explained, then we will either have to deal with him now or later."
Anita closed her mouth and nodded. "True. Okay. Fine. But... can we get out of here? And Richard, would you stop giving Bill the Ulfric eye?! You're driving us all crazy."
"This is my territory."
"I'm not a wolf," Bill repeated. "I swear it. I don't want to take over any of your territory, nor do I want to be a part of your pack. I just came to help Harry out. We'll be out of your hair soon."
Richard sighed and tried to relax. "I'll grant you safe passage," he growled. "Until I find in any way that you've tried to outmaneuver me---"
Bill extended his hand for a shake. "I won't try anything like that," he promised.
Richard gave in and grudgingly shook his hand. "Fair enough." He looked at Anita. "I'm going back outside."
"Thanks for taking Micah's shift," Anita said quietly. "He's been taking everyone else's and the Furry Coalition won't be any good if he works himself into the ground."
"I don't mind doing my part," Richard admitted. "See you guys later." He turned and walked to the door; when he put his hand on the doorknob, he turned back to the group of people and said, "I want to be kept informed."
Jean-Claude nodded. "Of course," he agreed. "We will meet on this again, I am certain." When Richard had gone, the vampire smiled. "Shall we retire to the Circus?"
"Jason..." Nathaniel said softly, from Anita's shoulder.
"Asher will see that he comes home safely," Jean-Claude assured the young wereleopard. He turned to the wizards. "Monsieur Weaz-lee et petit agneau, please be our guests. We can talk more comfortably in my domain."
Harry looked at Bill, who shrugged. Harry shrugged, too. "Sure. Why not?"
TBC...