Luck of Nines

74

Days passed of meals with Chippy, short walks with Chipped Fang interspersed with plenty of naps and lounging together in the pleasantly warm sunlight, he visited Theo frequently, they were almost always up to something; owls seemed to visit regardless if it was day or night, and different smells of potion ingredients, ink, various types of blood, and other oddities always lingered on them.

And yet, he was welcome to hang about whatever space they were occupying, they always had time to chat when he was comfortable enough to be in his human form, or to pat his head when he was not. Sometimes they would read snippets from whichever book occupied their attention.

No one ever visited the obviously well used office fireplace or large, worn kitchen after Fred and George's visit though.

Today though, Theo was dressed differently, no longer the pseudo-casual wizarding attire of usually open robes or the slightly unbuttoned collared shirt, vest, and dress trousers that tended to be worn as the wizarding world's favored clothes to be paired with open front robes or simply under robes.

      No, today his clothes were pressed and layered, an almost sure sign of formal wear even if he hadn't seems similar outfits on the rare occasion before, a dark off-blue-grey color not so different from Slytherin's over white with a high collar and complicated knotted scarf... thing. Black, high heeled boots were worn that reflected light with a dull shine, a wand holder, the slightly visible chain of a gold pocket watch, gold pins on his sleeves and collar, rings, three on one hand, four the other, and his long white hair carefully tied back.

"Where are you going?" Harry asked curiously, there was no point in hiding he knew.

"Just a meeting," Theo answered invasively, after a long pause he sighed and continued, "Things are just starting to settle after breaking you out, I need to make sure they are settling in our favour." In a different room, the fireplace flared to life with the odd smelling fire which sent people to other places. Vaguely recognizing the smell of the person who exited, Harry kept quiet, recognizing that Theo was reluctant to let him reenter the fray after so swiftly and unceremoniously being sent off to Azkaban- at least he didn't think it had been a big event, he just vaguely remembered a review of the accusations with the Aurors and... he actually wasn't sure of much else that had been going on. 

"You don't want me there." Harry observed, breaking free from his thoughts which still drifted on tangents or into blankness sometimes. A long pause of silence followed his statement as well, the pauses a frequent staple of their not quite awkward, but far from flowing conversations in the past few days, "Will you be gone long then?" He tilted his head trying to place the familiar person who was trailing down the stairs having exited from the same fireplace Fred and George had, likely following the sound of their voices. It was in his best interest to keep talking if he wanted to see them and have his curiosity answered.

"A few hours at least," Theo replied, "I'm trying to get there a bit early to make sure everyone has settled on their lines in this. As difficult as progress is in this deadlock it has the added benefit that it has made everyone seem a bit repetitive and predictable in their position."

"Wolf cries the old dog, Hisssss goes the snake." The words were uttered casually, like the worn phrase of an old inside joke said more out of habit than hilarity.

Theo whirled about at the sound of the newcomer, his smile distinctly forced, "Ah. Bulstrode, I thought I said I'd come to you."