The Dark Lord's Daughter Book 4: Flight

Veelas

We trudged our way up to the Top Box, up what seemed like thousands of steps. I clutched to my lion for dear life as we went higher and higher- which Hermione had wiggled her thick brows at me for from under her Over-grown top-hat that matched the others.
At last we found our seats- so high over the playing field I feared the earth would reach up to snatch us back from the air. Harry leaned over ever so slightly to watch as thousands of witches and wizards filed into their seats.
And to probably admire the lush playing field below. He was used to the miniature in comparison Hogwarts Quidditch Field, and I looked over with him.
"Dare me Potter?" I asked with a devilish gleam in my eye and took half a step nearer to the edge. He let out what could only be recognized as a shriek and pulled me from the edge. My pendant swung out from my chest and I stumbled backward, knocking Harry over and falling on top of him.
"Harry! I was joking!" I said shrilly and picked myself up- the twins gave him disapproving looks before picking him up by the elbows.
"What do you want us to do with him, ma'am?" The twins saluted me and clicked their heels together.
"I'm feeling merciful today boys- put 'em down." I dropped into my seat and pretended to check my nails.
"Yes ma'am-" The twins took a step towards the edge until a strangled scream of panic rose from my dad's throat and I looked up.
"Boys- I meant put him in his seat!" I pointed at the set next to mine, and they shrugged before releasing him.
"That could've ended badly-" Fred said.
"Prolly' would've twinged a bit-" George replied before they took their seats. Dad gaped and shook his head at us. Luckily the only other person in the box so far was a house-elf- and dad didn't have to make excuses for our lackluster behavior.
"Dobby?" Harry called to the house-elf and I flinched, that obviously wasn't Dobby. The house-elf peaked out from behind her fingers to look at Harry. Her eyes went wide to see us looking patiently for her to respond.
"Did sir just call me Dobby?" The house-elf questioned adorably in the highest voice I had ever heard. Ron and Hermione peered curiously around us to see the house-elf, that only Harry and I had ever met.
"Sorry, I thought you were someone I knew-"
"But I knows Dobby too, Sir!" The little house-elf looked frightened, and I felt a sudden urge to comfort her.
"My name is Winky, sir- and Miss- and you, sir- you is surely Harry Potter!" Winky squeaked excitedly after spotting his scar.
"Yeah, I am." Harry nodded and Winky looked at me carefully before saying another word.
"You is Miss Notte- yes, Dobby says Harry Potter and Miss Notte are always side-by-side." Winky deducted sweetly, I leaned over Harry to offer her my left hand- so she could keep her face covered. Winky hesitated before gingerly taking my hand.
"You is more pretty than Dobby says Miss." Winky added after taking back her hand.
"Er- How is Dobby? Is freedom suiting him?" Harry asked eagerly. He was proud of helping our little house-elf friend get freed. I was rather proud of him for it too- Dobby was miserable there...
"Ah sir, ah Miss, meaning no disrespect, sir, Miss, but I is not sure you did Dobby a favor sir, when you is setting him free." Winky kept her eyes to the side, afraid she'd anger us by simply speaking her mind.
"Why? What's wrong with him?" Harry asked concerned.
"Freedom is going to Dobby's head, sir, Ideas above his station, sir. Can't get another station, sir." Winky kept glancing over to me now, my fae blood obviously drawing her to me.
"Why not?" Harry asked. Winky's eyes went wide and flickered between us- I nodded reassuringly and leaned over Harry again, a hand on his shoulder to steady myself. His heart starting beating rapidly at my touch.
Winky leaned in and whispered:
"He is wanting paying for his work, sir and Miss." Winky shook her head as if she were shamed by it.
"Paying?" Harry glanced at me, I winced before looking back at Winky.
"Well- why shouldn't he be paid?" Harry asked. I looked back at the others who were listening intently.
"House-elves is not paid, sir! No, no, no, I says to Dobby, I says, go find yourself a nice family and settle down, Dobby. He is getting up to all sorts of things unbecoming to a house-elf. You goes racketing around like this, Dobby, I says, and next thing I hear you's up in front of the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures, like some common goblin."
Winky covered her eyes firmly and shook her head again.
"Well it's about time he had a bit of fun." Harry said, I bit my lip.
"I don't think I've ever heard of anyone paying a house-elf before...I hope he's doing alright." I said it quietly and Winky nodded furiously.
"House-elves is not supposed to have fun, Harry Potter. House-elves does what they is told. I is not liking heights at all, Harry Potter" She paused to take a trembling glance towards the edge of the box- she immediately covered her eyes once more.
"But my master sends me to the Top Box and I comes, sir."
"Why's he sent you up here, if he knows you don't like heights?" Harry frowned deeply. I didn't like the way most House-elves were treated either, it broke my heart to watch Dobby being tortured by the Malfoy's, but- what could we do about it...other than help the one's who wanted helping?
"Master- master wants me to save him a seat, Harry Potter. He is very busy." Winky tilted her head to the empty seat beside her.
"Winky is wishing she is back in Master's tent, Harry Potter and Miss Notte, but Winky does what she is told. Winky is a good house-elf." Winky covered her eyes completely again, ending the conversation. I sat back in my seat, leaving my hand on Harry's shoulder.
"So that's a house-elf? Weird things, aren't they?" Ron said quizzically.
"Dobby was weirder." Harry said determinedly. I nodded slightly- he probably would be the strangest house-elf I ever met. Ron pulled out his shiny new omnicoculars and fiddled with the knobs.
"Wild! I can make that old bloke pick his nose again...and again....and again..." Ron said excitedly. I suddenly felt very brave and let my hand slid it's way into Harry's and brought it onto the armrest between us. He looked quickly down at our intertwined hands and then up at me. My lion rested in my lap and I twiddled with it's pointy ears- my face a flaming red.
"A display from the team mascots will precede the match." Hermione read off from her tasseled program.
"Oh that's always worth a watch, National teams bring creatures from their native land, you know, to put on a bit of a show."
Mr. Wesley and Percy got up annoyingly often to greet and shake hands with Wizards of all types. The Minister entered and Percy just about had a fit bowing so low that his glasses shattered to the floor. He kept still in his seat after that bit- but shot jealous looks at Harry when the Minister greeted him.
"Ah, Harry Potter so nice to see you again, and of course your lovely Miss Notte." We stood up awkwardly following my father gesturing for us to stand and shake the man's hand.
"I heard you've been well- so sorry about the incident last year, quite lucky you were so quick on your feet Miss Notte." The Minister introduced us to some foreign wizards on either side- explaining that I had produced a patronus capable of fighting off a swarm of detectors. They seemed rather impressed.
"Yes- of course our Mr. Potter would have the best and brightest at his side- right Mr. Potter?" Harry nodded awkwardly at the Minister and I bit my lip to keep from laughing. The Bulgarian Minister seemed to notice Harry's scar and pointed babbling excitedly. I choked on air- I could understand every word.
"Its really him- he has the scar, I wonder if he remembers it-" The Bulgarian Minister said.
"He doesn't- he was only one-" I replied before I could stop myself. My dad choked and my family panicked, but the foreign minister chatted with me happily.
"Ah, you know my tongue- how wonderful to hear- you speak it beautifully- who are you?" The Minister asked in Bulgarian.
"I know a little of your tongue, thank you, I'm Notte Weasley, I'm just Harry's girlfriend. It's a pleasure to meet you." I responded. Harry and our Minister looked dumbstruck.
"I am sad to see that you don't wear our colors." The Bulgarian Minister gestured at my clothing.
"Ah, here's Lucius!" Our Minister said cheerfully, and I looked back to see the three blondes making their way to their seats right behind my dad. I apologized for getting distracted, before continuing our conversation.
"My family supports the Irish team." I gestured towards my family, the man nodded like he understood then.
"Miss Notte could you?" The Minister asked, obviously wanting me to help translate. I looked at my dad- he shrugged tiredly. I couldn't blame him I was tired of me too.
"Ah Fudge." Lucius greeted the Minister like an old friend.
"How are you? I don't believe you've met my wife Narcissa? Or our son, Draco?" Lucius passed an unapproving glare at me.
"Miss Notte, to what do I owe the pleasure?" Lucius asked me.
"Er-"
" She's translating for me! Fluent in Bulgarian- what a wonderful girl- wish I had snapped her up sooner!" Fudge said with a jolly laugh.
I translated introductions and chitchatted with the Bulgarian Minister, until the Mascot Display and I excused myself to my seat.
I sank into my seat in utter embarrassment.
"You can speak- Bulgarian?" Percy whispered harshly and I shrugged. He shook his head angrily and busied himself with his program.
"You are- utterly Brilliant Notte." Harry said in awe. I blushed.
"He thought so too- even offered me an ambassadorship when I graduate Hogwarts." I said thoughtfully. Harry blanched.
"Are you going to- to do it I mean?" He asked seriously.
"I don't think so- I mean would you imagine what mum would do- I think she'd have a conniption And I don't think you'd like Bulgaria anyway, it's pretty cold there." I said casually.
"Awe!" Hermione said from beside Ron- who was seriously regretting his decision to sit beside me.
"Your mother would definitely be upset- Bill and Charlie already go off where they please- it'd break her heart." Dad said sternly. I looked down at my family.
"Does everyone listen in on my private conversations?" I asked my family sternly.
"No- we pass it along- much easier to hear that way." George said.
"I'm telling mum when we get home." I said quietly.
"Pass that along- won't you?" I patted Ron's shoulder and he flinched.

Harry's POV

Ludo Bagman came swooping in with a flourish of his old Quidditch capes.
"Minister- ready to go?" Ludo asked excitedly.
"Ready when you are, Ludo." Fudge said. Ludo eagerly whipped out his wand and pointed it directly at his own throat.
"Sonorus!" He charmed his voice to boom across the stadium over the roar of the fans.
"Ladies and Gentlemen....welcome! Welcome to the final of the four hundred and twenty-second Quidditch World Cup!" The crowd screamed and cheered in response- eager to start the match. The team's national anthems blared over each other- and the AD board wiped itself clear to read out 'Bulgaria; 0, Ireland; 0".
"And now, without further ado, allow me to introduce...the Bulgarian National Team Mascots!" The Bulgarian side of the stands, cheered uproariously.
"I wonder what they've brought, Aaah!" Mr. Wesley exclaimed and promptly took off his glasses.
"Veela!" Mr. Weasley said.
"What are-?" I didn't finish, because now a hundred or so, Veela danced onto the field. They were beautiful...not as beautiful as...who was it again...? I stopped worrying about that, focused on the celestial-esque women on the field below. I should do something...something-
And then my  thoughts cleared and I blinked hard and realized I was getting ready to get up out of my seat. Notte's hand squeezed mine reassuringly- but she stared blankly down at them- did she see something I couldn't?
She was humming- very softly. I looked around at the other men in the room- Ron was out of his seat now- half ready to dive off the edge. Her other brothers seemed interested but much more in control- the adult men either weren't looking at all, or had their glasses off like Mr. Weasley. Notte let go of my hand for just long enough to smack Ron across the face and push him into his seat-
Ron angrily started shredding the shamrocks on his hat and Mr. Weasley leaned over.
"You'll be wanting that, once Ireland have had their say."
"Huh?" Ron was still starting down onto the field.
"Thanks." I whispered to Notte who'd gone back to holding my hand but stopped humming.
"Rather snap you out of it- than have you jump off a ledge like loverboy over here." Notte whispered back with a grin.
"And now, put your wands in the air... For the Irish National Mascots!" Ludo boomed over the stadium, and a burst of green and gold flew into the stadium. Notte bounced up and down in her seat excitedly- her bells jingled merrily.
The comet of green and gold circled the stadium before splitting into two- and racing towards the goalposts. A rainbow arced, connecting the balls of light. The crowd cheered- and Notte gripped my hand excitedly waiting for the next part. The balls of light reunited- and flew up to form a great shimmering shamrock soaring high above the stands. Golden coins rained down on them- causing a great ruckus in the stands below, as people dove to scoop up the gold.
"Harry- look up, Leprechauns!" She told me excitedly and I squinted up to see that she was right- the shamrock was actually loads of small bearded men with red vests and carrying a green or gold lamp. Ron shoved a fistful of gold at me with a triumphant smile.
"For the omnioculars! Now you have to got to buy me a Christmas present, ha!" Ron looked rather pleased with himself, so I shrugged and stuffed it into my pocket waiting for the match to start.

Notte's POV

I just realized- that I don't care much for Quidditch when Harry isn't playing...but I followed the game closely. It was exciting- watching Krum feint- but difficult for me to watch as well. I had to hold onto my seat tightly to resist the urge to rush out like the med-wizards did.
Harry, Ron and Hermione all shrieked excitedly watching the game- I watched for the snitch.
"Harry! He's spotted it!" I said and moved his face to follow the snitch with me- Krum dove for the snitch. And caught it! His nose bleeding like a faucet the entire time- which was also difficult to watch and not try to heal him.
"Vell, ve fought bravely." The Bulgarian Minister said solemnly. Notte turned around to grin at the Minister who winked at her.
"You can speak English! And you've been letting me mime everything all day!" Fudge said sounding outraged. The Bulgarian Minister almost cackled.
"Vell it vos very funny."The man shrugged. And then we were blinded- and thousands of eyes turned to rest on us.
Fudge was handed a large trophy.
"Lets hear it for the gallant losers, Bulgaria!" And one by one they filed in, Krum entering last clutching the snitch, his face a bloodied mess. The stands roared in approval when they saw the slightly duck-footed boy.
And then Fudge called in the Irish team, two members held up their seeker. Aidan Lynch.
I was sure he would vomit- and had to grip my lion to keep from getting up and healing up the two boys. I'm sure it wouldn't have boded well.
"Quietus." Ludo lowered his voice and rubbed his sore throat. The Irish off to do another victory lap, with Lynch holding on for dear life to another teammate.
"Brilliant-" Fred told me.
"Favorite sister-" George said- Ginny punched his arm from her seat.
"Favorite Older sister-" They corrected together and winked before climbing over their seats to hold out their hands out eagerly for their winnings.