It's All Just Temporary with a Bit of Necromancy

Chapter 13: It's Just Strategy

"It's not a concern. My elves will take care of it."

"Why are we talking in Parseltongue?"

"I enjoy making my Death Eaters nervous."

Harry glanced over his shoulder at the terrified men. "Keeps things interesting?" he asked with an amused laugh. The responding twitch of lips and flush of pride and pleasure that flickered in Marvolo's eyes made him warm.

Marvolo left them in the library with a reminder that dueling practice would be in an hour. Tobi arrived thankfully with a sandwich ready for him. Once alone, Harry claimed his armchair and gestured for the men to sit. Surprisingly, all three bowed before sitting even though the Lestrange brothers' bow wasn't as deep. Avery chose the chair on Harry's left and the Lestrange brothers sat on the couch on his right. To cover his surprise and enjoyment of having all three bow to him, he curled a little tighter into the armchair.

"I believe introductions are necessary before we proceed," Harry began before taking a bite of his sandwich, his good mood over relieving himself of the itching that had plagued him for days and accomplished some control over his skills leaking out. "From the looks of it, Avery chose you two to help him. I can only assume this partnership will continue. So we will be seeing each other often."

Harry nodded at the Lestrange brother farthest from him. "Rodolphus Lestrange," the man replied. The infamous husband of Bellatrix, Harry mused. The man didn't seem as deranged as his wife but he had tortured Neville's parents. Trying to see past that, Harry took in the dark curls pulled back and tied at his neck, his dark blue eyes, and his worn and thin appearance. Azkaban had not been kind to the once handsome man.

"Rabastan Lestrange," the brother closest to him continued the introduction, drawing Harry's gaze. The only difference was that Rabastan kept his curly hair short, framing his face and was obviously a few years younger. Harry kept his face blank turning to Avery.

"Lennox Avery," the man replied.

"Great. You all, obviously, know who I am. I would like to make one thing clear before we continue," Harry said turning to pierce the brothers with a hard stare. "While I can understand why Avery chose you two to assist him, let me clear the air by saying I'm not thrilled at your presence. It was because of your actions that one of my closest friends grew up without parents, in a situation far worse than mine." The brothers actually looked guilty and repentant. "Luckily for you, I hate your wife far more. So, for the course of this alliance that I have with your Lord, I can deal with you two civilly if you keep Bellatrix out of my sight. Is that understood?"

Looking far too grateful the brothers nodded. "You will not see her," Rodolphus promised.

"Be sure I don't, or you might find yourself newly widowed." Oddly, Rodolphus didn't seem terribly upset over that but he nodded anyway. "Now, what have you learned?" He continued, turning to Avery and taking another bite of his sandwich.

The man in question pulled out some parchment from his pocket and enlarged the stack. Harry tried to keep his face impassive, inwardly cheering that he only had to sit through the highlights of the massive amount of research gathered. The information Avery and the Lestrange brothers had gathered in only two days was astounding. Hermione would be impressed.

"So you're telling me that I'm pretty much untouchable by the law?" Harry surmised at the end of the brief.

"Yes, Lord Potter," Avery replied. "In the article this morning, it was printed that you compare yourself to a liaison acting on Deaths' orders? It was an accurate comparison because with you answering to a higher power it sets you apart from wizard laws."