Alain Delacour was thinking of what he had just heard; his daughters and their bond mate had just opened an avenue into the press of this country. He then had another question. "We also expected ze elder Malfoy to retaliate once ze story came out, would you know why 'e didn't?"
"Yes sir. Do you remember the house-elf Dobby? He served our lunch the last time both of you were here."
"Yes of course."
"He used to be Lucius Malfoy's house-elf and I helped Dobby get free of him," Harry continued. "As you can imagine Dobby knows a lot of Malfoy's secrets and we let Skeeter talk to him."
"It looks like you have ze making of a fine politician my son," Mr. Delacour said with a smile.
Harry visibly shuddered at the thought then he looked at his bond mates' father. "I'm not sure I would want to do that sir. I really don't know what I want to do yet but earlier this year Professor Moody suggested I might make a good Auror."
Alain put his hand on Harry's shoulder. "Don't be influenced by ze politicians you 'ave seen 'Arry. I 'ave a question for you. What would you consider more important, catching dark wizards or protecting innocent people?"
"Isn't it the same thing?"
"Not really. Look at your godfather; 'e is innocent, but if 'e were still on ze run ze day you took ze oath and became an Auror, you could be charged and sent to Azkaban for not turning 'im in," Mr. Delacour explained. "As an Auror, you do not decide who is guilty or who is innocent, your job is to bring in anyone ze courts dictate you must."
"But I'd prefer that than be like Minister Fudge or Percy Weasley."
"Ze young man who was judging ze second task?" When Harry nodded, Alain shrugged. "I don't know enough about 'im to make an opinion but I will agree zat Minister Fudge is not ze best man for ze job. Unfortunately 'e 'as a lot of friends in certain circles zat control a lot of money."
"In other words he's been bought?"
"Very astute," Mr. Delacour said. "But you do not 'ave to be like 'im to be a politician. I 'ope your opinion of me is a bit 'igher zan Minister Fudge."
Harry blushed as he realized he had basically insulted the man in front of him. "Sorry sir. You…well you're just so different than Fudge that I just don't think of you as a politician."
"I shall take zat as a compliment," Mr. Delacour chuckled. "We'll discuss zis further another time. Though before you seriously consider becoming an Auror I suggest you do one thing. Look at ze old Aurors around and ask if zat is who you want to be later in life. Ze ones I know are cold and 'ave lost all ability to love. If you're an Auror long enough, zere is a good chance that eventually you will 'ave to kill someone. You will also see innocent people killed and you'll see much sorrow as you talk to surviving victims," He looked Harry in the eyes and said softly. "Sometimes such a career can kill a man inside and 'e ends up a shell of what 'e used to be," Alain sighed as he seemed to contemplate something but then continued. "My daughters will always love you and I 'ope you always 'ave ze ability to give ze love you 'ave bestowed upon zem. I just ask zat you think very 'ard before pursuing such a career."
Harry thought of Mad-eye Moody; a man so paranoid he drinks out of a hip flask instead of trusting anyone. Harry couldn't imagine the man actually loving anyone. "I'll definitely have to see and talk to other older Aurors before going down that path." He then started wondering if he could be a politician in the same mold as his bond mates' father. He looked over at Remus and thought of how he looked up to Mr. Delacour. As he thought of it, the idea of being a man like Alain Delacour grew more acceptable. He smiled at his bond mate's father. "I will sir and I won't rule out the political possibility either."
"Speaking of careers Harry," Remus said. "Here are the keys to your primary vault from the sale of the Basilisk," He handed four keys to Harry who immediately gave one Hermione, Fleur and Gabrielle.
"May I ask how much it came out to be?" Alain inquired. "You would not hurt my feelings if you say no."
"Trois millions huit cent quarante mille galleons," Fleur said and then realized she had slipped into French. "Three million eight hundred forty thousand galleons. Zat's after paying Moony and 'is sellers as well as us keeping eight liters of venom, twenty square meters of skins and ze longest fang as well as as four liters of blood."
"Several fashion houses got into a bidding war for the skin trying to corner the market in that particular fashion. We ended up getting twice the going rate for it," Remus explained.
"And Bernadette's 'ouse of Fashion won ze bidding?" Apolline asked with a knowing smile.
"How did you…" Remus asked.
Apolline turned to Fleur and Gabrielle. "Aunt Berdine dears."
Fleur and her mother started speaking rapidly in French until finally Fleur looked at Harry. "Sorry love. I thought zat mamam might 'ave asked Aunt Berdine to bid for ze skins."
"I wouldn't do zat 'arry," Mrs. Delacour said at once. "But after Alain told me about you getting ze Basilisk and zen several weeks later Bernadette talking non-stop about a big auction for Basilisk skin coming up and 'ow she must 'ave zem I found it amusing. I didn't tell 'er I knew who was selling zem."
"If we'd known, we could have saved her money and sold them directly to her."
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