Categories > Books > Harry Potter > Changes
AN:I don't own Harry Potter, just playing…
Thanx to my betas AWR and Master42, also a big thank you to my editor. I know first chapter are rough, i writed them more than four months ago and i am learning a lot with that experience, but as i got time and help, i am coming back and editing them too!
Thanx for reading, hope you have fun!
Chapter 07
Fleur didn't know what to do, all the excitement, all the pride, all the anticipation was gone now that all she held the broken young man in her arms. His aura had been so powerful, so damaged, that she could feel his pain, how he felt betrayed and lost. She could barely handle the emotions running through her as Harry sobbed at her shoulder, and she knew he endured it every day.
The surge of magic had been so powerful that Harry was totally expended. When the professors arrived, accompanying Hermione and Katie, the boy let out a deep sigh and passed out, his body still hot to the touch from all the magical energy that ran through it. Fleur noticed how sad he looked, even unconscious.
“My most sincere appreciation to you, mademoiselle Delacour” Dumbledore said as he levitated Harry with a flick of his wand. “You conducted this situation with all the grace and resolve we came to expect from someone of your position. Your father would be proud. Now, I need to conduct Mister Potter to the hospital ward for testing and rest, as this magical surge was indeed outstanding. But I am sure he will actually feel a lot better after all that emotional relief.”
Fleur didn't know what to think about the patronizing tone of the headmaster. Talking to her like an old fable book grandfather, filled her with suspicion and she could see Hermione had a similar reaction. But there was nothing she could do now, but watch Harry being taken away to the hospital wing.
Hermione turned to follow him, but Fleur held her by the arm.
“'Hermione, wait.” Fleur pleaded in a low voice. The younger witch bit her lips, clearly worried. “I need to show you something…”
“Fleur… I am sorry, but Harry…”
“It is about him.”
Hermione sighed and followed the French witch to the carriage, she probably knew there was nothing she could do now, besides letting the Matron do her job, and wait for Harry to wake. Fleur took her to her room and with a wave of her wand cast a drying spell on her clothes.
“Please 'Hermione, ‘have a seat.” Hermione sat down in one of the two beds in the room, while Fleur went to her trunk to look for something. She came back and sat at the brunette's side with a book on her hands. “I was planning to show this to 'Harry first. But clearly something ‘as happened that Sirius, Remus and my parents didn't tell me, or maybe they don't even know. 'Hermione, I want to help, and I am sure you know why he is broken. I know you don't ‘have any reason to trust me, so I want to show you this.”
Fleur handed her the photo book. Curiously Hermione opened it and the first magical photo she saw was the one with the Delacours and the Potters at a Christmas party. “This one is me.” the French which pointed to the beautiful little girl smiling brightly, holding the younger baby’s hand. “And this one is…”
“Harry…”
Hermione kept passing through the pages in awe, photo after photo of the Delacours, the Potters, Sirius, Remus and some other family. “Those are the Greengrass.” Fleur pointed noticing Hermione's curiosity. The witch was astonished seeing the families on Yule, at the beach, dancing, and sometimes with other families showing up. They were young and full of life. She smiled at little Fleur playing with babies Harry and Daphne on the sand as a loving Lily looked over them.
“That girl that kissed Harry today.” Hermione said to Fleur, who just looked at her curiously. “Daphne Greengrass.”
Fleur smiled a sad and tired smile.
“That is why you wrote to Harry?”
“At first yes, I needed to know if he hated us, or if he even remembered us. It seems ‘e doesn't even know about our families and I was confused. But then I realized I really liked to talk to him, ‘e became somewhat of a true friend along the way.”
Hermione closed the album and took a deep breath. “Right Fleur, this is going take time, I need you to listen, and if you don't want anything to do with us I will totally understand.” The French girl looked at her with resolve. “Harry didn't know about the magical world until he was eleven…” Fleur had an incredulous expression on her face.
For the next three hours, Fleur heard about all the events that had happened while Harry and Hermione had lived at Hogwarts. The mostly peaceful first year, when he found out about who he was and the philosopher stone, the second year, with the heir of Slytherin and the Chamber of Secrets problems and how the whole school suspected him. Fleur almost didn't believe the story with the basilisk. Hermione told her about how scared she was for Ginny’s life. Then came the third year, the dementors and Sirius Black and how Harry was forced to relieve his parent’s deaths again and again. Hesitantly, Hermione told her about Peter Pettigrew and Remus’s bite. At the end, Fleur was in tears thinking about how all this affected him. That was the reason he didn't feel safe.
“Fleur,” Hermione continued almost in a whisper. “There are some things that happened he never told me. Things that happened during the ten years he spent with the Dursleys and I think are still happening at some level. He has this annoying habit of keeping all the pain to himself.” Hermione was crying now. “He has no help! I have asked the professors, even the headmaster.” Fleur didn't know what to think of it, but she ended up holding Hermione in a hug. “He tries to act like nothing's wrong. But sometimes I can see his light fading. I thought Katie and I would be able to do it this year… we want to make him understand that he needs us as much as we need him.”
“Such loyalty” Fleur thought.
“You are a smart witch ‘Hermione, why do you think someone would put Harry's name in the Goblet?”
Hermione stopped sobbing and thought. “To make his death appear like an accident. Goodness, that put all the competitors at risk too, you…”
“Yes, I thought so. Thank you for sharing all this with me Hermione. I can see ‘e has not been a boy for a long time. But I need to think, and you need to rest. I will talk with you tomorrow.”
“Thank you for letting me cry on you, and sorry…” Hermione said, a little ashamed. Fleur just smiled at her.
After Hermione left, Fleur laid back on her bed, tears in her eyes. She had felt the connection with Harry, something in the back of her mind; like she had found something she had missed but didn't even know existed. At first, she was worried about him being two years younger, that he hated her and her family for abandoning him. Knowing what she knew now, she felt how shallow she was being, judging before knowing the facts, just like people did with her.
But was she brave enough to face that storm?
...
Albus Dumbledore watched as Dolores Umbridge sat heavily onto one of the less than comfortable chairs in front of his big desk. All dressed in pink and orange, she looked like a giant frog cupcake. The headmaster smiled at her.
“Good evening Dolores, May I offer you some lemon drops?"
“Cut out the chit chat headmaster, what is the reason you summoned me at this dreadful hour, specifically after those heated events.” She said in her high pitch voice without hiding her giggling.
Dumbledore closed his eyes, his head hurt; she had always been hard to handle, specifically since that messy deal about Harry Potter's papers 14 years ago. But she was too important of an inside agent at the ministry. Without her, many of his own laws securing his power over Hogwarts would have never seen the light; fortunately, her vision was always too narrow regarding blood status.
“Dolores my dear, May I ask why you thought it would a good idea to include young Harry's name in the tournament? Should I remind you of how delicate our situation can be?”
“I did it because from the moment I set foot on this school, I realized you had completely lost control over him!” She said, her voice making Dumbledore's head hurt even more. “His best friends are all muggleborn born or half-blooded, far from what we had planned for him. And he is even consorting with a half-breed! Delacour's little animal nonetheless! Your… desire for this boy has blinded you! He no longer serves our objectives in bringing about the Greater Good. Once he realizes his political status, he will undoubtedly hurt us!”
“Your little rant was indeed very elucidating about how your head works my child.” the headmaster dragged the word, making clear who was in charge. “But failed to answer my question.”
“The boy has outlived his purpose, but he is still famous, so why not give him a glorious death in the tournament? And we can get Delacour's daughter as a bonus. My sources on the French council are certain of his win tomorrow. Need I remind you what that man really stands for?"
“I know very well what said man believes he stands for, Madam, must I remind you that I faced men like him before you even walked these same school halls? No Dolores, I think it’s pity to see such a beautiful and prodigious young woman not living to her full potential, but can understand the need to remove her, but it is imperative that the boy live through it.”
“And why is that? The little half-blood prat is being nothing but trouble, just like his parents!”
“Dolores, the only thing that would make me happier than see the Potter line washed out, is to bring said ancient line back to the rightful ways, bringing them back towards the light. Although, that is not the reason. The boy has an important part to play in events yet to come”
“You are blind by desire!”
“Dolores Umbridge” Dumbledore stood, and project his aura; the woman had crossed all the limits of his patience, refusing to listen to reason. He knew better, he was the greatest wizard alive and people would listen to him, like it or not. “Must I remind you whom you are talking to? Who holds not only yours but also Fudge’s and Bagman’s jobs in his hands? Get out of my office; I need to ponder on what to do with this turn of events.”
Fearing the Headmaster’s rage, Dolores quickly got up and left the room, leaving Albus Dumbledore to his plans.
...
Harry saw the enormous snake sliding to his side; he was getting carried in the direction of an unknown manor like a baby by someone. The place looked old and abandoned, the mold eating up the walls, the floor dirty with years of dust layers. Once inside, he was laid on a big bed. Why was it so hard to move? Then, he heard a serpentine like voice hissing. “Call for Narcisa and her useless husband.” At this point Harry realized with a growing fear the voice was his own. “They need to get the right ingredients; it needs to be ready in time”
“Yes, my Lord" he heard, it was a voice that sent shivers up his spine. He woke with a start just as he saw the traitor's face in front of him.
He was feeling dizzy, and could barely see without his glasses in the dark. Madam Pomphrey came closer to him, waving her wand and said with a tired voice. “Here we are again Harry; two months may be a record for you. Nah! Don't try to get up; you are still weak Mr. Potter. Please take this potion and rest, my trainee will assist you.”
“This is new.” Harry thought as a gentle pair of hands helped him take the potion. Dizzy as he was, he barely recognized the blueberry scent.
“Daphne?” He whispered as he drifted back to sleep.
...
Ronald Weasley was walking alone through the grounds, heading for the quidditch field after declining a game of Exploding Snap with Seamus. For the first time he that he could recall, since starting Hogwarts, Ron wanted to be alone. He was feeling angry. How could his so called best mate humiliate him like that? And in front of the entire Gryffindor house? It was not enough for him to have everything he wanted? He had money, fame, was probably shagging Katie and Hermione and now had that French witch too? And what about Hermione, would she ever talk to him again? He did nothing wrong! Not even his brothers were talking to him now. Traitors, just after his ex-friend’s money and fame, he thought.
“Tough day Weasley?” Ron heard the last voice he would want to right now. The last thing he needed was a detention for breaking the little gits nose, again.
“Leave me the bloody hell alone Malfoy! Looking for another black eye?” He turned to see the blond boy behind him, next him was a strange looking slender woman wearing glasses and a notebook. She had a predatory smile on her face that sent shivers down Ronald’s back.
“Cool down Weasley, I came in peace.”
Ron looked at him in disbelief.
“Tough business last night wasn’t it. Being attacked like that in front of the whole school. Such a friend, this Potter, I knew it all along! I bring you an opportunity for pay back.” Draco stated as he pointed to the strange woman behind him. “My friend here wants to tell your side of the story. Maybe we can even get some of the prestige of your family back. Purebloods stick together.”
The woman stepped forward before Ron could say anything and extended her hand.
“Hello Ronald, my name is Rita Skeeter.”
...
After breakfast, Katie was worried that Harry hadn't showed up, and she made the quick trip to see him in the hospital wing. She found the boy laid in bed, still sleeping, his scars covered by the blanket, looking almost peaceful. Daphne was at his side, finishing the sorting of a lot of potions before taking the rest of the day off.
“He is going to be okay.” The Slytherin said, approaching Katie, with a reassuring smile almost never seen outside the hospital. “He is just drained. I will look after him tonight…”
Katie looked at her with surprise. “Thank you…”
Daphne sat at her side, Katie found it weird to see so much emotion, so different than the usual persona she presented to the school. She looked at Harry with real caring, her scent betraying the girl’s real emotions. Katie knew she was more worried than she showed. The ice queen was not really that cold after all.
“So…” Daphne moved her ice grey gaze from the boy to Katie, looking like her normal cold self now. But Katie knew better, the girl’s scent betrayed her nervousness. “If what people are saying, you and Harry have been… intimate the last few days…”
Katie gave her a knowing smile. Daphne rolled her eyes, and Katie caught a different scent coming from her now.
“OK… so you have seen his scars...And he is also a little too thin, even if fit, thank goodness for quidditch.”
“Not only quidditch…” Katie said remembering the stories he told her. “But yes, I see your point.”
“Something happens to him during the summers. How can someone as famous and as important as him get like that? Some of those scars are years old. How can his magical guardian allow that?” Katie looked at Daphne, who had returned her gaze to him, the tenderness back to her eyes.
“He is cute isn't he…” Katie said suddenly.
“What! Sorry… I mean… he is your boyfriend… and…” Katie laughed at the girl’s sudden awkwardness.
“He is not my boyfriend, don't worry. I don't own him or anything, he is too much for me to handle alone anyway…” both girls blushed at that. “Daphne, he is special, not that boy who lived shit special… and the magical world has been doing a crap job on him…” The Slytherin looked confused.
“Anyway.” Katie continued. “I need to find Hermione…”
“She came by earlier, with that French witch… said she would researching magical exhaustion and emotional accidental magic in the library…”
“Thanks…” Katie got up and approached Harry’s ear, whispering to him, making Daphne blush at the things she said to the young wizard, things she would do to him when he woke up. “Remember Harry, protect the pack…” she finished with a soft kiss on his cheek.
She winked at Daphne and left the hospital wing to look for Hermione. On the way she thought about Fleur, and how she had handled Harry's outburst, how his magic didn't hurt her as she approached and embraced him. Maybe she was wrong, she thought his equal would be Hermione, but maybe it was the French witch. Katie only knew that wasn't her position to take, she didn't like to lead.
As expected, Katie found Hermione in the library, alone at the back table.
“Hello Hermione…” Katie greeted as she approached and sat down on the chair in front of the other witch.
“Hi Katie… did you stop by to see Harry?”
“Yea. Sleeping.”
“I think he will wake up tomorrow, a normal wizard would take a couple more days, but you and I both know that is not the case.”
“About that… Hermione, I am also…”
“I know, I figured it out a couple days before you and Harry started doing whatever it is that you have been doing… what? Smartest witch blab blab blab…” both girls had a laugh.
“Hermione…” Katie thought on how to approach this, and decided to be the most direct possible, Hermione would listen and understand, she hoped. “Harry needs a pack… he is powerful, his Wolf is like nothing I ever seen, I am afraid it may consume him if he is not helped… the last time something like that happened with a powerful wizard, it was not pretty. You may know the stories about Fenrir Greyback” Hermione nodded. “Let me assure you that what is known is only the tip of his evil… Harry is different though… his protective instincts are powerful. That is the way we can get to him, that we can help him. We have to make him come to terms with his inner wolf and accept his pack…”
“He needs other werewolves?”
“A pack is not necessarily made of just werewolves, it’s more like and extended family bound by love.”
“I didn't know werewolves had such a developed culture like that. But again, they fail to teach many things to us here.” Hermione raised an eyebrow.
“We keep it away from other wizards, as they are not a paragon of tolerance as you may have noticed.”
“I did. You seem to know a lot.”
“Family tradition.” the girl quickly answered and continued. “A pack shares the emotional load of its members, and helps direct the instincts of the Alpha in the right direction. It gives him propose and identity, a place to stay and a place to be. The pack needs to guide the Alpha as much as they need him for guidance…”
“Beautiful words…”
“Heh, my grandfather told me that when I was ten.”
“So, we need to find him a pack of some sort?”
“This kind of thing cannot be forced, and I understand Harry is fed up with people deciding things for him.”
“So, there is nothing we can do?”
“Hermione, he has already chosen his pack…”
...
Fleur was irritated. She had little sleep and the people glaring at her were not helping her mood. Harry was still asleep, and she was craving talking to him. Damn these people looking! Who do they think they are? English people were turning out to be ruder than she had ever imagined. One day in Scotland and her life was already turned upside down. And the only one who cared was in a hospital bed because some monster wanted to take control of his life. And she hated being followed.
She stopped outside of the great Hall, the autumn wind moving through her hair, she suddenly turned around with a swift movement only possible by years of dueling practice and caught the glare of the red haired young girl from the day before.
“It is not polite to follow otter people, little girl.” Fleur gave her an evil look, in the hopes of the girl going away. To her surprise the girl didn't back down as she expected, quite the contrary she step forward with a fierce expression that amused the French witch.
“What did you do to Harry?” She asked in an accusatory tone, her voice full of venom and jealousy.
That was it. To Fleur that was enough. She would not stand been accused of hurting the only person of this forsaken school that cared for her. The person she only tried to help, especially by a jealous little girl.
“And who are you little girl?” Fleur felt her veela nature taking over her emotions. “Are you his girlfriend?”
The girl seemed startled by the question, Fleur felt even angrier at this, people around them started looking and she could feel the warmth building up on the point of her fingers.
“That’s what I thought, you are just a little stalker” the veela continued, aiming to hurt now.” Tell me, you stalk Harry too?” Fleur was feeling like something was burning inside her. She approached the girl and talked in a low tone. “I didn't do anything to him. But when I do, girl, I assure you he is going to like it!”
There were tears on the girl's face, but they were angry ones. With a decided move the girl turned around and stomped away.
“Damn, you are an evil bitch” someone said in French. Fleur turned fuming to look where the voice was. Regine was standing behind her, holding her hands in the air. “She really got you angry, if I didn't know better, I would think she had attacked Gabby.”
Fleur started to calm down. She regained control of her emotions and the fire subsided. It was true; the only other times she got that angry was when someone attacked her family. She was not one to lose control of her veela nature like that.
“Poor girl.” Fleur said, a little sad. “She didn't deserve it…I don't know why I got so upset…”
“Really? Well, damage is done. Come, let's find Gabby and grab some lunch.”
...
Harry woke in the dark but sensed familiar feeling sheets of the infirmary. His vision was blurred, but the smell of blueberries let him know that he was not alone. He felt around searching for his glasses and wand, but not finding them.
“Here”, He heard Daphne's voice as she gently placed the glasses on his face. After a second the vision of her striking angular face and black midnight hair focused in front of him. “Better?” She asked softly.
“Yes, a lot, thank you.” He said, suddenly very conscious of her proximity. “What time is it?” He asked, glad that the dim light of the room concealed his blushing face. She was sitting on his bed, beside him, using a white robe, much like the one the matron used although looking much better. Her hands over her lap as her straight hair ran over her shoulders and back.
“One in the Morning… you have been out the entire day, Hermione, Ginevra, Fleur and Katie all came to see you. Katie said some really dirty things she was going to do to you once you awoke,” She finished with a teasing smile that made Harry blush even more, but with a silly smile on his face.
“Wow… I guess I outdid myself this time… wait, what are you doing here so late?”
“I am apprenticing with madam Pomphrey, I want to be a healer like mom when I finish school…” she answered with a kind look, totally different from the one he had learned to expect from her. It made her even more beautiful, harry thought.
“That is great, but I don't think you had to stay with me this late. I mean, I really appreciate it, but I didn't expect that with your… fame.” “Great Potter, put your foot in your mouth talking to the girl you crushed on since day one…” he thought.
“My facade is a way to protect myself and my sister, Harry; here at the hospital wing I don't need it…” she said before her voice turning cold again. “But I can still hex you into oblivion.” she giggled, before turning serious to him again. “I… I wanted to see you… you mutter in your sleep…”
“Sorry.” He said with shame.
“Some of the things you said are really scary…” she said with a shiver. “especially about Tom and Vernon, whoever they are… also Harry, I am sorry…”
“Why?” Harry felt he cannot be more ashamed than he already was.
She got a little closer to him, her dark straight hair falling over her shoulders and breasts and Harry silent cursed both his hormones and the wolf. Her scent was intoxicating, and he hope she didn't notice his arousal.
“I always thought you had forsaken your lineage because you were weak,” she said looking deep into his emerald eyes, confusion and guilt on her face. “That you don't acted proud of who you or your parents were because you didn't like the wizard blood in you. But I can see now it is a lot more complicated than that, right?” He gulped. “Seems like someone beat the pride out of you…”
“You could say that…” He answered after a while, turning away in shame from her gaze. “I want to change Daphne. I really do… but every time I think I can, some shit brings me back to the mud.” He was becoming angry again now. “I don't even know who I am anymore. Or who I want to be!” his hands became closed in fists.
She placed her hands softly on Harry's own.
“Sorry.” He said. “It’s not fair dumping that on you, we barely know each other, even though I want to change that?”
“There are the apologies again, it really doesn't suit you Harry.” She said in a commanding tone. “Did you know we meet before Hogwarts?” He looked at her with confusion. “Our parents were good friends. My mother went to school with yours, and our fathers were political allies. I spent my first Yule at your parent’s house.”
“Wow… why does everyone know more about my family than I do?”
“That, Mister Potter, is a really good question. It seems like someone wanted to keep you in the dark…”
“I don't know what to do.” He buried his head on the pillow behind him, looking at the ceiling.
She leaned closer to him. “I know two Harry Potters.” He could feel her breath, her blueberry scent driving him mad. “One is a shy boy, who keeps apologizing for things out of his control and makes me angry…” Her thumbs started making circle motions on his hands. “The other devised a plan to teach people how to defend themselves, saved my sister from a monster and was not afraid to make a stand in front of the Slytherin table, that one is not a boy, that one I have had a crush since the second year... that one I could fall for…”
She leaned and gave him a kiss, her smell inebriated him, and without thinking he kissed her back. She parted her mouth as an invitation, and his tongue met hers. It was different from Katie. he felt like his whole body responded to it, as their tongues caressed each other, their lips softly touching. It was deep, sensual, as each one took time to explore the other’s mouth, her taste driving Harry’s mind blank.
When they parted, she was still holding his hand with force, taking quick breaths.
“Sorry…” she said, blushing.
“You lecture me about apologizing and then say you're sorry.” He smiled at her, who returned an evil glare at him. “For once, I am not sorry.” She probably could tell by his silly smile.
“Prat!” She said slapping him on the shoulder. Daphne recomposed herself and her expression became a little colder.
“Harry, my parents have returned from France today and sent me an owl. Along with their letter, there was one other for you…”
“For me?”
“Here” She extended him the parchment.
“Lumos,” He said, and Daphne noted that his wand was still on the table beside the bed, a tiny ball of light appeared next to his head, she was astonished.
Harry couldn't believe what he was reading, and Daphne caught his weird expression.
“What?”
“Sirius Black just adopted me!”
HPHPHP
The boy who cheated!
The new Triwizard tournament has barely started and it is already brimming with irregularities. After the weird announcement done by Barty Crouch about a fourth champion chosen for the competition, none other than Harry Potter, this intrepid reporter ventured onto Hogwarts School of Magic grounds to bring you more information about this incredible story.
It was found out, that not only the Boy Who Lived name came out of the Goblet of Fire, giving Hogwarts an extra champion, thus creating a big disadvantage to the Foreign schools, but also that a great tumult had upset the choosing ceremony.
No one seems to know how Harry Potter’s name ended up in the Goblet of Fire or what kind of spells he used to circumnavigate the protections cast upon the artifact. Some students suspect the use of dark arts given the boy’s record of parselmouth and the rampage that followed the nomination.
“Potter is out of control, not even a week ago he broke my nose without any provocation!” Revealed Draco Malfoy (15) a beautiful young man, heir to a great fortune that now has his face covered in bandages.
After the nomination, it is said that Harry Potter came out of the room in a hurry, where he was caught cheating and on his way out of the castle assaulted a fellow student. Then proceed to a rampant of raw magic that endangered many. Even his own house colleagues are afraid. “He is getting distant from everyone and has no friends, he can’t stand not being the center of attention. I am afraid he may even put others in danger because of it” said a Gryffindor student who prefers to remain anonymous.
For more on this see page 12.
Rita Skeeter.
...
Daphne stayed awake with Harry discussing about the ramifications of the adoption news. Harry had told her about his last year, how he discovered that Sirius was innocent, and that Peter Pettigrew had betrayed his parents, then about the escape of Remus and Sirius, as his godfather was still accused of the crimes he did not committed.
They deduced that Daphne’s father, Artus, knew it all and had been in contact with Sirius in France, which would explain the first of Fleur's letters. The Delacours, Daphne explained to Harry, were a prominent and ancient family, and had been in business with the Greengrass family for many generations. They had grown distant after the war ended, but their connections still ran deep. The family head, Fleur's father, was probably going to be the next French minister of magic. Then they discussed the notification itself.
“For starters, if there is no conviction to him, you automatically became the heir of the Black family. That will block Narcisa Malfoy's access to the Black fortune! That is huge!” Daphne said looking at the official ministry documents with an understanding gaze.
“Narcisa Malfoy?” Harry asked.
“She is Sirius’ cousin, Draco was the Black family heir until tonight. That is rich…” she gave Harry an almost evil smile. “You are now heir to two ancient noble houses. Now you need my help more than ever, mister Potter-Black” They kept talking, not noticing the time. Daphne realized how close she was to him as she sat on his bed. Their hands touching as they talk. She was pleased with how hungry he was for knowledge, how his mind started making plans. “He really would fit well in Slytherin…” she thought. As the first rays of the sun entered the room, Daphne leaned close to Harry, thinking about all the time she had lost because of false assumptions and house rivalries. She put a hand on his chest and said in a whisper.
“You know, I am a girl who usually gets what I want, and right now Harry, I want another kiss before this night ends… and we have to come back to the real world.”
Harry moved forward, put one of his hands on the back of her neck and kissed her, another slow, deep kiss, and her tongue moving sensually in his mouth. “There is his Gryffindor side…”
When they parted Harry smiled. “If it wasn't for before, I would think you are after my money.”
She slapped his arm again. “I hate you!” And laughed, more than she ever dared to do at the school. Not a minute later madam Pomphrey entered the room and gave the two students a questioning look.
“Did you stay here all night dear?” The matron asked.
“Yes madam, Harry woke up and we ended up talking, we didn't notice the time passing.”
She gave her a knowing smile as she ran through some diagnostic spells on Harry. “You are released from classes this morning, Mr. Potter, but you are good to go if you want.”
He looked at Daphne. “I would like to go to class madam Pomphrey.”
“Sure honey, then I would like you to see something, to get yourself prepared,” as she handed them a copy of the Prophet.
Harry and Daphne read it. Daphne found it horrendous, but Harry just sighed.
“That... changes nothing… I have been through worse.” He said. “Can we eat something in here before classes, madam Pomphrey”?
“Of course, honey.” madam Pomphrey answered. The elves brought them some breakfast that Daphne and Harry ate together. Daphne realized how starved the boy was after the surge of magic and the day asleep. After breakfast, they said goodbye to Madam Pomphrey and went to class.
“OK Daphne” he said as they moved to potions. “I will need your help on this one, I don't want another skirmish with Malfoy.” She nodded at him.
As they walked down to the dungeons, without touching each other, Daphne noticed the looks people were giving them, especially Harry. “So, that is how it feels.” She thought. “They usually watch and measure me, but that is a whole another level. Some people are actually afraid of him.” She looked at the boy. He didn't even flinch, He looked used to it, and she thought how sad that was.
As they approach the classroom she could see the gathering of students, Slytherin on the right side and Gryffindor on the left and she clearly saw what he meant on that day a week ago. They were divided by an invisible line, drawn by other generations. She didn't even know the names of half of the lions, and she had been in class with them for more than four years now.
“Look if it isn't the Ice Queen and the Boy Who Cheated!!” They listened to the high pitch voice of Draco Malfoy.
“Well, that didn't take long.” She thought looking at Malfoy. He had his bandages off, but his nose looked shallow. She was ready to respond but Harry beat her to it.
“Seriously Malfoy, all your daddy could buy with his money was a third-grade insult?”
“Isn't it strange that he focuses on you so much?” Daphne continued, talking loudly to Harry, ignoring the blond boy. “Must be the lack of accomplishments of his own offspring. Maybe he does that because he wished for a son like you.”
“Of course, he couldn't even make the team on its own…” for Daphne's and Harry’s surprise, it was Blaise Zabini who said that. The tall Italian Slytherin moved forward in front of Draco. He was a way better seeker the Malfoy, and seized the opportunity to pay the boy back. “Imagine his shame having to buy his son’s place.”
“I don’t believe he even feels shame anymore.” finished Daphne, with a cold expression.
Draco Malfoy looked lost and angry, the Slytherin students were astonished, and the Gryffindors looked confused. There was a divide between the snakes, and people were starting to take sides. And Harry was in the middle of it. Only Hermione and Blaise smiled at them.
Daphne saw that Harry gave Hermione a strange look, and she nodded, communicating like only people who had been friends for so long could. She understands what they agreed on as soon as they entered the classroom. Daphne took her usual place, together with Tracy, and looked astonished as Harry sat down, in front of her, with Blaise Zabini.
...
The return to classes had been a blessing in disguise for Fleur. She could use her time in the carriage to think about all the things happening to her. On the first day of classes, amidst the congratulations she along with the other two champions received, she noticed that Harry didn't come to the great Hall for breakfast. For some reason that unsettled her, but classes were starting, and it was her last year, tournament or not. Later that day, the news came of her father winning the council vote and becoming the new French minister of magic. She felt a mixture of pride in her family, and sorrow, for not being there with them. Later that night, Madam Maxine arranged for Fleur to talk with her parents through the flue in the headmaster’s office, to congratulate them. She had many other things she wanted to talk about, Harry, his family connection with her, why they abandoned him and what she should do. But Dumbledore and Maxine didn't leave her alone. She decided to figure it out by herself.
Then, the next day, she finally saw Harry and she could see the way people were treating him. “Boy who cheated” was the word at the Ravenclaw table. She also noticed some hostility amongst some people within his own house. Hermione, Katie and the chubby boy seemed to be the only ones talking to him at breakfast. He tried to pretend he didn't care, but Fleur knew better.
Fleur wanted to go to him, tell him she didn't believed for a second that he cheated, to give him a hug, tell him the news about her father but didn't know what to say about the whole tournament business. Were they rivals now? When she saw his eyes, there was no sadness, only exhaustion… like an old man, she remembered Hermione saying, “sometimes I can see his light fading…”. He looked at her for a moment, and with a little smile, he got up and left.
She was ready to go after him when Regine showed her the Daily Prophet. She couldn't believe it. The paper started smoking in her hands and all the girls around her got subjected to a succession of French curses, “Screw the tournament, screw rivalry, I will not be like those horrible people” she thought. But she didn't see Harry all day, or the next.
People kept talking about the champions, all the hatred people had towards her before was now directed at him, the Slytherin blonde boy was actively campaigning against him, and Harry’s own isolation was not helping. She was getting restless, even Gabrielle couldn't lighten her mood.
The next day, she noticed only Hermione and the others had come down to lunch. She walked to the Gryffindor table and sat down besides the younger witch.
“'Hermione, where is Harry? Why hasn't he talked to me?” Fleur asked a little harder than she intended.
“He didn't tell me, I think he is afraid of you being angry at him… also…” Hermione looked around and leaned closer to her, whispering. “Today is the first day of the cycle. He doesn’t like to be around us…”
“Nonsense, what do you mean by being around us?” Fleur asked impatiently. Hermione bit her lips, there was a commanding tone on Fleur's voice that made difficult not to answer.
“There are some… persons, whose smells can get him” Hermione blushed furiously and didn't manage to finish.
“Where is he now?”
“On the way to the dungeons, to get a wolfsbane potion from professor Snape.”
Fleur stood. “Point me to the dungeons…” She had decided to sort this, one way or another.
Fleur wandered through the castle a bit, following Hermione's s directions. After a while she finally met Harry, coming out of the dungeons, with a vial in his hands. He looked scared to see her. Without a word, she pushed him to an empty classroom. “Why does this castle have so many unused rooms?” Fleur asked herself.
“Full moon or not, we are going to talk!” She said angrily, closing and silencing the door behind her, before turning to Harry with her arms crossed.
“Let me guess, Hermione told you…” Harry leaned against a table.
“Yes, she did.” She looked at his green eyes. “Listen 'ere, if you 'have a problem with me, you are going to talk with me! I know you better than this push me aside crap! If you don't want to be treated like a little boy, don't act like one!” Fleur was angry, but strangely, around Harry she could keep control, but she noticed he seemed a little uncomfortable. “Harry, is my allure bothering you?” She asked with a sigh, afraid of the same things happening again and again.
“No Fleur, I didn't even know what a veela was until the day after you arrive. It’s not you, I mean, it is, but it’s not your doing.” Fleur was confused. “It is your scent… it gets into me…” He took a deep breath, was he smelling her? “Also, I saw your eyes that night when you realized what happened, this tournament was yours, you were so happy to be chosen, so proud and I was afraid you hated me because some idiot is using the tournament to try and kill me again. I don't want to lose one of the few people I can talk to…”
“Idiot…”
“I am sorry, what?”
“You are an idiot if you think that Harry, I see what this school is doing to you. I would never turn my back on you.” She felt a little calmer now, talking to him again. “this school's staff failed to keep you safe, your relatives failed to give you a home, but I am not one who fails, Harry Potter. It is not pity…” she said as soon as he opened his mouth, silencing the young wizard. “I would not dare pity you, I can see what you could have been and what you've become and even feel a little jealous.” He was about to ask why, but refrained himself from it.
“Fleur, you must know how dangerous it is to be around me, how dangerous it can be and how alienating too. But I want to fix my life and myself, I want to find my own place in all of this, not the one they choose for me, so I will say this, I would never drag anyone into this shit with me, but if after knowing and seeing it all, you still want to try, I will never push you away… I will never do that to anyone anymore, never again. I am done being alone. So, it’s your choice. Just know that whatever you choose, I know you are more than a veela or the daughter of a politician. We are not the circumstances of our births.” He took a deep breath. “That sounded way better in my head…”
Fleur looked deep into the wolf's eyes, and was not afraid. She quickly closed the distance between then and gave him an embrace and he hugged her back. They stood there for several minutes, enjoying the feeling of each other. He was certainly smelling her, she realized. And she liked it.
“Fleur” he said still with her in his arms. “I owe you a butterbeer. Do you want to go to Hogsmeade with me?”
“Yes Harry, I would love to…”
Harry heard the voice in his head, the one he came to identify as the wolf, as his instincts. It never really used words; it was something subtler yet almost primal. It strongly manifested itself when Fleur embraced him, when he caught her scent, with one powerful feeling that could only be translated as...
“Equal.”
Thanx to my betas AWR and Master42, also a big thank you to my editor. I know first chapter are rough, i writed them more than four months ago and i am learning a lot with that experience, but as i got time and help, i am coming back and editing them too!
Thanx for reading, hope you have fun!
Chapter 07
Fleur didn't know what to do, all the excitement, all the pride, all the anticipation was gone now that all she held the broken young man in her arms. His aura had been so powerful, so damaged, that she could feel his pain, how he felt betrayed and lost. She could barely handle the emotions running through her as Harry sobbed at her shoulder, and she knew he endured it every day.
The surge of magic had been so powerful that Harry was totally expended. When the professors arrived, accompanying Hermione and Katie, the boy let out a deep sigh and passed out, his body still hot to the touch from all the magical energy that ran through it. Fleur noticed how sad he looked, even unconscious.
“My most sincere appreciation to you, mademoiselle Delacour” Dumbledore said as he levitated Harry with a flick of his wand. “You conducted this situation with all the grace and resolve we came to expect from someone of your position. Your father would be proud. Now, I need to conduct Mister Potter to the hospital ward for testing and rest, as this magical surge was indeed outstanding. But I am sure he will actually feel a lot better after all that emotional relief.”
Fleur didn't know what to think about the patronizing tone of the headmaster. Talking to her like an old fable book grandfather, filled her with suspicion and she could see Hermione had a similar reaction. But there was nothing she could do now, but watch Harry being taken away to the hospital wing.
Hermione turned to follow him, but Fleur held her by the arm.
“'Hermione, wait.” Fleur pleaded in a low voice. The younger witch bit her lips, clearly worried. “I need to show you something…”
“Fleur… I am sorry, but Harry…”
“It is about him.”
Hermione sighed and followed the French witch to the carriage, she probably knew there was nothing she could do now, besides letting the Matron do her job, and wait for Harry to wake. Fleur took her to her room and with a wave of her wand cast a drying spell on her clothes.
“Please 'Hermione, ‘have a seat.” Hermione sat down in one of the two beds in the room, while Fleur went to her trunk to look for something. She came back and sat at the brunette's side with a book on her hands. “I was planning to show this to 'Harry first. But clearly something ‘as happened that Sirius, Remus and my parents didn't tell me, or maybe they don't even know. 'Hermione, I want to help, and I am sure you know why he is broken. I know you don't ‘have any reason to trust me, so I want to show you this.”
Fleur handed her the photo book. Curiously Hermione opened it and the first magical photo she saw was the one with the Delacours and the Potters at a Christmas party. “This one is me.” the French which pointed to the beautiful little girl smiling brightly, holding the younger baby’s hand. “And this one is…”
“Harry…”
Hermione kept passing through the pages in awe, photo after photo of the Delacours, the Potters, Sirius, Remus and some other family. “Those are the Greengrass.” Fleur pointed noticing Hermione's curiosity. The witch was astonished seeing the families on Yule, at the beach, dancing, and sometimes with other families showing up. They were young and full of life. She smiled at little Fleur playing with babies Harry and Daphne on the sand as a loving Lily looked over them.
“That girl that kissed Harry today.” Hermione said to Fleur, who just looked at her curiously. “Daphne Greengrass.”
Fleur smiled a sad and tired smile.
“That is why you wrote to Harry?”
“At first yes, I needed to know if he hated us, or if he even remembered us. It seems ‘e doesn't even know about our families and I was confused. But then I realized I really liked to talk to him, ‘e became somewhat of a true friend along the way.”
Hermione closed the album and took a deep breath. “Right Fleur, this is going take time, I need you to listen, and if you don't want anything to do with us I will totally understand.” The French girl looked at her with resolve. “Harry didn't know about the magical world until he was eleven…” Fleur had an incredulous expression on her face.
For the next three hours, Fleur heard about all the events that had happened while Harry and Hermione had lived at Hogwarts. The mostly peaceful first year, when he found out about who he was and the philosopher stone, the second year, with the heir of Slytherin and the Chamber of Secrets problems and how the whole school suspected him. Fleur almost didn't believe the story with the basilisk. Hermione told her about how scared she was for Ginny’s life. Then came the third year, the dementors and Sirius Black and how Harry was forced to relieve his parent’s deaths again and again. Hesitantly, Hermione told her about Peter Pettigrew and Remus’s bite. At the end, Fleur was in tears thinking about how all this affected him. That was the reason he didn't feel safe.
“Fleur,” Hermione continued almost in a whisper. “There are some things that happened he never told me. Things that happened during the ten years he spent with the Dursleys and I think are still happening at some level. He has this annoying habit of keeping all the pain to himself.” Hermione was crying now. “He has no help! I have asked the professors, even the headmaster.” Fleur didn't know what to think of it, but she ended up holding Hermione in a hug. “He tries to act like nothing's wrong. But sometimes I can see his light fading. I thought Katie and I would be able to do it this year… we want to make him understand that he needs us as much as we need him.”
“Such loyalty” Fleur thought.
“You are a smart witch ‘Hermione, why do you think someone would put Harry's name in the Goblet?”
Hermione stopped sobbing and thought. “To make his death appear like an accident. Goodness, that put all the competitors at risk too, you…”
“Yes, I thought so. Thank you for sharing all this with me Hermione. I can see ‘e has not been a boy for a long time. But I need to think, and you need to rest. I will talk with you tomorrow.”
“Thank you for letting me cry on you, and sorry…” Hermione said, a little ashamed. Fleur just smiled at her.
After Hermione left, Fleur laid back on her bed, tears in her eyes. She had felt the connection with Harry, something in the back of her mind; like she had found something she had missed but didn't even know existed. At first, she was worried about him being two years younger, that he hated her and her family for abandoning him. Knowing what she knew now, she felt how shallow she was being, judging before knowing the facts, just like people did with her.
But was she brave enough to face that storm?
...
Albus Dumbledore watched as Dolores Umbridge sat heavily onto one of the less than comfortable chairs in front of his big desk. All dressed in pink and orange, she looked like a giant frog cupcake. The headmaster smiled at her.
“Good evening Dolores, May I offer you some lemon drops?"
“Cut out the chit chat headmaster, what is the reason you summoned me at this dreadful hour, specifically after those heated events.” She said in her high pitch voice without hiding her giggling.
Dumbledore closed his eyes, his head hurt; she had always been hard to handle, specifically since that messy deal about Harry Potter's papers 14 years ago. But she was too important of an inside agent at the ministry. Without her, many of his own laws securing his power over Hogwarts would have never seen the light; fortunately, her vision was always too narrow regarding blood status.
“Dolores my dear, May I ask why you thought it would a good idea to include young Harry's name in the tournament? Should I remind you of how delicate our situation can be?”
“I did it because from the moment I set foot on this school, I realized you had completely lost control over him!” She said, her voice making Dumbledore's head hurt even more. “His best friends are all muggleborn born or half-blooded, far from what we had planned for him. And he is even consorting with a half-breed! Delacour's little animal nonetheless! Your… desire for this boy has blinded you! He no longer serves our objectives in bringing about the Greater Good. Once he realizes his political status, he will undoubtedly hurt us!”
“Your little rant was indeed very elucidating about how your head works my child.” the headmaster dragged the word, making clear who was in charge. “But failed to answer my question.”
“The boy has outlived his purpose, but he is still famous, so why not give him a glorious death in the tournament? And we can get Delacour's daughter as a bonus. My sources on the French council are certain of his win tomorrow. Need I remind you what that man really stands for?"
“I know very well what said man believes he stands for, Madam, must I remind you that I faced men like him before you even walked these same school halls? No Dolores, I think it’s pity to see such a beautiful and prodigious young woman not living to her full potential, but can understand the need to remove her, but it is imperative that the boy live through it.”
“And why is that? The little half-blood prat is being nothing but trouble, just like his parents!”
“Dolores, the only thing that would make me happier than see the Potter line washed out, is to bring said ancient line back to the rightful ways, bringing them back towards the light. Although, that is not the reason. The boy has an important part to play in events yet to come”
“You are blind by desire!”
“Dolores Umbridge” Dumbledore stood, and project his aura; the woman had crossed all the limits of his patience, refusing to listen to reason. He knew better, he was the greatest wizard alive and people would listen to him, like it or not. “Must I remind you whom you are talking to? Who holds not only yours but also Fudge’s and Bagman’s jobs in his hands? Get out of my office; I need to ponder on what to do with this turn of events.”
Fearing the Headmaster’s rage, Dolores quickly got up and left the room, leaving Albus Dumbledore to his plans.
...
Harry saw the enormous snake sliding to his side; he was getting carried in the direction of an unknown manor like a baby by someone. The place looked old and abandoned, the mold eating up the walls, the floor dirty with years of dust layers. Once inside, he was laid on a big bed. Why was it so hard to move? Then, he heard a serpentine like voice hissing. “Call for Narcisa and her useless husband.” At this point Harry realized with a growing fear the voice was his own. “They need to get the right ingredients; it needs to be ready in time”
“Yes, my Lord" he heard, it was a voice that sent shivers up his spine. He woke with a start just as he saw the traitor's face in front of him.
He was feeling dizzy, and could barely see without his glasses in the dark. Madam Pomphrey came closer to him, waving her wand and said with a tired voice. “Here we are again Harry; two months may be a record for you. Nah! Don't try to get up; you are still weak Mr. Potter. Please take this potion and rest, my trainee will assist you.”
“This is new.” Harry thought as a gentle pair of hands helped him take the potion. Dizzy as he was, he barely recognized the blueberry scent.
“Daphne?” He whispered as he drifted back to sleep.
...
Ronald Weasley was walking alone through the grounds, heading for the quidditch field after declining a game of Exploding Snap with Seamus. For the first time he that he could recall, since starting Hogwarts, Ron wanted to be alone. He was feeling angry. How could his so called best mate humiliate him like that? And in front of the entire Gryffindor house? It was not enough for him to have everything he wanted? He had money, fame, was probably shagging Katie and Hermione and now had that French witch too? And what about Hermione, would she ever talk to him again? He did nothing wrong! Not even his brothers were talking to him now. Traitors, just after his ex-friend’s money and fame, he thought.
“Tough day Weasley?” Ron heard the last voice he would want to right now. The last thing he needed was a detention for breaking the little gits nose, again.
“Leave me the bloody hell alone Malfoy! Looking for another black eye?” He turned to see the blond boy behind him, next him was a strange looking slender woman wearing glasses and a notebook. She had a predatory smile on her face that sent shivers down Ronald’s back.
“Cool down Weasley, I came in peace.”
Ron looked at him in disbelief.
“Tough business last night wasn’t it. Being attacked like that in front of the whole school. Such a friend, this Potter, I knew it all along! I bring you an opportunity for pay back.” Draco stated as he pointed to the strange woman behind him. “My friend here wants to tell your side of the story. Maybe we can even get some of the prestige of your family back. Purebloods stick together.”
The woman stepped forward before Ron could say anything and extended her hand.
“Hello Ronald, my name is Rita Skeeter.”
...
After breakfast, Katie was worried that Harry hadn't showed up, and she made the quick trip to see him in the hospital wing. She found the boy laid in bed, still sleeping, his scars covered by the blanket, looking almost peaceful. Daphne was at his side, finishing the sorting of a lot of potions before taking the rest of the day off.
“He is going to be okay.” The Slytherin said, approaching Katie, with a reassuring smile almost never seen outside the hospital. “He is just drained. I will look after him tonight…”
Katie looked at her with surprise. “Thank you…”
Daphne sat at her side, Katie found it weird to see so much emotion, so different than the usual persona she presented to the school. She looked at Harry with real caring, her scent betraying the girl’s real emotions. Katie knew she was more worried than she showed. The ice queen was not really that cold after all.
“So…” Daphne moved her ice grey gaze from the boy to Katie, looking like her normal cold self now. But Katie knew better, the girl’s scent betrayed her nervousness. “If what people are saying, you and Harry have been… intimate the last few days…”
Katie gave her a knowing smile. Daphne rolled her eyes, and Katie caught a different scent coming from her now.
“OK… so you have seen his scars...And he is also a little too thin, even if fit, thank goodness for quidditch.”
“Not only quidditch…” Katie said remembering the stories he told her. “But yes, I see your point.”
“Something happens to him during the summers. How can someone as famous and as important as him get like that? Some of those scars are years old. How can his magical guardian allow that?” Katie looked at Daphne, who had returned her gaze to him, the tenderness back to her eyes.
“He is cute isn't he…” Katie said suddenly.
“What! Sorry… I mean… he is your boyfriend… and…” Katie laughed at the girl’s sudden awkwardness.
“He is not my boyfriend, don't worry. I don't own him or anything, he is too much for me to handle alone anyway…” both girls blushed at that. “Daphne, he is special, not that boy who lived shit special… and the magical world has been doing a crap job on him…” The Slytherin looked confused.
“Anyway.” Katie continued. “I need to find Hermione…”
“She came by earlier, with that French witch… said she would researching magical exhaustion and emotional accidental magic in the library…”
“Thanks…” Katie got up and approached Harry’s ear, whispering to him, making Daphne blush at the things she said to the young wizard, things she would do to him when he woke up. “Remember Harry, protect the pack…” she finished with a soft kiss on his cheek.
She winked at Daphne and left the hospital wing to look for Hermione. On the way she thought about Fleur, and how she had handled Harry's outburst, how his magic didn't hurt her as she approached and embraced him. Maybe she was wrong, she thought his equal would be Hermione, but maybe it was the French witch. Katie only knew that wasn't her position to take, she didn't like to lead.
As expected, Katie found Hermione in the library, alone at the back table.
“Hello Hermione…” Katie greeted as she approached and sat down on the chair in front of the other witch.
“Hi Katie… did you stop by to see Harry?”
“Yea. Sleeping.”
“I think he will wake up tomorrow, a normal wizard would take a couple more days, but you and I both know that is not the case.”
“About that… Hermione, I am also…”
“I know, I figured it out a couple days before you and Harry started doing whatever it is that you have been doing… what? Smartest witch blab blab blab…” both girls had a laugh.
“Hermione…” Katie thought on how to approach this, and decided to be the most direct possible, Hermione would listen and understand, she hoped. “Harry needs a pack… he is powerful, his Wolf is like nothing I ever seen, I am afraid it may consume him if he is not helped… the last time something like that happened with a powerful wizard, it was not pretty. You may know the stories about Fenrir Greyback” Hermione nodded. “Let me assure you that what is known is only the tip of his evil… Harry is different though… his protective instincts are powerful. That is the way we can get to him, that we can help him. We have to make him come to terms with his inner wolf and accept his pack…”
“He needs other werewolves?”
“A pack is not necessarily made of just werewolves, it’s more like and extended family bound by love.”
“I didn't know werewolves had such a developed culture like that. But again, they fail to teach many things to us here.” Hermione raised an eyebrow.
“We keep it away from other wizards, as they are not a paragon of tolerance as you may have noticed.”
“I did. You seem to know a lot.”
“Family tradition.” the girl quickly answered and continued. “A pack shares the emotional load of its members, and helps direct the instincts of the Alpha in the right direction. It gives him propose and identity, a place to stay and a place to be. The pack needs to guide the Alpha as much as they need him for guidance…”
“Beautiful words…”
“Heh, my grandfather told me that when I was ten.”
“So, we need to find him a pack of some sort?”
“This kind of thing cannot be forced, and I understand Harry is fed up with people deciding things for him.”
“So, there is nothing we can do?”
“Hermione, he has already chosen his pack…”
...
Fleur was irritated. She had little sleep and the people glaring at her were not helping her mood. Harry was still asleep, and she was craving talking to him. Damn these people looking! Who do they think they are? English people were turning out to be ruder than she had ever imagined. One day in Scotland and her life was already turned upside down. And the only one who cared was in a hospital bed because some monster wanted to take control of his life. And she hated being followed.
She stopped outside of the great Hall, the autumn wind moving through her hair, she suddenly turned around with a swift movement only possible by years of dueling practice and caught the glare of the red haired young girl from the day before.
“It is not polite to follow otter people, little girl.” Fleur gave her an evil look, in the hopes of the girl going away. To her surprise the girl didn't back down as she expected, quite the contrary she step forward with a fierce expression that amused the French witch.
“What did you do to Harry?” She asked in an accusatory tone, her voice full of venom and jealousy.
That was it. To Fleur that was enough. She would not stand been accused of hurting the only person of this forsaken school that cared for her. The person she only tried to help, especially by a jealous little girl.
“And who are you little girl?” Fleur felt her veela nature taking over her emotions. “Are you his girlfriend?”
The girl seemed startled by the question, Fleur felt even angrier at this, people around them started looking and she could feel the warmth building up on the point of her fingers.
“That’s what I thought, you are just a little stalker” the veela continued, aiming to hurt now.” Tell me, you stalk Harry too?” Fleur was feeling like something was burning inside her. She approached the girl and talked in a low tone. “I didn't do anything to him. But when I do, girl, I assure you he is going to like it!”
There were tears on the girl's face, but they were angry ones. With a decided move the girl turned around and stomped away.
“Damn, you are an evil bitch” someone said in French. Fleur turned fuming to look where the voice was. Regine was standing behind her, holding her hands in the air. “She really got you angry, if I didn't know better, I would think she had attacked Gabby.”
Fleur started to calm down. She regained control of her emotions and the fire subsided. It was true; the only other times she got that angry was when someone attacked her family. She was not one to lose control of her veela nature like that.
“Poor girl.” Fleur said, a little sad. “She didn't deserve it…I don't know why I got so upset…”
“Really? Well, damage is done. Come, let's find Gabby and grab some lunch.”
...
Harry woke in the dark but sensed familiar feeling sheets of the infirmary. His vision was blurred, but the smell of blueberries let him know that he was not alone. He felt around searching for his glasses and wand, but not finding them.
“Here”, He heard Daphne's voice as she gently placed the glasses on his face. After a second the vision of her striking angular face and black midnight hair focused in front of him. “Better?” She asked softly.
“Yes, a lot, thank you.” He said, suddenly very conscious of her proximity. “What time is it?” He asked, glad that the dim light of the room concealed his blushing face. She was sitting on his bed, beside him, using a white robe, much like the one the matron used although looking much better. Her hands over her lap as her straight hair ran over her shoulders and back.
“One in the Morning… you have been out the entire day, Hermione, Ginevra, Fleur and Katie all came to see you. Katie said some really dirty things she was going to do to you once you awoke,” She finished with a teasing smile that made Harry blush even more, but with a silly smile on his face.
“Wow… I guess I outdid myself this time… wait, what are you doing here so late?”
“I am apprenticing with madam Pomphrey, I want to be a healer like mom when I finish school…” she answered with a kind look, totally different from the one he had learned to expect from her. It made her even more beautiful, harry thought.
“That is great, but I don't think you had to stay with me this late. I mean, I really appreciate it, but I didn't expect that with your… fame.” “Great Potter, put your foot in your mouth talking to the girl you crushed on since day one…” he thought.
“My facade is a way to protect myself and my sister, Harry; here at the hospital wing I don't need it…” she said before her voice turning cold again. “But I can still hex you into oblivion.” she giggled, before turning serious to him again. “I… I wanted to see you… you mutter in your sleep…”
“Sorry.” He said with shame.
“Some of the things you said are really scary…” she said with a shiver. “especially about Tom and Vernon, whoever they are… also Harry, I am sorry…”
“Why?” Harry felt he cannot be more ashamed than he already was.
She got a little closer to him, her dark straight hair falling over her shoulders and breasts and Harry silent cursed both his hormones and the wolf. Her scent was intoxicating, and he hope she didn't notice his arousal.
“I always thought you had forsaken your lineage because you were weak,” she said looking deep into his emerald eyes, confusion and guilt on her face. “That you don't acted proud of who you or your parents were because you didn't like the wizard blood in you. But I can see now it is a lot more complicated than that, right?” He gulped. “Seems like someone beat the pride out of you…”
“You could say that…” He answered after a while, turning away in shame from her gaze. “I want to change Daphne. I really do… but every time I think I can, some shit brings me back to the mud.” He was becoming angry again now. “I don't even know who I am anymore. Or who I want to be!” his hands became closed in fists.
She placed her hands softly on Harry's own.
“Sorry.” He said. “It’s not fair dumping that on you, we barely know each other, even though I want to change that?”
“There are the apologies again, it really doesn't suit you Harry.” She said in a commanding tone. “Did you know we meet before Hogwarts?” He looked at her with confusion. “Our parents were good friends. My mother went to school with yours, and our fathers were political allies. I spent my first Yule at your parent’s house.”
“Wow… why does everyone know more about my family than I do?”
“That, Mister Potter, is a really good question. It seems like someone wanted to keep you in the dark…”
“I don't know what to do.” He buried his head on the pillow behind him, looking at the ceiling.
She leaned closer to him. “I know two Harry Potters.” He could feel her breath, her blueberry scent driving him mad. “One is a shy boy, who keeps apologizing for things out of his control and makes me angry…” Her thumbs started making circle motions on his hands. “The other devised a plan to teach people how to defend themselves, saved my sister from a monster and was not afraid to make a stand in front of the Slytherin table, that one is not a boy, that one I have had a crush since the second year... that one I could fall for…”
She leaned and gave him a kiss, her smell inebriated him, and without thinking he kissed her back. She parted her mouth as an invitation, and his tongue met hers. It was different from Katie. he felt like his whole body responded to it, as their tongues caressed each other, their lips softly touching. It was deep, sensual, as each one took time to explore the other’s mouth, her taste driving Harry’s mind blank.
When they parted, she was still holding his hand with force, taking quick breaths.
“Sorry…” she said, blushing.
“You lecture me about apologizing and then say you're sorry.” He smiled at her, who returned an evil glare at him. “For once, I am not sorry.” She probably could tell by his silly smile.
“Prat!” She said slapping him on the shoulder. Daphne recomposed herself and her expression became a little colder.
“Harry, my parents have returned from France today and sent me an owl. Along with their letter, there was one other for you…”
“For me?”
“Here” She extended him the parchment.
“Lumos,” He said, and Daphne noted that his wand was still on the table beside the bed, a tiny ball of light appeared next to his head, she was astonished.
Harry couldn't believe what he was reading, and Daphne caught his weird expression.
“What?”
“Sirius Black just adopted me!”
HPHPHP
The boy who cheated!
The new Triwizard tournament has barely started and it is already brimming with irregularities. After the weird announcement done by Barty Crouch about a fourth champion chosen for the competition, none other than Harry Potter, this intrepid reporter ventured onto Hogwarts School of Magic grounds to bring you more information about this incredible story.
It was found out, that not only the Boy Who Lived name came out of the Goblet of Fire, giving Hogwarts an extra champion, thus creating a big disadvantage to the Foreign schools, but also that a great tumult had upset the choosing ceremony.
No one seems to know how Harry Potter’s name ended up in the Goblet of Fire or what kind of spells he used to circumnavigate the protections cast upon the artifact. Some students suspect the use of dark arts given the boy’s record of parselmouth and the rampage that followed the nomination.
“Potter is out of control, not even a week ago he broke my nose without any provocation!” Revealed Draco Malfoy (15) a beautiful young man, heir to a great fortune that now has his face covered in bandages.
After the nomination, it is said that Harry Potter came out of the room in a hurry, where he was caught cheating and on his way out of the castle assaulted a fellow student. Then proceed to a rampant of raw magic that endangered many. Even his own house colleagues are afraid. “He is getting distant from everyone and has no friends, he can’t stand not being the center of attention. I am afraid he may even put others in danger because of it” said a Gryffindor student who prefers to remain anonymous.
For more on this see page 12.
Rita Skeeter.
...
Daphne stayed awake with Harry discussing about the ramifications of the adoption news. Harry had told her about his last year, how he discovered that Sirius was innocent, and that Peter Pettigrew had betrayed his parents, then about the escape of Remus and Sirius, as his godfather was still accused of the crimes he did not committed.
They deduced that Daphne’s father, Artus, knew it all and had been in contact with Sirius in France, which would explain the first of Fleur's letters. The Delacours, Daphne explained to Harry, were a prominent and ancient family, and had been in business with the Greengrass family for many generations. They had grown distant after the war ended, but their connections still ran deep. The family head, Fleur's father, was probably going to be the next French minister of magic. Then they discussed the notification itself.
“For starters, if there is no conviction to him, you automatically became the heir of the Black family. That will block Narcisa Malfoy's access to the Black fortune! That is huge!” Daphne said looking at the official ministry documents with an understanding gaze.
“Narcisa Malfoy?” Harry asked.
“She is Sirius’ cousin, Draco was the Black family heir until tonight. That is rich…” she gave Harry an almost evil smile. “You are now heir to two ancient noble houses. Now you need my help more than ever, mister Potter-Black” They kept talking, not noticing the time. Daphne realized how close she was to him as she sat on his bed. Their hands touching as they talk. She was pleased with how hungry he was for knowledge, how his mind started making plans. “He really would fit well in Slytherin…” she thought. As the first rays of the sun entered the room, Daphne leaned close to Harry, thinking about all the time she had lost because of false assumptions and house rivalries. She put a hand on his chest and said in a whisper.
“You know, I am a girl who usually gets what I want, and right now Harry, I want another kiss before this night ends… and we have to come back to the real world.”
Harry moved forward, put one of his hands on the back of her neck and kissed her, another slow, deep kiss, and her tongue moving sensually in his mouth. “There is his Gryffindor side…”
When they parted Harry smiled. “If it wasn't for before, I would think you are after my money.”
She slapped his arm again. “I hate you!” And laughed, more than she ever dared to do at the school. Not a minute later madam Pomphrey entered the room and gave the two students a questioning look.
“Did you stay here all night dear?” The matron asked.
“Yes madam, Harry woke up and we ended up talking, we didn't notice the time passing.”
She gave her a knowing smile as she ran through some diagnostic spells on Harry. “You are released from classes this morning, Mr. Potter, but you are good to go if you want.”
He looked at Daphne. “I would like to go to class madam Pomphrey.”
“Sure honey, then I would like you to see something, to get yourself prepared,” as she handed them a copy of the Prophet.
Harry and Daphne read it. Daphne found it horrendous, but Harry just sighed.
“That... changes nothing… I have been through worse.” He said. “Can we eat something in here before classes, madam Pomphrey”?
“Of course, honey.” madam Pomphrey answered. The elves brought them some breakfast that Daphne and Harry ate together. Daphne realized how starved the boy was after the surge of magic and the day asleep. After breakfast, they said goodbye to Madam Pomphrey and went to class.
“OK Daphne” he said as they moved to potions. “I will need your help on this one, I don't want another skirmish with Malfoy.” She nodded at him.
As they walked down to the dungeons, without touching each other, Daphne noticed the looks people were giving them, especially Harry. “So, that is how it feels.” She thought. “They usually watch and measure me, but that is a whole another level. Some people are actually afraid of him.” She looked at the boy. He didn't even flinch, He looked used to it, and she thought how sad that was.
As they approach the classroom she could see the gathering of students, Slytherin on the right side and Gryffindor on the left and she clearly saw what he meant on that day a week ago. They were divided by an invisible line, drawn by other generations. She didn't even know the names of half of the lions, and she had been in class with them for more than four years now.
“Look if it isn't the Ice Queen and the Boy Who Cheated!!” They listened to the high pitch voice of Draco Malfoy.
“Well, that didn't take long.” She thought looking at Malfoy. He had his bandages off, but his nose looked shallow. She was ready to respond but Harry beat her to it.
“Seriously Malfoy, all your daddy could buy with his money was a third-grade insult?”
“Isn't it strange that he focuses on you so much?” Daphne continued, talking loudly to Harry, ignoring the blond boy. “Must be the lack of accomplishments of his own offspring. Maybe he does that because he wished for a son like you.”
“Of course, he couldn't even make the team on its own…” for Daphne's and Harry’s surprise, it was Blaise Zabini who said that. The tall Italian Slytherin moved forward in front of Draco. He was a way better seeker the Malfoy, and seized the opportunity to pay the boy back. “Imagine his shame having to buy his son’s place.”
“I don’t believe he even feels shame anymore.” finished Daphne, with a cold expression.
Draco Malfoy looked lost and angry, the Slytherin students were astonished, and the Gryffindors looked confused. There was a divide between the snakes, and people were starting to take sides. And Harry was in the middle of it. Only Hermione and Blaise smiled at them.
Daphne saw that Harry gave Hermione a strange look, and she nodded, communicating like only people who had been friends for so long could. She understands what they agreed on as soon as they entered the classroom. Daphne took her usual place, together with Tracy, and looked astonished as Harry sat down, in front of her, with Blaise Zabini.
...
The return to classes had been a blessing in disguise for Fleur. She could use her time in the carriage to think about all the things happening to her. On the first day of classes, amidst the congratulations she along with the other two champions received, she noticed that Harry didn't come to the great Hall for breakfast. For some reason that unsettled her, but classes were starting, and it was her last year, tournament or not. Later that day, the news came of her father winning the council vote and becoming the new French minister of magic. She felt a mixture of pride in her family, and sorrow, for not being there with them. Later that night, Madam Maxine arranged for Fleur to talk with her parents through the flue in the headmaster’s office, to congratulate them. She had many other things she wanted to talk about, Harry, his family connection with her, why they abandoned him and what she should do. But Dumbledore and Maxine didn't leave her alone. She decided to figure it out by herself.
Then, the next day, she finally saw Harry and she could see the way people were treating him. “Boy who cheated” was the word at the Ravenclaw table. She also noticed some hostility amongst some people within his own house. Hermione, Katie and the chubby boy seemed to be the only ones talking to him at breakfast. He tried to pretend he didn't care, but Fleur knew better.
Fleur wanted to go to him, tell him she didn't believed for a second that he cheated, to give him a hug, tell him the news about her father but didn't know what to say about the whole tournament business. Were they rivals now? When she saw his eyes, there was no sadness, only exhaustion… like an old man, she remembered Hermione saying, “sometimes I can see his light fading…”. He looked at her for a moment, and with a little smile, he got up and left.
She was ready to go after him when Regine showed her the Daily Prophet. She couldn't believe it. The paper started smoking in her hands and all the girls around her got subjected to a succession of French curses, “Screw the tournament, screw rivalry, I will not be like those horrible people” she thought. But she didn't see Harry all day, or the next.
People kept talking about the champions, all the hatred people had towards her before was now directed at him, the Slytherin blonde boy was actively campaigning against him, and Harry’s own isolation was not helping. She was getting restless, even Gabrielle couldn't lighten her mood.
The next day, she noticed only Hermione and the others had come down to lunch. She walked to the Gryffindor table and sat down besides the younger witch.
“'Hermione, where is Harry? Why hasn't he talked to me?” Fleur asked a little harder than she intended.
“He didn't tell me, I think he is afraid of you being angry at him… also…” Hermione looked around and leaned closer to her, whispering. “Today is the first day of the cycle. He doesn’t like to be around us…”
“Nonsense, what do you mean by being around us?” Fleur asked impatiently. Hermione bit her lips, there was a commanding tone on Fleur's voice that made difficult not to answer.
“There are some… persons, whose smells can get him” Hermione blushed furiously and didn't manage to finish.
“Where is he now?”
“On the way to the dungeons, to get a wolfsbane potion from professor Snape.”
Fleur stood. “Point me to the dungeons…” She had decided to sort this, one way or another.
Fleur wandered through the castle a bit, following Hermione's s directions. After a while she finally met Harry, coming out of the dungeons, with a vial in his hands. He looked scared to see her. Without a word, she pushed him to an empty classroom. “Why does this castle have so many unused rooms?” Fleur asked herself.
“Full moon or not, we are going to talk!” She said angrily, closing and silencing the door behind her, before turning to Harry with her arms crossed.
“Let me guess, Hermione told you…” Harry leaned against a table.
“Yes, she did.” She looked at his green eyes. “Listen 'ere, if you 'have a problem with me, you are going to talk with me! I know you better than this push me aside crap! If you don't want to be treated like a little boy, don't act like one!” Fleur was angry, but strangely, around Harry she could keep control, but she noticed he seemed a little uncomfortable. “Harry, is my allure bothering you?” She asked with a sigh, afraid of the same things happening again and again.
“No Fleur, I didn't even know what a veela was until the day after you arrive. It’s not you, I mean, it is, but it’s not your doing.” Fleur was confused. “It is your scent… it gets into me…” He took a deep breath, was he smelling her? “Also, I saw your eyes that night when you realized what happened, this tournament was yours, you were so happy to be chosen, so proud and I was afraid you hated me because some idiot is using the tournament to try and kill me again. I don't want to lose one of the few people I can talk to…”
“Idiot…”
“I am sorry, what?”
“You are an idiot if you think that Harry, I see what this school is doing to you. I would never turn my back on you.” She felt a little calmer now, talking to him again. “this school's staff failed to keep you safe, your relatives failed to give you a home, but I am not one who fails, Harry Potter. It is not pity…” she said as soon as he opened his mouth, silencing the young wizard. “I would not dare pity you, I can see what you could have been and what you've become and even feel a little jealous.” He was about to ask why, but refrained himself from it.
“Fleur, you must know how dangerous it is to be around me, how dangerous it can be and how alienating too. But I want to fix my life and myself, I want to find my own place in all of this, not the one they choose for me, so I will say this, I would never drag anyone into this shit with me, but if after knowing and seeing it all, you still want to try, I will never push you away… I will never do that to anyone anymore, never again. I am done being alone. So, it’s your choice. Just know that whatever you choose, I know you are more than a veela or the daughter of a politician. We are not the circumstances of our births.” He took a deep breath. “That sounded way better in my head…”
Fleur looked deep into the wolf's eyes, and was not afraid. She quickly closed the distance between then and gave him an embrace and he hugged her back. They stood there for several minutes, enjoying the feeling of each other. He was certainly smelling her, she realized. And she liked it.
“Fleur” he said still with her in his arms. “I owe you a butterbeer. Do you want to go to Hogsmeade with me?”
“Yes Harry, I would love to…”
Harry heard the voice in his head, the one he came to identify as the wolf, as his instincts. It never really used words; it was something subtler yet almost primal. It strongly manifested itself when Fleur embraced him, when he caught her scent, with one powerful feeling that could only be translated as...
“Equal.”
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