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Chapter 61 - Friends Reunited

Dimension: 563 - Earth
Date: 1st September 2001 AD
Country: Britain - Scotland
Location: Hogwarts - Dumbledore's Office
Time: Evening

Fleur grinned as Harry walked out of the office victoriously.

Turning back to the Headmaster, she and the rest of the new Professor's waited for him to speak.

"I will come back to the subject of Mr Potter later; right now I wish to welcome you all to the Hogwarts Staff or in one case welcome back."

Remus gave him a nod, though it was evident that the Werewolf was not overly pleased by the Headmasters attempt to separate Harry from someone he obviously cared for.

"As you are of course aware we are currently at war with Voldemort which is one of the reasons why I took you all on and started your classes, your lessons are all either designed to strengthen bonds with other wizards or Magical creatures or are designed to aid in self defence, both will be needed in the coming war and I want my students to be able to count on each other and be able to protect themselves."

"If they aren't able to defend themselves after being taught by three very good duellists, one of whom was a Duelling and Triwizard Champion, a level two Auror, a Duelling Master, a Muggle Defence expert and a Holy Knight they never will." Replied Adam.

"Quite." Agreed Remus, turning to Dumbledore "If anyone can teach them it is us."

"That is my hope." Smiled Dumbledore "Now can I request that Professors Delacour and Fontaine leave us please, I need to talk to the rest of you."
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Dimension: 563 - Earth
Date: 1st September 2001 AD
Country: Britain - Scotland
Location: Hogwarts - Gryffindor Common Room
Time: Evening

Hermione, Ron, Ginny and Neville were impatiently awaiting Harry's arrival in the Common Room; Hermione and Ginny were pacing quickly while Ron and Neville fidgeted in two of the arm chairs, the rest of the room was deserted, everyone else having gone to bed after a bit of nudging from Prefects Hermione and Ron.

When the portal swung open and Harry stepped through he was immediately bombarded by questions.

"How did you do it?"

"Where have you been?"

"What happened?"

"Where have all these muscles come from?"

"You can't Apparate inside of Hogwarts."

"STOP." He called loudly, making them all jump "Let us sit down then I will answer your questions one at a time."

Harry moved over to one of the arm chairs and settled in.

"Ok, one at a time."

"You can't Apparate through the wards." Began Hermione.

"No you can't." agreed Harry.

"So how did you do it?" asked Neville.

"I didn't," he replied "I Apparated from just inside the grounds which you can do as you don't pass through the wards, Adam masked my magical signature as we passed through the wards, I then appeared into the hall and Fawkes created the effects."

"Ok, what happened with Dumbledore?" said Ginny, being the only one to actually know where he was and who he was with she didn't ask about this summer.

"I told him in no uncertain terms that I was not going to be blindly following him from now on and I scared Snape away from trying to access my mind again."

"What did you do to him in the Great Hall?" asked Ron.

"I let him enter my mind and then shut him inside my memories of Voldemort." Neville and Ron tried their hardest not to flinch.

"Where did you learn such advanced Occlumency?" asked Neville.

"I was taught this summer."

"Where have you been all summer?" asked Hermione.

"I've been staying with April."

"And who is April?" asked Hermione, wanting him to get to the point and stop beating around the bush.

At that moment the portal swung open and a pair of blond Veela stepped through.

Harry smiled before getting up and walking over to Fleur and kissing her deeply.

How is it going Arry?

Ok so far, but we will have to see how they react to this.

Slowly separating, Harry kept an arm around Fleur's waist while turning to his friends.

Ginny unsurprisingly was not looking shocked, in fact she was not looking at them at all.

Neville and Hermione were sitting stunned, their mouths hanging slightly open.

Ron was Harry's biggest worry, he could see him clenching his fists and gritting his teeth behind his lips, but much to Harry's surprise he was the first to speak.

"Congratulations Harry." He said stiffly causing all heads to turn to him in astonishment.

"Thanks Ron." Replied Harry earning a slightly stiff nod from Ron, who a little too calmly stood and walked up the stairs to their dormitory to a slightly hurt look from Hermione.

"You've been staying with Fl....Professor Delacour." Asked Hermione, blinking away the tears that threatened.

"Ever since she rescued me from the Dursley's."

"What did the Dursley's do this time?" asked Hermione.

"They beat him and left him to die while he suffered from Wizarding Flu."

"What!!" exclaimed Neville, while Hermione gasped and went very pale.

"He would have been dead within days if we hadn't gone and rescued him."

"Oh God Harry," cried Hermione, going over to him and pulling him into a tight hug "You've got to stop getting into life threatening situation."

"I assure you Hermione; I don't do it on purpose."

As Hermione disengaged she then, much to the surprise of the rest of the room, moved to Fleur and hugged her.

"Thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you....for saving his life."

"Err....You are welcome Ermione." Said Fleur uncertainly, more surprised than anyone by the brunette's behaviour.

Hermione then seemed to realise what she had just done, jumping back she began t o stutter while blushing furiously.

"I....er....I'm sorry Professor, I...."

"Don't worry Ermione, I completely understand, and remember you can call me Fleur when we are not in class."

"Yes Pro....Fleur."

"Shall we sit down?" Smiled Colette, guiding an embarrassed Hermione back to the sofa while Harry returned to his chair, Fleur seating herself comfortably in his lap.

"Right, where were we?"

"How long have you been together?" asked Neville.

"Real time or actual time?" asked Colette.

"Real ti...." began Hermione before she caught on "You've been using a time turner haven't you."

"To train yes, we have been doing seven or eight repeats of every day."

"Seven or eight that's....that's....Holy cricket."

Harry smiled widely.

"I haven't heard you say that since the day we met on the train."

"Over two hundred and fifty days, no wonder you look so comfortable together."

"Holy Merlin!" Exclaimed Neville.

"Ron, don't swear." Hermione chastised, before realising her mistake, shaking her head and turning to Neville "Sorry Neville, it was an automatic reaction, though you still shouldn't swear."

"What were you training at all that time?" asked Ginny.

"Duelling, Occlumency, a few languages and hand to hand fighting, among other things."

"What languages?" asked Hermione.

"French, German and a little Bulgarian."

"Really?" she asked surprised before switching, much to everyone's astonishment, to French "How well do you know the language?"

Harry's eyes widen slightly before replying in the same language.

"Let me just say that I spoke barely any English after I learnt the language and that can't have been more than two real weeks after we started time jumping."

"How did you get a Time Turner anyway?"

"My father is a member of the French Council of Power," explained Fleur, smiling "There are not many things that he can not get a hold of."

"How did you manage to do that many repeats per day?" continued Hermione.

"The Chateau is large enough to allow us to work and sleep in different rooms everyday," replied Fleur "It almost became more difficult when Arry was too much of a gentleman and tried to prevent us from sleeping in the same bed."

Hermione, Neville and Harry blushed at the comment, while Ginny tried her best not to cry. Colette was the only one to observe her reaction.

"Moving on," coughed Harry turning back to the group "Next question?"

He waited for someone to say something, but all they gave him was perplexed looks.

"What?"

"Antlers," grinned Colette "They can't understand you."

"What," he asked before realising and switching back to English "Sorry, I've got so used to speaking French it's become automatic, I forgot that not everyone speaks the language, next question?"

"Is there anything else we need to know?" asked Neville, his tone made it sound like he could not take many more of his surprises.

"Just four things that I can think of, I am your new Duelling Master, I have been teaching duelling at Beauxbatons all summer and Fleur and I are going to be together for most of the time."

There was utter silence for several seconds before Neville asked.

"You're Professor Radcliffe?"

"Yes."

"And Dumbledore knows of this?"

"He does now."

"And he's still going to let you teach?"

"He hasn't got any choice; Daniel Radcliffe is a legal second identity, as verified by the French Ministry of Magic and he can't legally fire me."

"Holy Merlin," exclaimed Hermione as she worked out the last bit of Harry's statement "You're mated aren't you?"
________________________________________________________________________

Ginny deflated when Harry and phlegm nodded their response.

Mated.

MATED

How was she supposed to get him away from her now, she didn't know if her plan would even work now that they were mated.

She prayed it would, she would not lose him now.
________________________________________________________________________

"Mated?" asked Neville.

"Mating joins them together," explained Hermione "They're souls are bound together, as is their magic. They can't be apart for too long and they can hear each others thoughts, feel what the other is feeling and even access each others memories....it's the strongest type of magical bond possible, it's their greatest strength and greatest weakness."

Harry turned to Fleur and Colette, smiling.

"I told you she was good."

"You did." Smiled Fleur "But you have yet to show them your fourth point."

"Oh yes," smiled Harry "Everyone close your eyes, you too Colette, you have not seen this yet."

Hermione gave him a quizzical look before following the others lead and closing her eyes.

Harry carefully lifted Fleur off him and put her back down in the seat after he had vacated it. He moved to the centre of the room and focused on the change.

He felt his limbs lengthen; his bones change shape, his organs rearrange and the massive increasing mass above his head.

Finishing the transformation he moved right in front of Hermione, less than a foot from her.

"You can look now." Called Fleur with a smirk as the others looked.

Harry didn't think he had ever seen Hermione move so fast as she jumped back in shock.

Neville, Ginny and Colette had much more controlled reactions at seeing a large stag standing proudly in front of them.

"Harry?" asked Hermione, still slightly shocked by the surprise she had just had. After all, it's not everyday you open your eyes and see a stag directly in front of you "Is, is that you?"

Harry nodded, careful not to hit Hermione with his antlers.

"You didn't tell me you had completed the transformation." Smiled Colette as she dropped down beside him and began to stroke him before finishing her statement with one of her usual innuendoes "And what a large buck you are two."

"Wow, Harry." Said Ginny, approaching him and feeling his coat "This is incredible."

"You mastered Animagus transformation in under a year." Exclaimed Hermione running her hands up his antlers. "This is wonderful Harry! Are you registered?"

"With the French Ministry." Replied Fleur.

Thinking they had seen enough for the time being he began to change back, the others moving away as he did.

Before he got a chance to say anything, Fleur walked over to him.

"Now go and talk to Ron while I have a talk with your friends."

Colette, taking the hint, quietly slipped out, while Harry gave Fleur a kiss.

"Go easy on them." Harry smiled jokingly as he climbed up the stairs towards the sixth year boy's dormitory, mentally thanking Fleur for putting herself on the spot in front of his friends.

As soon as Harry disappeared at the top of the staircase Fleur turned to Hermione and the others. However, before she could speak, Ginny got up and walked out of the portal, not giving anyone a chance to say anything.

"What's wrong with Ginny?" asked Neville.

"She doesn't want to hear what I have to say," explained Fleur before turning to the others "I'm sure you have questions?"

"Why did you rescue him after Dumbledore told the O....told you not to?" asked Hermione.

"Because I care for Arry and I was worried about him, even if he was just grieving it could not be healthy for him to be left with those orrid people."

"How did you convince Harry to mate with you?" continued Hermione.

This was the question that Fleur had been dreading, but she was not about to cower out now, she needed to be on good terms with Harry's friends or life would be very difficult for her mate.

"I didn't," she said shyly "I gave him int after int that I was interested in him and he gave me more than a few letting me know that he was also interested, but when he finally gave in and kissed me he acted as though I would remove his ability to reproduce for even daring to touch me and ran away. We were out for a meal at the time. I ran after him but I came across another man first, he wanted to....he tried to...." she attempted to speak, but her voice died in her throat as she tried to explain.

All those present seemed to realise what she meant as Hermione was shocked enough to actually move over next to Fleur and give her another hug, letting Fleur recover.

"Thank you Eermione." She said quietly before sitting up and drying her eyes with a short burst of Veela power, it was a useful aspect of her power.

As Hermione returned to her seat Fleur continued.

"He managed to bind my hands but Arry arrived and stopped him, suffering another beating in the process, we portkeyed back home and I decided to show Arry my feelings for him but when I tried he said no, saying it was too dangerous, saying that everyone he cared about got hurt and the he couldn't lose anyone else. I was desperate he was denying both of us our feelings for fear of my and my families safety, I had to prove to him, I had to show him how I felt, I....I mated with him without his consent." She said in shame.

"You....you...." gasped Hermione "You....raped him."

Fleur flinched at the word.

"Effectively....yes," she said ashamed, before raising her head, tears streaming down her face "I could think of no other way, I had to show him, I had to make him realise how much I felt for him and that I would not let him deny our feelings to try to protect me from a danger I was already very well aware of."
________________________________________________________________________

They sat in silence for several minutes, Hermione had wanted to be angry, she wanted to be furious at Fleur for what she had done to Harry, but seeing such an emotional response from her had stopped her anger dead in its tracks.

"You really do care about him don't you?" said Neville.

Fleur nodded vigorously, wiping the tears from her face and restoring her image with another short blast of Veela power.

"I'm sorry," she said softly, regaining her composure though she was still rather upset "I'm not usually this emotional, I know what I did was wrong and I still feel guilty for what I did. But Harry forgave me when I told him what I had done and finally admitted his feelings for me. I know what I did was wrong, but in the end it was the right thing to do."

They sat in silence for several minutes before Hermione finally spoke.

"It was the right thing to do."

Fleur looked at her surprised, her eyes still watery from what she had just admitted to them.

"I'm sorry?"

"You did the right think Fleur," smiled Hermione "You forced him to admit his feelings, you have given him something to hold onto now that Sirius is dead and you are making him happier and more relaxed than I have ever seen him before."

Fleur looked at her surprised for several moments before pulling her into a tight hug.

"Thank you." She sighed "Thank you so much."

When they parted Hermione also had tears in her eyes.

"Take care of my friend." Added Neville, with a smile.

Fleur laughed lightly and gave him a peck on the cheek before settling back into her seat leaving a blushing Neville.

"Now, I'm sure you have more questions." Smiled Fleur.

"When did your accent get so good?" asked Hermione "It was.... stronger....the last time we saw you."

"My accent has always been like this," grinned Fleur "I deliberately made my accent stronger and made myself sound more stuck up, proud and snooty so as to put people off me?"

"Why?" Neville asked.

"Veela are some of the most desired women in the world, I wanted to make sure that any man I ended up with wanted me for me, not just because I was beautiful and a Veela."

"Like Bill?" asked Hermione.

"Yes, Bill was one of the first men I new wanted me for me, Harry is another and in fact actually saw through my accent, though he did agree that it makes me sound sexy. The only problem is although I can speak English well, two of the words I can't speak properly are Arry and Eermione."

"It could be worse," laughed Hermione "At least you are not calling me Err-my-oh-knee."

Fleur laughed in response.

"Viktor's accent has actually got a lot better." She smiled "He helped train Arry in Occlumency for most of the summer."

"Really," asked Hermione surprised "I didn't know you had kept in touch."

"Oh yes, after Dumbledore's," she spat out his name "Speech about 'coming together' we kept in touch, he even went so far as to learn French so we could communicate easier."

After that the communication settled down, most of the talking was done by Fleur and Hermione who had realised that Fleur really wasn't as bad as she thought she was, for the most part Neville just sat and listened as the girls exchanged romantic tales, shared similar experiences and other varied subjects.
________________________________________________________________________

Dimension: 563 - Earth
Date: 1st September 2001 AD
Country: Britain - Scotland
Location: Hogwarts - Gryffindor Tower - Sixth Year Boys Dormitories
Time: Evening

Harry made his way up to the dormitories and slowly opened the door.

All the candles in the room were out, the only light in the room came from the moonlight shinning into the room which showed the outline of Ron lying on his bed, his fingers interlaced and resting on his stomach, Dean and Seamus were presumably asleep in their beds.

"Ron." He said quietly, not wanting to wake the others.

There was no response for several seconds.

"You can be a right bastard at times Harry."

"I didn't get together with Fleur just to spite you, you know." He said walking over and squatting on the side of the bed that he would not be using this year "To be perfectly honest I tried to turn her down."

"Always knew you were an idiot."

Harry chuckled, he was still surprised Ron hadn't shouted at him or attacked him when he found out about him and Fleur.

"Possibly, but I can't really help that now."

"You've still got two years of school left, and with Hermione nagging us it will seem more like three."

Both laughed lightly before they settled back into serious talk.

"You always seem to get everything I want." Sighed Ron "I know you don't mean to but it's still bloody annoying."

"I don't have Hermione." Harry pointed out.

"She's too clever to like me."

Harry groaned.

"Ron, one day you and her will realise what the rest of the world knows and get together."

"I couldn't be that lucky."

Harry groaned again.

"I give up," he sighed before turning serious "So....are we good?"

"We're good." Replied Ron, a slight smile forming on his face "Now, get back to your Veela."

Harry smiled and headed back towards the door.

"Thanks Ron." He smiled leaving the red head to think.

Rolling onto his side, Ron looked through the window on the other side of the room at the crescent moon.

Hearing faint ,footsteps he guessed Hermione had entered the room.

"I would like to be alone....please."

"I understand Ron." Came the lightly accented Response,

"Professor!" He said in surprise, beginning to roll towards her.

"Stay there Ron," replied Fleur as he felt her perch on the edge of his bed "I just wanted to say thank you for not getting angry at Arry, he doesn't have enough good friends as it is, and even less that are male."

"I am angry at him." Ron replied, settling back into his position "I just realised over the summer how much I would regret it if I were to lose Harry's friendship, my life would quite frankly have been boring without him."

"Thank you Ron." Smiled Fleur, leaning down and giving him a kiss on the cheek earning a deep blush from Ron.

She paused as she went to get off the bed and leaned back down towards him.

"Ron, you remember when you asked me to the Ball two years ago?"

"I'm hardly likely to forget embarrassing myself like that in front of students from the three biggest magical schools in Europe."

"It was not that bad Ron," smiled Fleur "But there is something you may wish to know."

"What?"

"Only two people asked me to the ball and you were the first,"

"It was stupid of me to even try." He groaned.

"The thing you may want to know Ron is," she said, leaning down to whisper in his ear "If you had not disappeared so quickly....I would have said yes."

Ron's eyes widened to the size of dinner plates and he spun over, Fleur barely moving back in time to avoid being hit.

"You....you.... you would have....have...." he stuttered, not even believing what he had heard.

"Said yes," she smiled "You were three years younger than me and the first one to have the courage to ask me, I did try to find you afterwards but I had no luck, after I tried to find you for several hours I learnt who you were but I was told by then you already had another date, so when Roger asked me....I said yes."

Ron sat stunned for a few seconds before finally managing one word.

"Bugger."

Fleur laughed lightly and stood up.

"Goodnight Ron." She smiled as she turned and headed back out the door.
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As soon as the portal closed behind her Ginny leaned heavily against the wall, her eyes shining with tears in the dim light of the hall.

"Are you alright?"

Ginny spun around to see Colette standing on the other side of the portal.

"I'm fine." She answered quickly, attempting to blink away her tears.

"You love him don't you?" Colette asked quietly moving up behind Ginny and laying a hand on her shoulder.

"I....I don't know." Replied Ginny, the tears beginning to fall down her cheeks "I know I did, but I though I was over him, but then he sent me that letter over the summer and I just didn't know anymore, I gave him a special birthday present but as soon as I got it I started to wonder if I should have, I kept going round in circles....I just don't know anymore."

She turned around and cried into the French Professors robes

"Don't worry Ginny," said Colette comfortingly "Everything will turn out alright....everything will be alright."