Ronald Weasley was re-sorted the next day and placed into Slytherin house as a first year. For Gryffindor, it was a relief. For Slytherin, it was annoying. The other two houses were relieved they didn't get him. Still, there were no parties. No celebrations. Gryffindor had been happy when Ron went home and never really considered him a part of their house again after that. Harry was just relieved he wouldn't be around. Ron, though, was outraged. He complained about how he wasn't a "greasy snake" and more, serving to make him incredibly unpopular in his new house.
The rest of winter break was pleasantly spent. With the exception of one Mad-Eye Moody aka Barty Crouch Jr., anyway; Dumbledore contacted Amelia Bones at the DMLE to tell her that he had suspicions about Mad-Eye only for the head auror to easily find that he was in fact Barty Crouch Jr. in disguise. The madman was arrested and his father soon followed suit.
Under veritaserum Crouch Jr. confessed to more than Dumbledore had anticipated. He told about where Voldemort was located, that Pettigrew was still alive, and that Harry Potter had been a horcrux and caused severe pain to Voldemort until the dark lord had brewed a potion to remove it. Upon further interrogation he revealed that Potter was an accidental horcrux and there were many of them and his goal was to get Potter to the graveyard at the end of the tournament for a ritual to bring back Voldemort.
Amelia Bones herself, with two of her aurors named Shacklebolt and Tonks, told all of this to Harry. "I think we should face him," Hermione said to Harry, who looked at her in surprise. "Trust me Harry. I have an idea."
Knowing better than to argue with his lover he just nodded his head. He'd led her into dangerous things before; turnabout was fair play. The three aurors in the room were dubious, "Miss Granger I don't think that is a good idea."
"Actually, I think it's a brilliant one," Hermione said. "However we want no one to know about it. As far as the public is concerned, Harry killed Voldemort as a baby. Let's leave it at that."
Amelia could see the logic in that. "Very well but aurors will be going with you."
"Only females," Hermione said, "and Harry's coming with." Harry smiled at what she was planning. This would be good.
Ron Weasley sat at the end of the Slytherin table and stewed. Hogwarts was supposed to be fun. It wasn't fun. He complained to his parents who told him if he didn't suck it up and do well at school that his wand would be snapped. Ron didn't want to be a squib. He wanted to be an incredibly successful quidditch player. He would have any girl or Veela that he wanted. And he intended to. Still, playing quidditch didn't require knowing how to cast spells or brew weird potions. Ron saw no point to all that effort. He was the only first year never in the library. He figured since he'd already been a first year he knew it all.
Fleur Delacour was used to being the target of presents on Valentine's Day. Of hopeful glances from various men and leering eyes. It was less-so at Hogwarts; mostly because Hermione had demonstrated what could happen to people who piss off Veela and they all remembered what the girls had done to Ron when he wouldn't leave them alone. But she knew it was inevitable on Valentine's Day. She was jealous of Hermione. Her relationship with Viktor was not romantic despite what the brunette thought and Hermione had Harry who was quite the young man.
When she woke that morning she was surprised to see a single rose had been delivered to her. She cautiously picked it up. Lying underneath the rose was a note:
A beautiful rose for a beautiful woman.
Happy Valentine's Day.
-Viktor
Fleur couldn't stop the smile that spread across her face at the gift. Maybe Hermione was right.
Viktor paced in his room nervously. He'd taken the leap after advice from Harry. Advice he was grateful for; while Viktor knew more about dealing with fame Harry was surprisingly more adept at dealing with emotions. He still remembered their conversation the day after the Yule Ball.
-Flashback-
"There is nothing going on," Viktor said.
"Are you sure? Because you two were dancing like Hermione and I danced. And we're lovers," Harry said.
Viktor felt his face flush, "We are not a couple. We just wanted to avoid the crowds."
"Then why not tell either Hermione or me about it? Why keep it secret?"
Viktor's mouth opened and closed but no sound came out. Harry sat down next to the Bulgarian, "Look, Hermione and I both saw something. Before I asked out Hermione I was certain she wouldn't want anything to do with me. Not romantically, at least. But when she told me that she was a Veela, about her fear that no one would ever love her for anything beyond that and that she was worried she'd rob the boy she liked of his own will I knew that I had to ask her. Even if I got rejected. I needed Hermione to know that she was desirable for more than that. That she was pretty without the allure and any changes she underwent as a result of coming into her powers didn't change the fact that she was amazing without them. Being rejected by Hermione wasn't so scary when I thought about what she was so worried about. If she had rejected me, it would have hurt. Hell, it'd probably have crushed me. But she was worried she'd die alone, that no one would ever love her for her. I had to show her that I did and do."
The Bulgarian gazed at Harry, amazed at how emotionally mature the younger man was. His words made sense. Veela were only seen as sex objects by most people. Fleur had lived with it all her life, and she was incredibly beautiful given her Veela heritage. She had mentioned before that she wished for what Hermione and Harry had. That sent Viktor thinking.
-End Flashback-
Viktor liked Fleur. Once you got past the cold front that she put up she was quite warm and she liked to laugh. She and Hermione often spent time together in the library and Viktor was quite interested in the blonde. She was distant with most people but to see her around Hermione was to see the real Fleur Delacour. The teen Veela had made Fleur drop her guard easily. Viktor had asked her to the ball to initially prevent either one from having to go with someone who was only getting close because they wanted something from them. But as Fleur taught him to dance Viktor had found himself becoming quite attracted to her. Dancing with her was not like dancing with Hermione. Maybe, just maybe, he and Fleur were like Harry and Hermione. Harry said their friends had all assumed they'd get together but Harry and Hermione were both obtuse to the obvious connection. Maybe Viktor and Fleur were in the same boat; blind to what other could clearly see.
So after working up his courage Viktor had decided to let Fleur know how he felt. A Valentine's Day with little gifts here and there to show her his intent and make her feel special. According to Harry that was important. He just hoped that Fleur liked it.
Fleur attended breakfast with a warm smile directed at Viktor. The pair missed the knowing smirks from Harry and Hermione. Fleur sat down, "Thank you for the rose Viktor."
"My pleasure," he said, blushing. "Perhaps we could go for walk today?"
Harry and Hermione ducked their heads to avoid laughing. It was so…sadly cute. Two teenagers who were both of legal age in the magical world, were champions in the Tri-Wizard Tournament and chosen to represent their schools, and had two younger friends who they in many ways mentored, were afraid to ask each other out on a date.
Fleur didn't blush as she answered, "I would like that very much."
Viktor and Fleur went outside after lunch for a walk. They were silent at first until Viktor spoke, "Have you worked out your egg?"
"Oui," she nodded. "I do not want to even think about who they would take from me that is what I would most miss."
"For me it would be Harry. He is good friend. And very smart."
She nodded, "I suppose it would be 'Ermione. She ees my best friend. Even with other Veela I have never got along with someone like I do her."
"The icy water will be problem for you yes?"
"Yes. 'Ermione and I are working on some ways to protect me. If eet was just water I would be fine but ze ice adds a different level to eet."
Viktor cautiously took her hand in his, "Fleur I'm sure you can do it. You are the chosen champion for Beauxbatons."
She smiled at him and Viktor felt his pulse increase. Harry was definitely right. Viktor had a crush on the blonde Veela. "Thank you Viktor," she said. "For believing in me."
"I will not let you fail," he promised. "We practiced for the first task together. This one is no different."
Valentine's Day in Little Hangleton had a contingent of female aurors and two teenagers cautiously enterinh the area. Most of the Aurors stayed outside a delapidated manor with only Tonks and Bones following the two teens under Harry's borrowed invisibility cloak. Harry was ready. He was going to catch Pettigrew and make sure Sirius was freed. McGonagall, learning what they would be doing, had transfigured a cage to put the rat in that would prevent his transformation.
Hermione took a deep breath before entering the house and intentionally breaking the wards. Harry looked for trouble while Hermione moved to the study to see the chair the thing that was Voldemort was sitting in. A hex flew their way and Hermione blasted out her allure. Unseen, Bones produced a temporary shield to protect the teens from the hex. Once the allure was released Pettigrew would become worthless.
A groan was heard and Harry moved, casting the spell Sirius and Remus had told him about to force the transformation into a rat. He then placed Pettigrew into the container. "Hello Voldemort," he heard Hermione say.
"Who are you?"
"The one who made Harry an inhospitable horcrux vessel. You're welcome for all that pleasure, by the way."
Voldemort's eyes flashed but Hermione had already summoned his wand, "You will die."
"Well an idiot headmaster hasn't yet managed that feat so I fail to see what the most ugly creature I've ever seen can do," Hermione deadpanned. "My love for Harry and his love for me hurt you. Every night until Halloween when Crouch Jr., or should I say Mad-Eye, gave Harry a potion that Harry took without thinking about it."
"Sorry sweetheart," Harry said.
"I forgive you Harry. I suppose I should thank you Voldemort. You made Harry a horcrux, then removed it. That makes what I'm about to do so much easier."
"A mere girl can't defeat me!"
"I'm not a 'mere girl'," Hermione's eyes turned predatory, "I'm a muggleborn Veela and what better combination is there to kill a bigot?"
"Dumbledore doesn't kill," Voldemort sneered.
"Dumbledore isn't here," Hermione countered, "and if he were he'd be enjoying my fireballs right about now. Pleasure causes you more pain than imaginable. My allure doesn't just make men feel lust. As evidenced by some it also offers feelings of pleasure. Now then, this is for hurting my Harry, trying to kill my Harry, and taking his family and godfather from him." With that Hermione released a targeted allure blast that would have had most men's eyes rolling back in their heads. Voldemort was not one of those men. Instead he was screaming out in pain. A snake lunged at Hermione but Tonks cast a slicing hex that killed the snake on the spot. Harry held Pettigrew's cage with one hand as he moved to Hermione. He couldn't help her but he could offer his support.
The bloodcurdling scream that Voldemort was emitting grew. Unknown to the aurors, but suspected by Hermione, his horcuxes began to self-destruct. A diadem in the Room of Requirement combusted. A ring in a shack near Riddle Manor exploded in flames and the shack burnt to the ground. Hermione closed her eyes to focus and Harry slid an arm around her waist. Harry. She was doing this for Harry. This monster had tried to hurt her Harry. He'd never hurt her Harry again. Her blast increased and Bones understood why no male aurors were invited. She was female and attracted to men and even she could feel a little of the allure blast. That Harry didn't was astonishing.
A vault in Gringotts had its wards activated. When the goblins arrived where a golden cup had once been there were only scorch marks. In Grimmauld Place a locket blew up. An elf danced in victory that Master Regulus' work had finally been accomplished. The elf looked at the house. Master Sirius would be displeased. Immediately he went to work.
Voldemort ceased screaming; more out of his inability to do so than anything else. The pain he was feeling was overwhelming. He tried to crawl away but his body (what was left of it) felt paralyzed. His last visual was of a sadistic smile on the lips of the Veela and the determined glare of Harry Potter before his last thought that the prophecy had been false entered into his head and he himself, in the twisted form he'd taken, exploded.
Hermione's blast ceased when her target died and she leaned against Harry, "Remind me to never hold it that long again," she whispered.
"I'll do that," Harry promised, handing Madame Bones Pettigrew's cage before bringing his arms around Hermione. Using the allure didn't tire her out generally but she'd held it for ten minutes this time; she'd never held it that long before.
She closed her eyes and he saw her hand tighten around the lyre pendant. He let her pray in peace before she stood up straight and kissed him, "Thanks Harry."
"For what?"
"You putting your arm around me helped me to strengthen the blast. Voldemort can't hurt you ever again now."
He smiled and kissed her, "You sure you don't want to take the credit?"
"Positive," she kissed him back, "you can keep the title of destroyer of Voldemort. I'll just be your hot Veela girlfriend."
Amelia Bones and Tonks watched the couple's banter before Amelia spoke, "The report will be kept confidential. No one needs to know what happened here today."
"Now that you have Pettigrew will you free Sirius?"
"Yes we will," Bones nodded. "Pettigrew will be given a trial, I will lead the questioning so no mention of today will occur. I will make sure the Daily Prophet reports on the trial and Sirius Black's release will be given the lead headline. Once that is done he'll probably have to go to Gringotts or the Ministry but he'll not be punished for escaping Azkaban."
"Okay," Harry said. "Can we go back to Hogwarts now? I want to have a Valentine's dinner with my valentine."
"You are too sweet," Hermione smiled. Harry grinned in response.
Minerva McGonagall welcomed her two favorite students back from their excursion to before speaking, "The headmaster has informed me that the second task requires that which the champions would miss the most. You two are of course the two that Mr. Krum and Miss Delacour would miss most."
"And what, you want to stick us in the bottom of an icy Scottish lake in the middle of February?"
"Well, yes."
"Ice water and Veela don't mix well together," Hermione said.
"It is of course your choice."
Harry looked at his lover, "What do you think?"
"I think if we're doing this we can trust that Viktor and Fleur will do their very best to rescue us."
"Agreed," Harry nodded. "After today I know you can do anything so if you think we should do this then I'll agree."
Hermione mulled it over before nodding in the affirmative. McGonagall nodded, "We ask that you not tell them, of course." Harry smirked.
The couple had a small dinner in their room. Dobby and Winky catered it. When they finished with dinner Harry turned on the wizarding wireless and they danced slowly, "I love you Hermione," he whispered.
"I love you too," she kissed his jaw gently, "now we can enjoy our lives without ever worrying about Voldemort again."
"Still have to deal with Dumbledore."
"We could transfer to Beauxbatons but I don't think you want to."
"I want to finish Hogwarts," Harry said. "No longer having to deal with Ron definitely makes it easier to be here."
"Agreed," she ran a hand through his hair, "Dumbledore knows to stay out of our way so I don't foresee him being much of a problem." Harry smirked. Since their little visit with the headmaster it had been obvious he took their words to heart. He barely looked their way and they felt able to relax. Sirius would soon be free, the summer was coming, and Harry's first ever vacation would be in France.
"Will you be okay in the lake?"
"If we got me a wetsuit I would be," Hermione said. "Some warming charms and I'll be fine."
Harry nodded. "I'll have Remus come and he can cast the spells on us. I don't want anything to happen to you."
"Alright," she kissed him, "that sounds good. You should write him tonight."
"Him and Sirius both," Harry agreed.
Late that evening Viktor walked back to the ship with a smile. He and Fleur had eaten together in the kitchens; Harry had told him how to get into them. After dinner he and Fleur had gone for another walk, this one ending in the prefect's bathroom. Cedric had given him the password and they practiced swimming together before just relaxing in the tub and talking to one another. "Do you have siblings?" Viktor asked.
"A little sister, Gabrielle. She ees eight. You?"
"A brother, Yosif. He is six. He looks up to me."
Fleur smiled, "Gabrielle ees very…proud of her Veela heritage. She has yet to experience just what it means to be Veela."
Viktor gazed at her, "Do you hate it?"
"I don't hate being a Veela," Fleur said, "there are certainly advantages. But it is hard to date when most men just want one thing from us. There are not enough men like Harry in the world," she lamented.
Gazing into her eyes he could see that insecurity. Fleur was not shy about her body, the bikini she was wearing highlighted her confidence in her looks; she was insecure about her own being. Her status. Viktor had never seen that in his mother. But then, she had his father just like Hermione had Harry. "I've learned much from Harry in my time here at Hogwarts. Including that sometimes you just have to risk being hurt. I like you Fleur. Very much. At first it was because you're not bothered by my fame or intimidated by the hordes of girls that follow me around but now it's…it's different."
"Different? As in an attraction to me?"
He nodded his head, unsure of the right words to use in English. Harry had improved his English a great deal but Viktor didn't want to risk using the wrong words. He decided to just jump right in like Harry did, "Would you consider going on a date with me?"
Fleur's lips twitched upward in a smile, "I would very much like to Viktor."
Viktor smiled at the memories. He had walked Fleur back to her carriage where she'd given him a good night kiss on the cheek. He'd seen how Harry reacted to Hermione's kisses and he understood that now. He settled into his bed for the night with a smile and just across the way in a carriage a blonde Veela was doing the same.