Ch 12
The morning of the second task Draco Malfoy was full of glee. Potter and Granger were under the lake, vulnerable. He'd get there first and take them both out. Then they'd be gone forever and his father would be proud of him. It was a brilliant plan. There were no flaws in it. He pushed past Weasley, "Out of my way blood traitor," and it all went black.
Ron Weasley had, ever since being put in Slytherin, been the butt of every joke. He was the one mocked and teased for being sent back to first year and for having to be resorted because his entire house had wanted to hang him from the rafters of the Great Hall and let spiders play with him (at least that's what the rumors said anyway). Ron's temper was quick to snap but Slytherins were good hexers and he learned that the hard way. But when Draco Malfoy pushed him out of the way the final thin string that kept Ron's temper in check snapped and he pulled out his wand to cast a banishing spell. Now, banishing spells were fourth year. And Ron had been put back in first year because he couldn't cast fourth year spells. So rather than banish Draco Malfoy it only served to make him trip. Draco's head hit the stone floor and Draco was unconscious. Ron freaked out. He'd harmed a champion. The day of the task.
Thinking quickly (which hurt) Ron put Draco into a closet and ran off. There. No one would know.
Draco Malfoy's disappearance would generally not be noticed; he was no more popular in Slytherin than Ron Weasley was. But it was the day of the task and so his disappearance was noticed. He was found unconscious in a broomcloset by a house elf. Pomfrey woke him up and treated him for a concussion before warning the tournament officials that competing would be impossible for him that day. Draco was fuming. His brilliant plan shattered because of that blasted weasel. Weasel would pay for getting in his way.
The solution to Draco's problem of needing to compete or lose his magic was to jump into the lake and then climb back out. That was humiliating for the blonde but he took solace in the fact that he could plot what he'd do to Weasel.
Ron had been assigned detention and had points removed for attacking a champion but he was excited to sit in the stands only to find he was staring at a lake. The Veela wasn't even wearing anything attractive. Just some kind of full body swimsuit. He sat in the stands, grumpier than usual at his rotten luck.
Fleur was glad for the wetsuit. It was certainly keeping her warmer than a swimsuit would have. She and Hermione had decided that she should go with Gillyweed. Viktor had chosen the same and in tandem they dived down to the merpeople village. Cedric had his own method for diving down; a bubblehead charm which was not as effective as the magical plant both of the foreign champions had chosen. When she learned that Hermione was going to be taken Fleur had thrown herself into working out how best to deal with her handicap to make sure she didn't let her friend down.
With Viktor by her side she felt more confident as they swum down to the hostages. They finally came upon them and they moved to free their friends. Cedric wasn't there for Cho yet. Draco's hostage was his broomstick. Fleur motioned toward the broom for Viktor to see and the two laughed as they managed to release the bonds that held their friends and swam back up to the surface.
When Harry and Hermione surfaced they both gasped for air before their hands reached for each other and pulled the other one close. "Gillyweed lasts for an hour," Hermione said. Harry and Hermione were pushed toward the docks by their friends and they climbed up and into the blankets Remus and Poppy had waiting for them. Harry shifted so that they could share their blankets and Hermione sat on his lap, grateful that she had the wetsuit on to protect her. A few moments later Viktor and Fleur both surfaced and were wrapped up in blankets as well.
"You two saved us," Hermione beamed at their friends.
"Viktor frightened off the grindylows," Fleur said, smiling at Viktor.
"Fleur untied the knots far faster than I could have," Viktor countered.
Harry glanced at Hermione, "Are we that pathetic?"
"We're worse," she winked. Harry chuckled and kissed her.
Cedric came up with Cho about ten minutes later. They too were covered in blankets and a merperson tossed Draco's broomstick out of the lake shortly after they had surfaced. They sat as the scores were read out before they were permitted to go back into the castle. Once inside Harry and Hermione led Viktor and Fleur to the Room of Requirements which they turned into a hot tub. Hermione actually required Harry's assistance to get out of the wetsuit before she sent him out of the changing area. She helped Fleur strip down and, in their bikinis, they returned to the main room. Hermione sighed in contentment as the hot water covered her. "That was the dumbest task imaginable," Harry said.
"Feeding flobberworms," she said.
"Okay not the dumbest task imaginable but a close thing," Harry argued, pulling her into his lap, "warming up?"
"I could use some assistance with that," she smiled at her boyfriend. Harry leaned in to kiss her and she returned it.
"Zey seem to 'ave forgotten about us," Fleur said to Viktor.
"A common occurrence when they are together," Viktor commented.
"We can hear you," Harry said. The other couple turned their heads to see the couple giving them mock glares, "So how was the task?"
Draco Malfoy had plotted how to best punish Ron Weasley throughout the task. Seeing how he would fall all over himself around the two Veela gave him an idea. Krum and Potter were their boyfriends and neither one would take kindly to the weasel trying to force himself on the two creatures. Let alone what the two Veela would do to him. Maybe he could get Potter and Granger expelled too. That would certainly sweeten the pot. He made a trip to the owlery. He had a potion to order.
Monday morning before classes the Daily Prophet arrived with the headline- Dumbledore Defiles War Heroes' Memories! Harry smiled at Hermione, who gave him a small smile. They'd known that this was coming. Dumbledore had been charged by the DMLE for kidnapping and unlawful imprisonment, child abuse, and child endangerment among others. The Prophet went into detail about Dumbledore sealing the Potter will indefinitely, placing Harry at the Dursleys where his parents demanded he never go, and about how Sirius Black was supposed to be Harry's guardian before he was imprisoned falsely, never even receiving a trial. Sunday evening he'd been escorted out of Hogwarts by aurors after the students were in bed.
The couple resumed eating breakfast. Sirius had warned them that it was going to happen so they weren't surprised. They were enjoying their breakfast together when Ron Weasley walked over. Silence fell as most people hoped to see Ron get hexed or blasted with a fireball. Roast weasel would be entertaining. "Come on Granger I know you want me."
Hermione ignored Ron and continued eating her breakfast. Harry glanced at his lover before following suit. Ron continued, "You know that I'm a better choice than Potter. I'm a pureblood."
Harry was beginning to wonder if Ron had mental problems. He'd already tried this line. And it didn't make any more sense than it did the last time. "Ron, go away. Hermione and I are trying to eat breakfast."
"Shut up Potter! Always taking everything that's mine! It's about time you learned your place!"
Hermione's hand on Harry's arm was all that kept Harry from letting his temper go. It wasn't what he was saying about Harry that irritated the young man; it was that he was acting like Hermione was an object. Ron looked at Hermione, "Come on Herms let's go. You don't need to be around some half-blood bastard."
She pinched the bridge of her nose, "Ronald Bilius Weasley. You are ignorant, obviously narrow-minded, cantankerous, narcissistic, emotionally retarded, and you smell. I want nothing to do with you. Now leave me alone."
Ron was trying to work out what she'd just said. He understood ignorant but her other words he didn't know. "Cantink-what?" Still frowning he suddenly shouted, "Hey I'm not Narcissy! That's Malfoy's mother."
Harry couldn't repress the snort that escaped at Ron's words. He wasn't the only one. Hermione's glare didn't lessen though. Draco was enjoying the show until he heard Weasley mention his mother. Then he promptly forgot his plan, "Don't you dare talk about my mother you stupid troll! She's far better than your fat whore of a mother."
Those were words that Ron understood. And he promptly ran at and leaped onto Malfoy. He began to punch Draco as the blonde gave back what he got. It was Snape's turn to pinch the bridge of his nose as he got up from the staff table muttering about stupid dunderheads.
Many detentions and point deductions were handed out that morning between the two boys. Minerva was really not looking forward to seven years more years with Ron Weasley. Harry followed Hermione out of the hall, "That was weird."
"Do you think Ron's always been a bigot or is this just him trying to woo me?" She asked.
"Hard to say," Harry answered, "honestly I'm not sure. I think for the past few years I spent so much time clinging to Ron being my very first friend that I ignored alot of unsavory aspects about him; and you didn't want to lose me as a friend so you just put up with him."
"What if Ron and Malfoy are just products of incest?" Hermione suddenly asked. Harry stared at her blankly so she continued, "Well purebloods boast that they are just that; pure. Now how would you guarantee that your wife or husband's blood is 'pure' Harry? Hint- the royal family did it for centuries."
"Incest," Harry said before his eyes lit up, "which means that all the purebloods in school are related."
"Yes," she smiled that Harry picked up where she was going with this line of thought, "Some are probably closer related than the others. That's why squibs are created. Inbreeding leads to birth defects; for magicals what better birth defects are there than not having magic?"
"But they always say they don't know how or why squibs are born," Harry began.
"They also don't know how to use a telephone, Harry. Or mail a letter. Do you think they actually care? No. They like to scapegoat muggleborns so they can continue to hate us. You've heard Malfoy and his ilk. Muggleborns 'steal' magic from purebloods. But we both know that's not true. Purebloods, instead, seem to be willing to give up their magic to stay 'pure'. They just don't understand that the cost of remaining pure is their children becoming squibs."
"If they did know do you think they'd stop?"
Hermione milled that thought around for a bit before answering, "No. They need their ideology because they need to feel superior."
Harry sighed, "That's just sad."
"That's the perk of bigotry," she said. "On the plus side marriage laws enacted have always been used to keep purebloods from marrying anyone who isn't pure. That includes half-bloods," she nudged him, "and creatures."
"Even if the creature is pure?"
"A man can never be a Veela. We're always female. So Krum isn't a Veela but if he had a sister she would be."
"And purebloods hate creatures," Harry said, "even if they want to shag Veela."
She chuckled at his words and slid her arm around his waist, "You're mine Potter."
"I'm a lucky boy," Harry grinned. She laughed. "We should tell Sirius. You know, to protect any of his own future children."
"I'd rather Sirius found someone on his own though," she said, "if he's only interested in a woman because she's muggle or muggleborn or Veela or whatever…well it's not as sincere."
"I guess I can see that," Harry nodded. "Shall we head off to class?" Hermione nodded.
Sirius' freedom (legal, that is) seemed to lift a massive burden from the old dog's shoulders. Still, it was obvious he wasn't quite free from Azkaban's influence. Under threat of not spending the summer in France with Harry and Hermione he went to a mind healer, Remus moving into Grimmauld Place with his friend to make sure that he was going to the healer.
Kreacher received help from Dobby and Winky to clean and redecorate Grimmauld Place. According to Remus, who was doing some work with Gringotts on finding and containing dark items that were in the house, the house looked completely different and Kreacher the elf was much happier. He had told Sirius something about 'Master Regulus' work being done' and that the 'evil locket' was destroyed, which told Hermione for certain that her gambit with the horcruxes had paid off and also made her quite grateful Voldemort had removed the horcrux from Harry. To make Kreacher even happier he'd been promised he could meet and thank the woman who'd defeated Voldemort, just like Master Regulus had wanted to do. Harry was quite amused to learn that Dobby and Winky would tell Kreacher about how wonderful Hermione was and how kind she was to other creatures.
One spring day in April Harry and Hermione sat on a picnic blanket, Harry's head in her lap as they watched their classmates play in the warm sunshine. Dean was teaching some purebloods about football with help from Justin Finch-Fletchley. The pair had become friends recently and watching them be asked questions like why the ball didn't fly and why the game was played only with feet was quite entertaining from Harry's perspective. Hermione could be heard giggling at some of the more out there questions. "Magicals really can't grasp life without magic," Harry observed.
"They take it for granted," she corrected. "There's a laziness to magic users who were born with it that muggle-raised folks don't have."
Harry nodded in agreement. "Well, not all of them," Harry's eyes flicked over to where Colin and Dennis were patiently explaining football to the Weasley twins and Ginny. "They seem eager to learn."
"Obviously not everyone raised with magic is lazy but think about people like Ron or Malfoy. Neither one could survive without magic. If they were squibs they'd be hopeless."
"Is that why you were so worried about Ron at first? Because you don't think he could survive without being magical?"
"Do you?"
Harry thought about Ron and how he acted, "No I don't. But then why isn't he applying himself more?"
"Because he's Ron. He believes that he's a pureblood and thus above the rules. He expects to get away with it."
"I don't understand where those beliefs come from though," Harry said, frowning, "no one else in the Weasley family is like that."
"Well Sirius was unlike everyone else in the Black family," Hermione pointed out, "until his brother died defecting from Voldemort." Harry nodded. Sometimes he forgot that. "Family doesn't dictate your beliefs and your identity; according to Remus your aunt and your mother were complete opposites."
"That's certainly true," Harry's words stopped short as the ball rolled to a stop against his leg. "You told me you play in a youth league during the summer."
"I do," she nodded.
"Show me your stuff then," he said, getting up and picking up the ball, "I want to see this hidden prowess."
"Okay but don't be offended if I'm better than you," she teased, accepting his hand to help her up.
"Upset? More like turned on," Harry grinned. Hermione took her wand and transfigured the woodwork of the goal posts from a branch on the ground. Harry moved into goal and tossed the ball to her, "Come on then Granger. Show me what you've got."
Hermione raised an eyebrow at his baiting. "Be careful what you ask for Potter. You might just get it."
Ch 13
In primary school Harry had been a pretty okay goalkeeper. Hermione got eight out of ten shots past him. The two shots she didn't get past him were the first two 'warm-up shots' she took. He stared at her, "I have never once thought you were athletic."
Hermione walked over to him and leaned in to whisper into his ear, "How do you think I got so flexible then love?" The glassy eyes and automatic grin had Hermione laughing as she pulled away from him. Harry blinked and then gave a pout at her teasing him.
The couple helped the Creevey boys and Justin and Dean explain how to play to the clueless purebloods. Harry was amazed at how complicated they made such a simple game. The most complicated aspect of football was the offside rule and yet the purebloods had so many questions it was surreal. These same purebloods could probably recite all 700 quidditch fouls and found the game of quidditch easy to grasp.
Late that afternoon they walked back into the school to clean up before dinner and Harry asked Hermione, "What's your dad's team?"
"Arsenal. He was born and raised in London."
"And your mum?"
"She's a diehard Manchester United fan. Though just to rankle my dad she'll cheer for Spurs when they play Arsenal."
Harry laughed. The more he learned about the Grangers the more he liked them. "What about you?"
Hermione licked her lips, "Well I grew up in Manchester so I'd have to give the nod to Manchester United. We would attend games, my mum and me. I do miss being able to attend the games."
Harry nodded in understanding. "Next year during Christmas we should be able to leave Hogwarts. We could go to a game then. I've never had a team to cheer for; the Dursleys never watched sports other than Match of the Day. Only because Uncle Vernon needed to be able to talk about the games at work the next day."
"I like that idea love. We'll have so much fun. And I won't pressure you to be a fan. You get to choose your club on your own." Harry leaned in to kiss her but she pulled back, "So long as it's not Manchester City or Chelsea."
"I promise," he said, grinning before he pulled her against him and kissed her, "our room?"
"Our room," she agreed and the pair headed up to the seventh floor of the castle.
Arthur Weasley sat in Minerva's office, "Arthur I understand why you want him to stay in school but Ron isn't doing well. He never studies, his homework is no better than before, and when pushed he tells his teachers that there's no point when he's going to be a quidditch star. The lad wasn't even on the team."
Arthur sighed, "How is his behavior?"
"Not improving," Minerva responded. "The boy has twice made passes at Miss Granger and when rebuffed he gets mad. I worry what a temper like that could mean for anyone in the future who refuses his advances. He gets violent when he gets angry."
"If Ron doesn't manage to stay in school then…well then there's no hope for him Minerva. Ron had two friends raised in the muggle world and never once tried to learn about it. He often mocked Hermione for it according to my other children."
The older woman gazed at him, "Arthur the boy is a threat to the learning of others and he even interfered with the second task, preventing Mr. Malfoy from being able to participate fully. If not for our house elves Mr. Malfoy might have lost his magic. That's a serious concern. Whether the attack was intentional or not Ronald tried to hide his actions and that could have been disastrous for the Malfoys."
Arthur paled at the implications. Causing someone to lose their magic could lead to legal battles. They could have lost the Burrow if Malfoy pushed for it. Minerva continued, "Lucius Malfoy has declined to press charges. But surely, Arthur, you understand our dilemma?"
"The reimbursement is contingent on him finishing this year and doing well on his exams," Arthur sighed, "I don't want to see my son's entire time at Hogwarts as a failure. As a waste of money. Money we could have used for our family."
"I understand how hard it is for you but Ronald is squandering every chance presented to him and his pureblood supremacy he's been spouting is only making matters worse. Especially when coupled with his belligerant attitude." Arthur rubbed his face with his hands at the decision he had to make.
Hermione lay in their bed and watched Harry exit the bathroom with a towel around his waist, "So Mr. Potter, what do you have in mind for tonight?"
"Dinner with my sexy girlfriend and then I thought we could snuggle in the common room and just relax."
"That does sound lovely," she smiled. Harry grinned and moved to his trunk to find some clothes. "Mum is looking forward to France. She's also excited to meet Fleur."
"Viktor is invited too," Harry said. Hermione grinned. Their friends were becoming very close. Especially since the second task. "I'm becoming less worried about your parents' reactions but at the same time…" Harry struggled for the words for a moment before confessing, "I know that I'll be really worried as soon as we get on the train back to London."
Hermione sat upright, "About that, Harry. I've written to mum and explained that we're going to be leaving from London anyway and they could spend a day or so in an actual magical home before we go to France. It saves on gas and anything extra we need we'll be closer to than in Streford."
Harry gazed at Hermione, "So you suggested we stay…"
"At Grimmauld Place with Sirius and Remus."
Harry beamed at her before pulling on his shirt and the lightweight hoody he'd picked out himself, "That's brilliant Hermione. Sirius and Remus know and can run interference for us with your parents!"
"When it comes to you I'm always a little extra motivated," she pulled him to her and kissed him. "Shall we go see the others now Harry?"
"We could stop for a snog along the way if my lady permits it," he said, helping her upright.
"She could be convinced of that I suppose."
They were walking toward Gryffindor Tower when they saw a crowd of students downstairs. "What's all that about?" Hermione asked.
"Dunno, let's go look," they found a staircase and made their way downstairs to see what the commotion was.
Ronald Weasley found himself the center of attention yet again for a negative reason. He walked forward with his trunk and his father walking next to him. Almost the entire school was watching him leave. He saw a familiar brunette girl and dark-haired boy and his temper flared. "This is all your fault you fame hungry bastard!"
Harry glanced at Hermione, "Is he looking into a mirror or accusing me of being just like him?"
"I think the latter," she said.
Harry rolled his eyes and looked at another student, "What's going on?"
"Weasley is being kicked out of Hogwarts."
Ginny watched her brother hand his wand over to the headmistress after the direct order from their father. Her mind drifted to their father calling them up to the headmistress' office to discuss what was happening.
-Flashback-
Arthur Weasley had a grave look on his face as he addressed his other three children, "After careful consideration and the perusal of Ron's grades and behavior here at Hogwarts I've decided it will be best to remove Ron from the school."
"Is he going to study at home?" Ginny asked. According to Hermione purebloods were afforded that option if they didn't attend Hogwarts.
"No. Ron isn't even studying here. The agreement we made was that he'd return to Hogwarts after spending some time at home to return to the first year. His grades had to improve. They've not improved at all despite the easier courseload that he's been given. And then there's his behavior in and out of class. That is just outrageous."
"But doesn't that mean that his wand will be snapped?"
"Yes it does," Arthur nodded. "Ron seems to think that he can just do whatever he wants because he's a pureblood. That things will just happen to him because of that alone and he doesn't have to work to get to what he wants to get to."
The three looked at each other. They'd never heard of a Weasley having their wand snapped. Ron would live in magical society but be unable to ever use magic. And only they seemed to realize that; Ron certainly didn't.
-End Flashback-
Ginny watched her brother hand over his wand to the headmistress who shook her head and spoke, "Mr. Weasley you were handed chance after chance at this school. You squandered each one. In accordance with magical law your wand is hereby confiscated and snapped. You are no longer permitted a wand."
Ron Weasley watched as his wand, his very own wand and not a hand-me-down, was snapped in half right in front of his eyes. Suddenly it occurred to him what had happened. "But…but. No! I don't want to go!"
"That is no longer your decision," McGonagall said. "You are hereby expelled from Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Mr. Arthur Weasley, you may take him home now. I will be sending the report to the Ministry."
"Yes Headmistress," Arthur nodded. He looked at his other children, "Your mother and I are proud of you three. Keep up the good work." Ginny and the twins nodded.
Ron's head was down as he slowly walked out of Hogwarts for good. Arthur had no words for his son. He knew Molly wouldn't either. She'd told Arthur they needed to keep a firm hand with Ron. It was the only way to keep him in line. Pureblood supremacy had killed Molly's brothers and she wasn't going to let her son spout the stupidity.
There was a somber mood to everyone at dinner. Ron wasn't exactly anyone's friend anymore but to see a student have their wand snapped and be kicked out of Hogwarts was startling. All except for one Tri-Wizard Champion. Draco Malfoy. He was strutting around the castle like he'd personally kicked Ron Weasley out.
Harry felt conflicted. Ron was particularly annoying and vindictive ever since they arrived at Hogwarts for the year; he went out of his way to insult and belittle Harry and Hermione. Still, Harry felt bad for the other Weasleys; for Ginny, Fred and George, and of course the two Weasley parents. He liked them.
"You were right," Hermione said, sitting down next to Harry in the common room, "you said Ron would dig his heels in and not even try to change. That he wouldn't realize it until it was too late and still blame someone else. He did all of that."
"Guess I knew Ron better than he ever knew either of us," Harry pulled her into his lap, "I mean, he thought that you wouldn't date me just to spare his feelings. He thought that I would let him have you just to make him feel better about himself. That you would just do his homework for him. That I would just hand over my Firebolt. That we'd just let him back into the fold after he treated us like he did."
"Ginny said that he was really upset at the second task when he realized Fleur wasn't showing any skin." Harry muttered something that Hermione thought was 'pig' but she wasn't certain. She snuggled into him, "I love you."
He smiled, "You always know how to make me feel better."
"Actually I have two ways," she corrected, "Option one is telling you I love you and option two is showing you I love you."
"I like them both pretty equally," Harry said.
She smiled and kissed him, "That's why you're so wonderful Harry Potter."
"Because most guys would like one over the other?"
"Among other things," she pecked him on the cheek, "we have a test to study for."
"Yes dear," he let her get up and stood, following her out of the common room and heading back up to their room.
Draco had been overjoyed that Ron Weasley was kicked out of school. That had changed by the next morning. With Weasley gone he had no one to make fun of and rile up anymore. Granger and Potter were too strong and dangerous. He decided to focus on the last task. He had to prove his superiority over the blood-traitors and creatures. Though he didn't have a clue what the last task was. They were supposed to find out soon.
Cedric, Viktor, and Fleur were not looking forward to the final task. Especially not when they came upon the obviously growing hedges that would create a maze that Ludo Bagman was standing near. A maze could hide an untold number of dangers, some more violent and dangerous than others. When they walked away from the quidditch pitch after Ludo's explanation of the last task Fleur spoke, "Perhaps we should all work together. I do not weesh to begin my summer dead. 'Ermione would not be pleased."
"Agreed," Viktor nodded. "I cannot play quidditch professionally if I'm dead."
"So we should all help each other? Hagrid is supplying magical creatures…that doesn't bode well. I mean, they stuck us with dragons," Cedric frowned at the memory.
"Yes we do. We are almost all equal in scores except for Draco. We will enter together and have a three-way victory," Viktor said. Fleur smiled at her boyfriend and nodded in agreement.
"Plus Malfoy is an idiot and this could be his chance to try and hurt us," Cedric added.
"Even idiots get lucky," Fleur said.
Ch 14
Hermione and Harry used the Room of Requirement to create a maze and had different creations that they worked on with the twins to place in it. They weren't dangerous magical creatures but they would help the champions with their speed and accuracy. Hermione turned into a Veela to help them practice dodging in the enclosed space and other little creations were created to assist. Intellectual riddles written up by Hermione and Cho were placed in the maze while Harry helped the twins make little magical creature action figures that they could enlarge to a fuller size. It was agreed that they would hit the market after the task, though they'd no longer be able to grow to their proper scale.
The twins had been struck with uncertainty after the second task but the magical menagerie that they were creating with Harry and Hermione soothed any worries about their inability to create. No one had seen the second task so creating anything had been impossible. This time, though, they'd just create magical creatures, a maze, and some figures of the champions. People could create different scenarios by placing the creatures in the maze as they saw fit. And of course if anything happened that was funny they could replay that too.
Hermione also turned them on to muggle games like Monopoly and the twins were falling all over themselves to create a Wizarding version with different pieces. For the twins' birthday Harry had bought them the book Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. The twins had immediately wanted to make Wonka's creations. Ginny teasingly scolded her friends that they'd created monsters but it was hard to worry about the twins. With mentors in the two Marauders they had a safety net to fall back on. The two older men were able to funnel the twins' eagerness into constructive ways.
Fleur lay on the blanket, watching her boyfriend fly with Harry. "Are you okay?"
The blonde glanced up to see Hermione walking toward her, "I suppose."
"Okay," Hermione sat down next to her, "what is wrong?"
"I find myself unable to fully trust any man."
Hermione looked at her friend, concerned, "What do you mean? Did Viktor do something?"
"No he didn't," Fleur shook her head, "he ees a gentleman."
"Well then I'm confused," Hermione frowned.
"Zere have been men before that have…not been good to me," Fleur took a deep breath, "Viktor is not like them, I know that. But for me to trust a man ees not easy any more for me."
Hermione gazed at her boyfriend before asking, "Do you want to trust Viktor?"
"Oui," the blonde answered. Hermione gave her friend a sympathetic smile. "I know that Viktor is not like the others. But to know in your head and know in your heart are two very different things."
"They are," Hermione agreed.
"How did you…with Harry how did you…"
Hermione let her mind drift back to the events of earlier that year. It really had been earlier that year; it felt like so much more time had passed than just the school term. "I was convinced I wouldn't be good enough for Harry. That he wouldn't want someone like me," she said. And despite all the love he'd shown her the memories of her bullying choked her up. She glanced at Harry and he gave her a smile that she returned before finding the courage to continue, "I was bullied growing up. Picked on about everything from my looks to my intellect to my hobbies. My parents put me into lots of after school activities but few of them were completed. I mostly played alone. A local coach watched me taking penalty kicks alone one day and told my parents I'd be good for her team. They agreed. She was the first to ever really give me encouragement. Of course my parents did but they were my parents. It's different when someone else tells you you're good at something." Fleur nodded in agreement and watched the younger witch tell her story, "When I entered Hogwarts I was excited. Finally I would belong. But I found that I didn't fit in here either. I was too smart, I tried too hard. And this time the bullying became about my looks, my intellect, and my heritage." Fleur was amazed at how she could relate to Hermione. She had the same problems when entering magical schooling though she wasn't bullied; her father was Minister of Magic, after all. "That Halloween I was ready to just pack it all in. I was just never going to belong, never have any friends. And I figured if I went home at least I could attend games at Old Trafford with my mum like we always did. But then the troll came in and Harry saved my life."
Fleur was amazed she hadn't yet heard this story. Hermione just continued, unaware of the wide-eyed look of her best female friend, "Harry leaped on its back and stuck his wand up its nose. Later Professor Flitwick said that he'd vanished the troll's brain (1)." Fleur's eyes bulged at the thought of a first year student being able to vanish anything let alone a creature's brain. "Anyway then Harry climbed off the fallen troll and walked over to me and asked if I was okay. I hugged him so tightly I'm amazed his ribs were intact. It was Harry's first hug," she added. "We became friends after that. I wasn't friends with Ron; the bastard was the reason I was in the bathroom in the first place and all he did was stand by the door pissing himself."
The blonde Veela giggled at the image before letting Hermione continue, "With Harry I knew I had a friend. I knew that he appreciated me. And it was nice to be appreciated. So I decided to stay."
"All because of 'Arry?" Fleur asked.
"Yes," Hermione nodded. "Harry was all the reason I needed." She watched him dive for the snitch, "He's all the reason I've ever needed." The warmth and love in her voice made Fleur smile. That was what she wanted. "Second year he visited me every day in the hospital wing when I was petrified. Third year he told me after Ron stormed off that he understood why I turned his broom into McGonagall and thanked me for it. I tried to apologize for not telling him first but he waved me off, saying that he wouldn't have listened if I had tried to explain it to him before I did it (2). Harry's more intelligent than anyone has ever given him credit for." Harry landed and walked over to kiss her. Hermione returned it and when they parted to breathe she smiled, "Enjoy your flight?"
"Yeah. I'm going to head up to our room to shower. See you there?"
"Sure. I'm going to talk to Fleur a bit longer first though."
Harry kissed his lover once more before whispering, "I love you Hermione. So incredibly much."
"I love you too," she responded, gently caressing his cheek, "I'll see you in a bit."
"You could help me dry off," he gave her a lecherous grin that she returned with one of her own.
"Or I could make you dirtier. I'll be up soon."
Harry waved to Fleur as he walked back up toward the castle. Hermione blushed at the look from Fleur, "I have many reasons to not be at Hogwarts. Harry is the only reason for me to stay. I don't think I need to tell you why he's all the reason I need."
Fleur shook her head. It was obvious why. And she knew that she'd never have exactly what Harry and Hermione had; their relationship had started as something far different. But she wanted that same depth of love that the pair had. "Go up to your lover Hermione. You should enjoy the time you get to have with him."
Hermione got up from the blanket, "Did I help you?"
"Knowing more about how you became friends has helped me, yes." Hermione smiled and ran off toward the castle. Fleur watched her until she was out of sight. She was very glad she and Hermione were friends. The young Veela was someone Fleur would forever be grateful to know. She knew that without a doubt.
Harry was in the shower cleaning when he suddenly felt arms encircle him and his girlfriend's breasts press against him. "You looked happy, talking to Fleur."
"I was talking about you and about our last three years here."
He grinned. Just the knowledge that talking about him put that smile on her face and made her so happy was nearly all he'd ever wanted. "I do seem to get a dreamy smile on my face whenever I talk about you. You know, other people don't understand how neither of us ever knew how we felt but then none of them know that we grew up so bullied that it's entirely understandable," he said.
"And in your case abused," Hermione added. "Still, you look so much healthier this year."
"Regular meals, no more horcrux in me," Harry smiled, "and of course the regular sex with my hot Veela girlfriend."
"I'd imagine that has had the largest impact."
Harry laughed, "Well we did torture a dark lord with our encounters until he pulled the horcrux out of me."
She ran her hands over his back and shoulders, "Time to clean you up."
"Only if I get to clean you up," Harry countered.
"Well I can't be trusted to bathe on my own according to you." Harry grinned and turned to kiss her. Hermione returned it, "Summer is coming."
"Do you think those topless beaches will render Remus and Sirius speechless?"
"If anything can manage to render those two speechless a beach full of topless women should be able to do it," Hermione giggled at the thought.
Harry sighed as her hands ran over his body. "Before you I never liked my body," he confessed.
"I know that," she gave him a quick peck before leaning into him as his hands explored her body, "Don't you know the territory by now love?"
"Never get tired of exploring it," he said. Hermione smiled at her boyfriend's obvious desire and they soon lost themselves in each other.
George Weasley looked at their sales figures. They were doing really well with their little business. Nothing sold as well as the Draco ping-pong sets but they were working on the mazes and the creatures because those would probably sell well. They'd worked out how to find things out from Hagrid with help from Harry and Hermione who were quite good at getting the half-giant to reveal secrets. They managed to find out the types of challenges and used that knowledge to improve the mazes. There were no physical obstacles, though George and Fred were of the opinion that a physical obstacle course would be brilliant to play in.
Working with Harry and Hermione set the twins up for success and they both knew that. Hermione's genius had corrected molting problems that they had with the Canary Creams and without her and Harry their other products, including the Draco ping-pong set, would not have been sold. The pair had helped them with so much and never asked for anything in return. Harry absolutely refused any portion of the profits. The twins still sent owls to Gringotts with money for Harry's share though; their sense of fairness wouldn't let Harry not be rewarded for his work. Fred came in, "How are the sales figures?"
"Pretty good. The Canary Creams are really popular. I think the maze will be incredibly popular. Possibly as popular as the Draco ping-pong game was."
Fred chuckled at the mention before continuing, "I think we should try to finish up our Wizarding Monopoly game. That would sell out."
"Agreed," George nodded. "So we should run through that board Hermione gave us to use to work out how to arrange all of our locations."
"Honeydukes, Zonkos, and the Three Broomsticks could be all the yellow properties. Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlor, Quality Quidditch Supplies, and Sugarplum's Sweets can be the red properties. The brown ones can be the Daily Prophet and the Leaky Cauldron," Fred looked at the board as George wrote down the list.
"That's good. Flourish and Blotts, Madame Malkin's, and Potage's Cauldron Shop can be the light blue places."
"No, make them the orange ones. Hermione'd never forgive us if we made Flourish and Blotts one of the cheapest properties on the board."
"That's true," George nodded. "How about we then use Eeylop's Owl Emporium, Magical Menagerie, and Slug & Jiggers Apothecary for the purple-pink properties?"
"That's fine. Hog's Head, Gladrags, and Dervish & Banges for the light blue?"
"Brilliant. For the green we can use Scrivenshaft's Quill Shop, Wizarding Wireless Network Headquarters, and Tomes and Scrolls. That'll make Hermione happy," George beamed at the solution they'd reached. "That leaves the dark blue. Those are the most valuable ones. How about Ollivander's and….ooh! We can use the name of our shop!"
Fred's eyes lit at that idea, "Then we can have the electric company and water company be King's Cross and Hogsmeade station while the four railways can be changed to the four Hogwarts quidditch teams!"
"Brilliant!" George exclaimed.
"Are you two okay?" Ginny asked her exuberant brothers.
"Just making up a game that Hermione taught us," Fred said, "we're fine. Hey Ginny, if you're playing a board game would you rather be told 'Go to Azkaban' or 'Go to Jail'?"
"Jail. Azkaban is too scary," Ginny shuddered at the thought. "You two scare me sometimes."
"We're brilliant," George argued, "not as brilliant as a certain brunette Veela but still pretty bloody smart."
"Now we just need to work out the name of our store. We have the Marauders as inspiration but with Harry and Hermione we're like the new Marauders," Fred said, forgetting Ginny was there as they thought about their store name.
"Why not go with Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes? That's what you wanted to call your shop right?" The twins turned to see Harry and Hermione standing behind them.
"Well it wouldn't be fair to you two. We want a name that includes all four of us."
Harry tilted his head in thought, "How about 'Hex Marks the Spot' or something like that?"
"That's not bad," Hermione admitted.
"We think that we should put our shop name as the other dark blue square on the Wizarding Monopoly board," Fred explained. "You know, so people know it's coming."
Hermione's eyes lit up, "How about Marauders' Mischief?"
"BRILLIANT!" Three boys exclaimed, causing the Gryffindor common room to all turn toward them.
"Ignore them, they're just being boys," Hermione said.
Harry chuckled at her words and leaned into her, "The two remaining Marauders would love that name. Have I mentioned how much I love you?" He kissed her and a few catcalls were heard as the couple kissed.
When they parted Hermione ran a hand through his hair, "You mention it pretty often Harry."
"Good," he rested his forehead against hers, "I mean it every time." He watched as the twins wrote down Marauders' Mischief onto the parchment about the board, "I bet we could get the remaining two Marauders to help run it."
"While we're at school? I can see them doing that," Hermione nodded. "It'd give them something to do and keep them out of too much trouble."
Harry gazed at Hermione in awe. That was a brilliant idea. "I think we should write them so they can find an adequate shop. Between us six we can come up with plenty of things to stock and then when Fred and George graduate next year they can work there and do some more creating." If the twins were rockets they would be launching any moment the way they were bouncing in their seats with joy at the ideas being discussed.
Fleur Delacour was not certain if Viktor was her soulmate. But she did know that Viktor could be the man who gave her faith and hope in dating again. Not every couple could be Harry and Hermione and lucky enough to meet when they were eleven. So with that new thought process Fleur decided to work on letting her guard down. And the first step to that was telling Viktor her insecurities.
Lucius Malfoy gazed at the letter from his son. Draco wanted dark magic books from their home to use and there was no way Lucius was dumb enough to send them. He looked at the names of the books. None of them would help him with the maze unless…Draco couldn't be that stupid, could he? On second thought, he absolutely could. Perhaps if he quietly disowned Draco…that way he couldn't be held accountable for his son's actions. Draco wouldn't know; at least, not right away. Narcissa's pregnancy was going well and the baby was growing nicely.
"Lucius?"
He glanced up to see his wife, "What?"
"The healer informed me that we are having twins," she said.
"Two boys?"
"A boy and a girl (3)," she answered. "Do you want to raise both or…"
"I can raise them both," he nodded. "Unless you want to have shared custody?"
"Once the divorce goes through I'm leaving the country never to return. I married you only because my parents forced me."
Lucius knew that. He remembered when Andromeda had been kicked out of the family for marrying a muggleborn wizard. Lucius had seen how it destroyed Narcissa; in a rare moment of tenderness in their marriage Lucius had comforted his wife as she broke down. He let his thoughts turn to having twins. A boy and a girl. He'd never seen himself as having a daughter. This would be interesting.
Ch 15
Narcissa Malfoy was not a maternal woman. And for both of the Malfoy parents it was an arranged marriage. Long she had dreamed of escaping her husband and England and just relaxing on a beach somewhere. She had certainly never wanted children but she had no choice the first time. The contract between their families had demanded it. This pregnancy was her way out. Finally she could be free of Lucius Malfoy and Malfoy Manor. It was, for her, a prison. A prison she had long been trapped in. In their entire marriage, closing in on sixteen years now, they had had sex twice. Lucius was not her type. He didn't force himself on her but then she knew that she wasn't his type either. Lucius preferred muggles and muggleborns. It was rather amusing to her that the blood purist wasn't interested in any pureblood women. She gazed at her swollen stomach. Just two more months and she'd be due. Lucius would have his heirs, she'd have the divorce, and the pair could go their separate ways. Maybe she'd visit her sister Andromeda before she left. She missed her.
Ron Weasley sat down on the grass. Ever since his expulsion his mother had been working him full-time. Ron had always had chores but he'd often been able to get his siblings to do it. In just one day Ron had had to clean the bedrooms out, sweep all the floors, and degnome the garden. Degnoming wasn't much fun when it was alone and the gnomes kept biting his ankles. "Ron get in here," he heard his mother yell. Thinking he was to be given a huge dinner he hurried inside only to see a small portion on his plate. "Go wash up and then after dinner you'll do the dishes."
"What?! I just worked all day like a bloody muggle and you're making me do the dishes too?!"
Arthur grabbed his youngest son by the arm, "You got kicked out of Hogwarts. You will earn your keep or I will toss you out on your rear! Now apologize to your mother and march upstairs to clean yourself up!"
Ron had never seen his father so angry. "Sorry Mum," he said before he ran up the stairs as fast as he could. Molly rubbed her forehead and Arthur sighed.
The third task grew nearer and excitement began to grow around the castle. While Durmstrang and Beauxbatons were ahead Hogwarts wasn't far behind in the points tallies, meaning there was every chance any school could win. Not that people knew how the points system worked. They just knew that Draco was screwed and Draco would mutter about the unfairness and the blood traitors conspiring against him.
The morning of the task dawned bright and with clear skies. Harry and Hermione woke and settled into each other, "Good morning Harry," she whispered.
"Morning," he sighed, stretching and sliding over to her. "Worried for our friends?"
"This one I'm not as worried about. Veela and ice water was my concern before," Hermione said.
He nodded in understanding and sat up in bed. "Who do you think will win?"
"I really don't care," she said. "I just want our friends to make it out alive."
It was mid-morning when the four champions were called into the Great Hall to see their families. Fleur and Viktor dragged Harry and Hermione along and Hermione finally got to meet Apolline Delacour, Fleur's mother. "It is a pleasure to meet you child," Apolline said, kissing Hermione on both cheeks.
"That feeling is certainly mutual Madame," Hermione said, returning the greeting. "Thank you for the invitation to visit. I suspect we might need someone to hold my father back when he learns just how involved Harry and I are."
"I can understand how worried you are but Claude and I will do our best to explain things to your parents," Apolline smiled as Gabrielle pulled Fleur aside to talk, "I was so pleased to hear that Fleur had made a friend here. It has never been easy for her to make friends. But her letters home this year have been so cheerful, so happy. You are a good friend to my daughter."
"She's been a good friend to me too," Hermione smiled as the two began to talk about their time in France that summer.
While Hermione was talking with Apolline Harry was being introduced to Viktor's parents and little brother. Viktor's mother glanced around the hall before her eyes settled on Hermione and she smiled, "That girl is Veela."
"Hermione," Harry nodded, "my girlfriend and mate."
"I'm glad she has found such an understanding mate," she said. "I worried she might not when I first saw her. And for most Veela it is a very real concern that they might not find that mate."
Harry's eyes widened as things snapped into place, "You…you're Mira? The one that she writes to?"
"I am," she nodded, smiling at his surprise. "You knew I was Veela, did you not?"
"Well yes but I didn't expect you to be Viktor's mum," Harry said.
Mira laughed, "I suppose I can understand that. Now do me a favor, Harry, and introduce me to your mate and the Veela she's sitting with."
Harry did as asked, walking over to the other table, "Hermione? Madame Delacour?"
"Call me Apolline, Harry," Apolline smiled before her eyes raised to gaze at Mira, "Fleur said that Viktor's mother was Veela too."
"We seem to be taking Hogwarts by storm," Mira said.
Hermione looked up at Mira, "You're…Mrs. Krum it was you in that bathroom!"
"Call me Mira Hermione. And yes I was. I must say, I'm quite impressed by your mate. You're a very lucky young woman."
"I'm the lucky one," Harry said automatically in response, earning him a kiss from his girlfriend.
The two elder Veela smiled at each other before Apolline got an idea, "Mira perhaps you would be interested in joining us as well this summer? We must explain to Hermione's muggle parents that their daughter is Veela."
Mira glanced at her son before speaking, "I think some time on some French beaches would be nice to enjoy. Would you mind if I joined you in France Viktor?"
"Not at all," he said. Harry and Hermione exchanged a smile. Fleur, meanwhile, did as she usually did, keeping her cool but smiling at his answer.
That was an aspect of Fleur that surprised Harry. He and Hermione weren't about to shag or snog in public but sharing a kiss or snuggling in the common room was an ordinary occurrence for them. The Veela nature often had her hungry for him and even just some handholding was enough to satisfy that hunger. Fleur never engaged in public displays of affection. He knew that she was part Veela so a great many things that were powerful for Hermione were weaker for her but Harry wondered if part of it was simply Fleur's rather standoffish nature too.
Once Viktor and Fleur had some privacy she smiled at him and he sat on a desk, "Are you sure you still want me to come?"
"I think that we will have fun," she nodded. Viktor nodded in agreement with her. The conversation they'd had after Hermione's little chat with Fleur had been interesting.
-Flashback-
Viktor found himself sitting next to Fleur after Harry and Hermione headed back up to the castle. "You seemed to have quite a talk," he said.
"We did," Fleur said. "Viktor I think that we need to define our relationship. What are we?" That question surprised Viktor. Honestly he wasn't quite sure what to call it either. He blinked and Fleur continued, "When I was talking to Hermione she told me about how she and Harry became friends and it was quite obvious to me that not unlike me, Hermione struggled to trust people. But she trusted Harry because he was so…"
"Stubborn?" Viktor offered.
Fleur laughed, "No I would say sweet and gentle and just there for her when she needed someone."
Viktor nodded his understanding, "You need a friend not a lover."
Fleur was relieved he understood, "Hermione's my first real friend. And I've enjoyed having that relationship this year. I just…I've never had a male friend. I know Harry, certainly, but not as well as I know Hermione."
"If you want to just be friends I can understand that," Viktor nodded. "Trust is not something I do freely either and I'm certain your trust was violated far worse than mine was."
Fleur just nodded and Viktor pulled her into a hug. Fleur was used to hugs from Hermione, and even with Harry, so she didn't tense. He did what Hermione had done; he didn't ask. The gratitude Fleur felt in that moment was overwhelming. When they parted Viktor spoke softly, "I want to respect your privacy but the burden you carry would be understood by Hermione. She would not change her opinion of you."
Fleur offered up a small smile, "Thank you Viktor."
Viktor wasn't disappointed that Fleur wasn't his girlfriend. He had just wanted to make friends. Anything more, with Fleur at least, was going to take time. And Viktor was willing to wait.
-End Flashback-
In the following weeks they'd become closer but not to the level of Hermione and Fleur's relationship. And subsequent conversations told him that if he and Fleur were to be a couple, he needed to prove to be as good as Harry. Hermione and Harry's relationship had had a few bumps but all pertaining to her Veela status. His and Fleur's relationship was more like the unveiling of every scar on their souls. There were scars that hurt Fleur deeply that he knew she kept to herself. Still, he would ask himself what would Harry do and he knew that if Hermione was upset and didn't want to talk to Harry about it he'd tell her to at least talk to Fleur about it. So Viktor did the same.
Fleur squeezed his hand, "Are you mad at me?"
"Not if you talk to Hermione," he answered.
"I intend to," she nodded, "today. I think it's time I did."
"Good," he smiled and pulled her into another hug, "we should go find our mothers before they do something to Harry or Hermione."
Fleur spent some time with her friends and her mother and sister (who had been most disappointed to learn that Harry was taken already) before she pulled Hermione aside to talk, "Fleur? What's wrong?"
"I want to tell you somezing that I have nevair told anyone," Fleur's accent was starting to grow and Hermione took her up to the Room of Requirement. "I have to tell you now because I don't…I know that thees task ees dangerous and you have told me everything and eet ees time zat I did ze same."
Hermione sat on the beach she'd had the room turn into and let Fleur sit next to her on the blanket, "What is it?"
"When I was fifteen," Fleur said, taking a deep breath, "I was raped."
The only sound on the beach was of the waves lapping against the shore. Hermione pulled her friend into a hug, unsure of what else to do or even to say. "I had just come into my powers and they are not as strong as yours, or even my mother's," Fleur continued, "zere ees no excuse for what zhey did to me."
"They," Hermione repeated, "how many?"
"Eight men," she answered. "Zhey told me zat I deserved eet. Zat eet ees all zat Veela are good for," she leaned into Hermione's embrace. The feeling of support from Hermione was exactly what she needed. "Only four managed to... I wuz een shock but zhen I used my allure and gave a full blast. Zhey were all frozen. My clothing was reeped and my body bruised. My fazzer had zhem all castrated. Eet ees an old law on ze books," she explained when she saw Hermione's surprise, "Evair since I have not…with anyone."
"Oh Fleur," Hermione rubbed her back, "I am so sorry that you had to go through that."
"My muzzer turned eento a harpy for ze first time that I had ever seen when she found me." Fleur looked at her best friend, "I 'ave nevair told anyone else. Not even my leetle sister knows."
"I'm honored that you trust me enough to tell me, Fleur, but I'm so sorry for you."
"You did nozing to me to be sorry for 'Ermione. Ze bastards did and zhey are very sorry now even if eet ees for anuzzer reason," Fleur took a deep breath. She refused to cry about what had happened to her. She'd done enough of that afterwards and while she knew if she broke down and cried Hermione would comfort her she would never again weep for what had happened to her. It was time to move on, "Viktor knows that I hold back for some reason. And surely you suspect too; but I wanted to tell you the reason so that you understood why I have such struggles with men and especially with one that I…like."
The brunette nodded. "At least they all suffered. Your father sounds like he'd get along well with my dad. I'm really hoping I don't have to protect Harry from him."
Fleur smiled at the transition. That was another thing to like about Hermione. She could change the subject so smoothly you didn't always notice that she did it but she greatly appreciated the way Hermione did. "You could just turn into ze 'arpy to scare him. My muzzer made my attackers soil zhemselves."
Hermione smiled at that. Apolline looked so kind but she knew her own mother did too; cross her, though, and you would suffer. "Our parents will get along well." Fleur smiled and their conversation shifted to what would happen that summer and the task that afternoon.
Her confession to Hermione had Fleur feeling particularly strong. Hermione's presence had shown her that trusting people was possible and while Hermione hadn't said it, Fleur knew that Hermione would never tell Harry unless given permission. And to top it off Fleur had not experienced the revulsion, disgust, or the feeling that she was stupid for finding it hard to trust as a result of the attack. She felt confident as she stood in the tent with Viktor who she hugged and thanked. He was surprised at the offered hug but accepted it. Fleur had a smile on her face and that was all that mattered.
"Are you ready?" He asked, not wanting to ask anything more personal.
"I am," she nodded. "You?"
"Harry threatened to do weird things with my corpse if I died," Viktor answered. Raised eyebrows from Cedric and Fleur had him explaining, "He wants to turn me into a coat rack, a lamp, a practice dummy, a Halloween decoration…" The other two burst into laughter at the list, "I looked to Hermione for help and she suggested a gargoyle."
"Sounds like you better live then," Cedric chuckled.
"I do not want to be a coat rack," Viktor nodded.
"You would not be a good looking coat rack. And not useful either," Fleur said, "your nose is too small." Viktor smiled at her and she winked at him.
Draco sat in the corner of the tent working on how best to torture the other three. He'd have to catch them unawares. His father had not come that day. According to his godfather his father and mother had other things to do that day. Something about the pregnancy. He hadn't paid attention; he loathed that his parents were having another child so he went out of his way to ignore anything mentioned about it (in so doing he missed that his father had written that they were having twins).
Harry and Hermione sat in the family box with Viktor's family and Fleur's mother and sister; her father hadn't been able to attend due to work. Something Apolline promised Claude would not be doing for their visit. Harry's statement that he'd never been on vacation before had Gabrielle telling him about the things that they could do while Apolline gently dissuaded her daughter from taking control of summer plans. This was helped by Harry saying that Hermione had got him tickets to see a professional quidditch game with her father.
Harry and Hermione held hands as the champions were escorted out of the tent. Harry felt Hermione lean against him and his arm wrapped around her automatically. "You okay?"
"Just nervous," she said. "I don't want anything bad to happen to Fleur."
"Viktor won't let it," Harry said. "Do you think Draco will make it out alive?"
"Well Ron's not here to muck it up so anything's possible." Harry smirked. Ron and Draco, before Ron's expulsion, had fought with each other like a snake and a mongoose. Ginny had pointed out that without Harry and Hermione there to temper Ron's anger and keep him in line Ron was like a cannon with a short fuse and more than happy to explode at any moment. He'd got more detentions in the months that he'd returned to Hogwarts than the twins got in a year.
Ludo Bagman took up the sonorous charm and began to explain the event to the gathered students. "Today the task is simple. Enter the maze and get to the trophy inside. The person who claims the trophy wins the competition. The points standings mean that Miss Delacour and Mr. Krum, from Beauxbatons and Durmstrang respectively," there was cheering for the pair throughout the stadium, "will enter at the same time. Mr. Diggory…"
"THAT'S MY SON!"
Ludo seemed surprised at the yelled declaration before speaking, "Yes Mr. Diggory will enter fifteen minutes after they do. And that means our fourth champion Mr. Malfoy will enter forty-five minutes after him." In reality with the points differences it should have been several hours but the organizers all agreed that there was no way Draco would get the trophy at that point. They still weren't sure that the hour difference between when Fleur and Viktor entered and when Draco did would mean that he would even get to enter the maze.
"Now then Mr. Krum, Miss Delacour, you may begin…NOW!" Fleur and Viktor entered the maze and, unseen by everyone, simply sat down and waited.
"Have all the tasks been the audience staring at nothing?" Mira asked.
"The second task was too," Harry said. "The first task was a dragon so that one there was at least something to watch even if it was outrageous to pit teenagers against dragons." Hermione nodded her agreement with her lover's words. "Although Draco-Pong was fun to watch." Hermione rolled her eyes and Harry gave her a cheeky grin. "Hey, it worked out well for us."
"True but when I was watching it at the time I kept thinking that we were about to watch someone die. It was only truly funny once Draco was discovered to still be alive."
"You're too nice Hermione," Harry said, kissing her forehead.
"You love that aspect of me and you know it."
Harry smiled, "I do. If it weren't for your natural tendency to be nice my glasses would have been broken still when we got to Hogwarts first year. You fixed them for me just because they were broken." She smiled at her boyfriend and shifted to sit in his lap, "Just to be clear I would love to go back in time and kick eleven year-old Harry's arse for letting Ron pick on you."
"Some things can't be changed Harry, even with magic," she said. "But know that I love you and don't hold it against you. You had found a friend and didn't want to lose him. I understand that. I'd have done anything to not lose your friendship."
"And now?"
"Now we know each other better and where we both stand. I can feel your emotional flare-ups and you can, without even looking at me, know when I'm upset. We know what we want out of our relationship and we both enjoy the perks of me being Veela." Sitting in his lap she felt Harry twitch when she finished speaking and smiled.
A magical bang was heard and Cedric entered the maze to see Fleur and Viktor waiting. They stood and, wands drawn, walked on together. The first creature they came across was a boggart. But seeing three champions the boggart wasn't sure who to taunt and before it could transform they had dispatched it and moved forward. They took the next right and came upon a troll. Fleur didn't feel like hurting the troll. So she released an allure blast that easily gave her power over it. "Please let us pass," she said. The troll moved out of the way and she let both boys go first before she followed, "Thank you sir," she said to the troll who bowed so far forward he fell on his face.
"Here's hoping all the creatures are male," Cedric smirked.
"Just for that you take ze next creature," Fleur said, raising an eyebrow in challenge. Viktor nodded his agreement. Cedric's smirk vanished.
The vanishing smirk became a frown when they stumbled on a Chimaera, "Who puts a Chimaera in a maze for teenagers?" Cedric asked.
"The same people who made the audience stare at a still lake in February in Scotland," Viktor answered as they sized up the creature, "How do we get around it?"
The Chimaera gazed at them. Fleur thought to herself, 'What would Hermione do?' That question's answer immediately made itself apparent. "Eef this does not work, blame 'Ermione," Fleur told Viktor and Cedric, who looked at each other, confused. She cautiously approached the Chimaera and transformed into the harpy. Fleur didn't look like Hermione did when she transformed. Fleur was more harpy-like than actual harpy. "Let us pass," she said. The Chimaera let out a blast of fire and Fleur met it with a fireball, "I will not ask again," she said, letting two fireballs appear in her hands as the Chimaera gave her an appraising look. Without warning the beast leaped forward and Cedric and Viktor both cast a banishing spell at the same time, sending the Chimaera into the hedge it was standing in front of. With a roar the beat vanished from sight. Fleur changed back, "You could have done that sooner."
"Don't reckon I expected you to do that," Cedric said as they hurried on, this time going left.
The next few turns were dead ends but they regrouped each time and pressed on. They appeared in front of a sphinx and immediately all had a silent thank you for Hermione quizzing them with riddles over the past few weeks. "Three of you? Very well. You will have to answer more riddles. Three each." The Champions nodded and she began, "A natural state, I'm sought by all. Go without me, and you shall fall. You do me when you spend, and use me when you eat to no end. What am I?"
Viktor answered after a moment of though, "Balance."
The sphinx did not smile. In fact she looked annoyed, "Correct. Next one. We hurt without moving. We poison without touching. We bear the truth and the lies. We are not to be judged by our size. What are we?"
Fleur had much experience with this, "Words."
The sphinx frowned, "Under pressure is the only way I work, and by myself is the only way I'm hurt. What am I?"
They were silent until Cedric answered, "A diamond."
The sphinx snarled. Surely they could be tripped up. "First think of a person who lives in disguise, who deals in secrets and tells naught but lies. Next tell me what is always the last thing to mend, the middle of middle the end of the end? And finally give me a sound often heard during the search of a hard-to-find word. Now string them together and answer me this, which creature would you be unwilling to kiss?"
Fleur again answered, "Spider."
"I'm teary-eyed but never cry. Silver-tongued, but never lie. Double-winged, but never fly. Air-cooled, but never dry. What am I?"
"Mercury," Viktor answered without hesitation.
"What word is shorter when you add two letters to it?"
"Short," Cedric responded.
"What starts with the letter 't', is filled with 't' and ends in 't'?"
"A teapot," Cedric smiled.
"I can run but never walk. Wherever I go, thought are close behind me. What am I?"
"A nose," Viktor said.
"The last one then," the sphinx said, "Many have heard me, but nobody has seen me, and I will not speak back until spoken to. What am I?"
"An echo," Fleur answered. The sphinx begrudgingly let them pass, mumbling about humans being smarter than they look as they ran by. Fleur turned back, "I am Veela," she said proudly before turning back around and running ahead with Viktor and Cedric. Slightly mollified that at least one's intelligence could be put down to her being superior to the humans the sphinx gave a small smile. No doubt she had influenced the stupid humans with her.