Chapter 12
A/N- Time for the draw from the Goblet of Fire! Let's see...werewolf insecurity, Harry worries, Fleur meets Hermione, and Harry witnesses how some people respond to a possible Veela. This is a chapter that fits an entire day because it's just got so much going on in that single day. Enjoy!
Harry Potter woke on October 31st feeling very, very content. It was probably the best feeling he'd ever had on the holiday at Hogwarts. "Harry quit moving," his bedmate mumbled.
He smiled, "Sorry love. I just feel really happy today."
"Well of course you do given what we did last night," she said, stretching before turning to face him, "I'm sure it went well."
"They can't just kill him."
"No but they can find the horcruxes. My wish wasn't just for their capture. I asked for justice too." Harry smiled. That meant Apollo could find the horcruxes and destroy them. Hermione had thought of everything in asking for her favor. "You didn't think I'd make sure to set up a way for him to get the horcruxes?"
"I should have," Harry said. "Knowing you and how meticulous you are."
"Thank you," she kissed him, "for that I'll let you shower with me before we're popped back to our rooms."
"Let me shower with you? How do you know it isn't the other way around?"
"Because we need to talk about how to make sure I'm not outed as a Veela," Hermione said. "And I showered with you last time," she added with a cheeky grin.
Harry nodded and got out of bed, helping her up and staring for several seconds as she walked to the bathroom. "I'm not sure if your superpowers are because you're a Veela or because you're a teenage girl and I'm a teenage boy."
"Probably a combination," she answered. "Come on Harry we have to talk about this."
Fleur Delacour submitted her name to the goblet and then gazed around. The Veela wasn't yet in the Great Hall. She knew she belonged to Gryffindor but beyond that Fleur knew nothing about who she was. She knew her mother had told her to tell people her grandmother was Veela so she was only part Veela. In truth there was no such thing. There were no 'part Veela'. You either were Veela, or you weren't. Her mother had visited Beauxbatons and talked at length to the girls that would be going to Britain about how Veela were treated there. Why there were none. So it stood to reason to Fleur that this Veela was also hiding it, and perhaps freaked out because she would have to be the first Veela in her family.
For Fleur classmates' reactions had never been a problem. In fact several girls she knew had asked her to cast the allure at their boyfriends to test their love. Fleur had no problem with that and never used her allure to steal a boyfriend from another girl. That was a quick, surefire way to make enemies. She didn't need any of those.
"I think you should just relax. I mean, given how people seen as creatures are treated in Britain I doubt the Veela is going to out you. I'm sure she knows how they're treated here and she'll probably keep it quiet about herself so why bother outing you?"
Hermione bit her lip as she put on her bra, "You think so?"
"I have a really good feeling about today. And it's not just you," he added, his eyes moving appreciatively over her body as she got dressed. "I say just go with the flow."
"That's your solution to everything," she rolled her eyes.
"Hey it's served me well so far. I have you, my wolf and I are getting along pretty well, you and the Veela are getting along better too…can't complain about any of that."
Hermione found it hard to argue with that. She was glad they didn't have classes that day. She pulled on her t-shirt before putting on her jumper. "Okay Harry I'll try and relax about it. But I might need your help with that."
Harry grinned, "I'm always happy to help you relax."
She threw a pillow at him, "Not like that! You have a one-track mind Harry."
"Can't blame me though can you? I'm a werewolf and my girlfriend is sexy."
"Smooth talker," she said, pulling him to her by his belt and kissing him, "Okay let's go get breakfast."
When they arrived at the Gryffindor table it was still quite early; only the students of the two visiting schools were there. Hermione felt the Veela point her in a direction and she looked to see a very beautiful blonde girl from Beauxbatons. She squeezed Harry's hand. They sat down and the blonde came over, "'Allo, my name ees Fleur Delacour. Eet ees a pleasure to meet you."
"I'm Hermione Granger and this is Harry Potter," Hermione said, accepting the hand the older girl offered.
Harry smiled, "Welcome to Britain. Do you want to join us?"
"Zhank you," Fleur sat down next to Hermione, "Personally I dread ze upcoming winter. It ees so much better in ze south of France."
"I'd agree with that," Hermione nodded.
Fleur looked surprised but delighted, "You have been to France?"
"My grandmother moved there after she retired," Hermione answered. "She loved the wine and food. We would go to visit her every winter. It was much preferable to what we have here in Scotland."
"Oui, eet ees already so cold 'ere and eet ees only October," Fleur put crepes on her plate. "Zo what year are you two?"
"Fourth year," Harry answered. "And I don't think the cold is too bad. Not when you get to cuddle up with your girlfriend," he smiled at Hermione who kissed his cheek after putting French toast on his plate.
"Well for single people the cold can be a problem Harry," Hermione reminded him, "Not everyone is as lucky as you are."
"No one is as lucky as I am," Harry said, "Because there's only one Hermione and she loves me."
"Harry you're being particularly sappy today," Hermione said.
"Can't help it," he mumbled into her ear. "Wolf doesn't grasp that she won't take me from you."
Hermione pinched the bridge of her nose. Why didn't the wolf get it? She'd already explained it to him twice that Harry was hers and she was his and still the wolf didn't get it. Hermione thought quickly. How to placate the wolf? She knew the answer nearly before she'd finished asking herself the question. She leaned into him and whispered, "I want you to slam me against the library's book shelves tonight and claim me there." The low growl that escaped Harry told her she'd been right. The wolf loved dominating her, even if Harry didn't.
She understood that the wolf knew that Harry would never be the guy to dominate her, in any form. His upbringing had him too timid and fearful of personal interactions. Being a control freak that didn't bug her, but she knew it irritated the wolf and that was why she had to let it dominate her from time to time. It wasn't something she personally disliked but she knew Harry didn't like it. Harry's memories of physical abuse made him very uncomfortable in those situations. So she would let the wolf win and then spend the rest of the evening reminding Harry that she loved him and engaging in the gentle lovemaking that Harry craved.
They settled in to eat, conversing lightly with Fleur. Throughout breakfast they talked, never mentioning Veela. They learned that Fleur was a seventh year at Beauxbatons and that her father was the owner of a company that made broomsticks in France. That was something Harry was definitely interested in and for him conversation became easier. Beyond that they talked about their schools and to neither Harry nor Hermione's surprise Hogwarts was severely lacking in the Defense department.
It wasn't through lack of effort on Rufus' part, more the fact that they'd never had a defense professor longer than a year and more than one of them had been a fraud. The curriculum had been all over the place. By the time they finished breakfast more people had begun to trickle into the Great Hall. The owls flew in and delivered their paper. Hermione looked at the headline and smiled, "They got him."
Harry looked at the paper. The picture was of Pettigrew and the headline read, Dark Lord and Betrayer of Potters Captured! The article was an interview with Amelia Bones who talked about the capture of Voldemort and Pettigrew and how they'd both evaded the law for so long. It was mentioned that while Pettigrew was an illegal animagus, Voldemort's soul had been torn from his body that famous night at the Potters. Horcruxes weren't mentioned and neither was a trial for either one. Because of the danger of them escaping they'd been placed in the custody of the goblins.
For Harry, it was a relief. To finally have the rat and Voldemort gone from his life was a welcome change. He still thought it incredibly creepy Ron had shared a bed with the rat for so long. More than once he'd wished Crookshanks had just eaten the rat and rid them of that headache. But the thought of the rat stewing in a small cell was nearly as fulfilling as the thought of him being eaten by Crookshanks, so Harry let it go. "I wonder what will happen now."
"I guess we'll just have to wait and see," Hermione said, squeezing Harry's arm and leaning into him, "seems like you're having a really good Halloween morning."
Harry grinned. Really good was a massive understatement. Waking up in bed with Hermione, then taking a shower with her, only to come down to breakfast and learn that Pettigrew and Voldemort were captured. The only negative so far was that the wolf wanted to dominate Hermione, which Harry hated doing. For Harry that was the hardest part of being a werewolf. He really wished the wolf would understand and respect his feelings when it came to his relationship with Hermione.
After breakfast they said goodbye to Fleur and Hermione went to the library to do one of her extra projects while Harry headed to the quidditch pitch to fly and clear his head. He was always telling Hermione to go with the flow but when it came to the wolf wanting to dominate Hermione Harry didn't want to let the wolf win. He always felt flashbacks to the beatings he'd been given by his uncle and how he'd been thrown into the furniture or down the stairs and it certainly didn't put him in the mood to be sexually involved with Hermione. Maybe he should take a page out of her book for a change and actually stand up to the wolf.
His flight wasn't too long; it looked like rain and Harry didn't feel like taking another shower should he get caught in it. He headed inside and found Seamus and Dean in the Great Hall watching people put their names in the goblet while finishing up homework. "Hey guys."
"Hey Harry," Seamus said, "all the Durmstrang blokes just put their names in."
"The Beauxbatons students already did earlier," Dean added, "a seventh year told us."
"Anyone from Hogwarts?"
"Not that we've seen," Seamus answered. "I heard Angelina was thinking about entering but decided not to."
Harry smiled. He'd actually given her the books on the tournament Hermione had borrowed from the library to dissuade her. He owed her for how she'd reacted to him leaving the quidditch team and he thought it important to show her what she could be facing. She'd consequently decided not to enter. Plus she was team captain of the quidditch team. She couldn't risk injury.
"I wonder how many quidditch players will even risk injury in the tournament," Harry said as he sat down next to Seamus, "I mean, quidditch can become a career if you're hungry enough for it. This tournament is a one-time thing that hasn't even happened for a few hundred years. And it's really, really dangerous. People have died in it."
Dean and Seamus nodded in agreement. They sat at the table until lunch, watching people who were dropping their name in. Harry helped them with some homework problems that Hermione had originally helped him with when he'd had them. They didn't see anyone add their name from Hogwarts as lunchtime came around, which had the whole hall buzzing with curiosity about how many people might have entered the night before.
Hermione joined them for lunch, sitting opposite Harry instead of her usual spot next to him, "Are you boys behaving?"
"You don't always have to babysit us Hermione," Dean smirked, "we can behave ourselves on occasion."
"Rarely," she muttered.
"Why do you put up with her Harry?" Seamus asked.
"Without Hermione I'm not so sure I'd even know how to tie my tie," Harry said. "I'm useless without her."
"That's true," Seamus nodded, earning him a playful shove from Harry.
Hermione looked at the goblet, "Cedric Diggory is entering his name," she said.
The boys all looked to see Cedric's entourage wait for him to slip the piece of paper into the goblet. "Why does he have an entourage?" Dean asked. All three boys looked at Hermione for an answer.
She rolled her eyes, "Obviously some people are interested in how pretty and perfect he is. And those people aren't just girls."
"They are all Hufflepuffs," Harry noted, "think they stick around when Cho Chang is near him?"
"What would they say if they wanted to snog? 'Sorry fanboys and fangirls, I need to go stick my tongue down this Ravenclaw's throat?'" Seamus asked.
"Gross," Hermione wrinkled her nose, "and Cho seems the type to not share time with her boyfriend with others."
"Not all women can be as forgiving as you Hermione," Dean winked.
"Naw mate, all Hermione has to do is touch Harry's leg and he's willing to follow her anywhere," Seamus teased.
"You really are jealous all you have is Dean," Harry retorted, making Hermione snort with laughter.
"You two really don't think I can do better than Seamus do you?" Dean sighed exasperatedly.
An afternoon of Harry playing games with Seamus and Dean while Hermione read for pleasure rather than to study eventually gave way to the Halloween feast; they walked down to dinner together, Harry determined to stand up to his wolf that evening. As much as he could anyway. They didn't really communicate. It irritated Harry sometimes that Hermione knew the wolf so well. It felt like something was being taken from him, in a way. She was very in tune with him but that she would just give in and placate the wolf when the wolf demanded it made him angry. He knew she was doing it for him but he felt like the wolf had too much power in the relationship. He didn't want the wolf to take the lead anymore.
Hermione felt anxious about the Goblet of Fire. She knew Rufus wouldn't let anything bad happen to Harry and that Voldemort was captured but Harry had some of the worst luck imaginable and she worried about him. The feast was very large with a wide array of foods of Europe. Beauxbatons was sitting at the Gryffindor table for dinner, putting Hermione right next to Fleur. "So have you entered?" Hermione asked her.
"Oui," Fleur nodded. "We all entered. Only ze ones who wanted to compete came to 'Ogwarts."
Dean and Seamus both were in awe of Hermione chatting so casually with the beautiful blonde. Harry kicked them under the table and their mouths closed as Hermione asked, "So what will you all do for your studies? Only one of you can enter."
"Most of us will be eenvolved in self-study," Fleur responded, "ze carriages have a library we can use."
"You're going to spend most of your days in those carriages? That sounds uncomfortable," Harry said.
"Zey are bigger on ze inside," Fleur said. "Kind of like wizard tents."
"Oh," Harry nodded in understanding, "that sounds pretty cool."
It took a bit but eventually Seamus and Dean were able to talk around Fleur, though they didn't really speak to her. "I'll meet you in the room after dinner," Harry whispered into Hermione's ear. "I want to deal with these two first."
"Okay," she nodded, wondering what he was going to say to the two boys.
The food vanished from the table and Dumbledore stood, "Now we come to the drawing of the names of the Champions. If your name is called, please exit through that door," Dumbledore indicated a door to his left, and wait in the chamber for the other champions and of course we officials. Best of luck to all of the Champions." He moved to the goblet, "The Champion of Durmstrang is…" a piece of paper flew out of the cup and he caught it. He opened it and read, "Viktor Krum!" Most people clapped politely, though the entire Durmstrang contingent looking incredibly angry and annoyed at the choice of Champion. Some Hogwarts students hooted and whistled and some girls screamed as Krum rose from his seat next to Draco Malfoy and walked across the hall and into the room previously indicated. Ron Weasley was seen clapping vigorously and shouting. Harry almost pitied Krum. He'd never spoken to the bloke but Harry would hate this kind of attention. Krum just looked angry though Harry wondered if that was normal. Every time he'd seen Krum he looked angry.
The hall quieted once Krum left it, making Dumbledore easily heard, "The Champion of Beauxbatons is…" again a piece of paper flew out of the cup, slightly singed. He caught it and read, "Fleur Delacour!" Unlike Viktor, Fleur was congratulated by her peers and they clapped for her. Harry and Hermione did too. There was much less female support for Fleur within Hogwarts, which irritated Harry. Ron was heard loudly talking about how she must be Veela and Harry found he dreaded what could happen to Hermione if it ever got out that she was Veela. If what he was seeing was any clue it would be very bad.
Dumbledore almost seemed to move slower as he reached toward the goblet, "The Champion of Hogwarts is…" A piece of paper flew out of the cup and he opened it carefully, "Cedric Diggory!"
The Hufflepuff table erupted in cheers and applause, making Harry wince. Sensitive hearing had a serious downside at times. Hermione cast a quick spell and he felt relief. "Thank you," he mumbled to her, squeezing her hand. She returned the squeeze and he nearly smiled. Cedric got up and entered the room, the rest of the school clapping politely but impossible to hear over the Hufflepuffs.
The goblet went out and the armed goblin guards who had watched the goblet over night placed it back into a box and exited the hall with it. Hermione let out a sigh of relief. Harry was safe.
Shortly after that they were dismissed from the Great Hall and Hermione headed up to the Room while Harry walked off with Seamus and Dean. "What's up Harry?"
"What was with you two and Fleur?"
"She's a beautiful girl sitting near us."
"You don't get that way with Hermione," Harry said.
"Well no mate. We've known Hermione since we were 11," Dean said. "We've also been able to see her and interact with her as we've grown up." Seamus nodded in agreement.
Harry wasn't sure why it irritated him that they were gobsmacked around Fleur, but it did. "Sorry it's just…it really irritated me seeing you two looking like idiots at dinner."
"Look I know we looked like idiots Harry but we wouldn't do anything to offend her."
"Yeah we're not Ron Weasley," Seamus said. "I heard the git. I'd reckon that's why you're so angry. Afraid that's how everyone will act around Hermione if they know."
"We don't act that way around Hermione," Dean pointed out, "and honestly Harry, you have to admit that when it comes to babes at Hogwarts we're rather limited. Most of the pureblood girls, hell most of the guys too, look like the product of multiple generations of incest. Which they are."
"Attractive witches in this school are rare," Seamus agreed.
"Sorry for getting so angry about it," Harry said.
"It's alright mate. You're just feeling protective of Hermione. We understand that."
"Just remember that we're way more scared of Hermione than you," Seamus teased. Harry grinned. He had good friends.
When Harry entered the Room of Requirement it was to see a complete recreation of the Hogwarts library. And he could feel the wolf responding to it. He swallowed. This was his moment to make a stand. He walked through the stacks to find her and he felt the wolf trying to control him. Urging him to take her. Shove her into the bookcase and claim her as his. Harry refused to move, standing still and clenching his fists. He wondered if this was what the Imperius curse felt like. Being pushed to do something you didn't want to do.
Harry was so focused on not doing what the wolf wanted that he didn't notice his girlfriend turning to see him, "Harry? Harry you're shaking!" She hurried over to him and rubbed his arms, "What's wrong?"
"I…I know what the wolf wants but Hermione I don't want to do it. I don't like hurting you and I just can't do it," Harry looked her in the eyes, "I don't ever want to hurt you. I know you gave me permission but I just can't do it."
She kissed him, "Harry we don't ever have to do something you don't want to do." She hugged him, "I know you don't like it. I just don't want the wolf to hurt you."
"I'm in charge of my mind and body and I don't want to hurt you. I just…I can't. Not after what I've experienced," he said.
Hermione sat on a table and pulled him into her embrace, "It's okay Harry. I've told the wolf before that his job is to protect you. If he's being selfish he can get over it. I'm yours and you're mine and the Veela has figured that out; if she can then he can too."
Harry just leaned against her, enjoying Hermione's warmth and comfort. "I want our relationship to be about us. Not them. They don't get a say."
"I like assertive Harry," Hermione kissed him, "what do you want to do tonight? Go back to the tower?"
"I want us to do what we wanted to do in this room," Harry said. "I wanted to lay you down on a study table and make you scream courtesy of my Parseltongue abilities."
"What my Harry wants my Harry gets," Hermione smiled, "even if I have to suffer a screaming orgasm and your very, very enjoyable ability."
"How very kind of you," Harry smirked.
"It's an act of charity," Hermione agreed, giggling into his shoulder. "Okay so that's what you want. I want to give you a blowjob in the Restricted Section. If you don't make too much noise we can shag there against the shelves."
"If Madam Pince knew how dirty your fantasies of the library are she'd never let you in it again," Harry chuckled.
"Oh shut up Harry. You're a bad influence on me."
"Me? I'm perfectly innocent," he said, putting on his best innocent face. Hermione rolled her eyes before smiling as he leaned in to kiss her.
Chapter 13
A/N- A combination of life and writer's block has kept me away. This chap, though, was finished before. I just didn't notice it because of everything that was going on.
Let's see, what to say... Well when I did the commentary I had Harry and Dean announce the teams in this order- Keeper-Beaters-Chasers and Seeker. Bold means they're speaking into the microphone.
Sirius Black was feeling better than he had in a long time. Pettigrew was caught, his mental health was coming along, and he talked to Harry once a week using the mirror. His physical health had massively improved. He felt conflicted about Remus though. Albus Dumbledore had sat down with him and come clean about his role in Harry living at the Dursleys and undergoing physical and emotional abuse. Dumbledore certainly couldn't have gone to see Harry. But Remus could have and instead had abandoned him. Even working at Hogwarts Remus was distant from the son of their deceased best friends. That concerned Sirius.
Privately, Sirius had always wondered if Remus had been in love with Lily. She was the first girl to ever accept him for being a werewolf. He'd always been afraid of it and hated himself for it. Sirius thought that Lily's easy acceptance had made Remus fall deeply in love with Lily, not that she knew it. And Sirius knew that Remus would never tell James or Lily. For Sirius it was the only rationale for why their supposed best friend would not check up on Harry.
Sirius had not contacted Remus since his name had been cleared and he'd begun his treatment. Remus, though, had written him after word spread of Pettigrew's capture. Sirius wasn't really sure how to respond. Or if he should respond; Remus had cut both Sirius and Harry out of his life for a long time and Sirius didn't think he could forgive abandoning Harry as easily as he forgave Remus abandoning him.
Sure, Remus could have believed that Sirius had betrayed James and Lily. But to abandon Harry was just unbelievable to Sirius. While Sirius had been locked up for eleven years for bad judgment and a quick temper Remus had always been the calm member of the group of friends. He also knew how to talk to Muggles. Maybe Harry's life wouldn't have been so hard had the werewolf made an effort. And that was the reason Sirius would not be responding to Remus Lupin.
Harry gazed at Hermione sleeping. She looked so beautiful. She always looked good, in his opinion, but knowing that the smile on her lips was because of him felt amazing. His confidence had grown by leaps and bounds since they became a couple. And he could see that he made her more confident too.
By and large, he liked being a werewolf. He liked that he didn't need glasses anymore and that his body no longer showed signs of the abuse he'd experienced for most of his life. That he looked like he should at his age, and not like he was two years younger because he'd lived in a cupboard for so long. Those things had boosted his confidence big time. The wolf's desire to dominate Hermione, though, frustrated him to no end. Standing up to the wolf's desires seemed the best way to argue with him. They couldn't really communicate.
He felt a chill and pulled the blanket up higher, snuggling into the bed and against his lover. It was a Sunday, he could sleep in. "Mmm Harry we should go back to our own beds," she mumbled.
"But you're so much more comfy than my bed or my pillow."
"True though that may be, we're going to get caught if we have too many of these sleepovers up here."
Harry sighed. "I usually love that you're the voice of reason but at present I'm not a fan of it. I really like sleeping snuggled up to you."
"I do too love but I also don't want to get caught by professors or students," Hermione kissed his cheek, "we can still do this but it cannot be every night."
"How many nights a week then? Five?"
Hermione loved that he craved the closeness; the first time she'd hugged him he had flinched and that he craved the closeness told her he'd come a long way over the past four years but they had secrets to keep and being busted for sleeping together could lead to them being exposed. "How about three nights a week tops; and they can't be all together either. They have to be every other day or two days."
Harry's pout was pitiful. "We can still snog Harry. We can still make love too," she kissed him on the lips, "but actually sharing a bed can't be an option."
Harry sighed. Then an idea struck him, "Would you mind sharing my dorm room bed?"
The lengths he would go to try and keep her with him so they could snuggle were cute. "Absolutely not Harry. I'm Veela and your dormmate is very sensitive to mind magic."
"Stupid Ron," Harry muttered.
"You'll survive Harry," she promised, kissing him again. Harry continued to pout and she sat up in bed, letting the sheet fall and his eyes wander over her chest. "I'll tell you what though; this summer we can share a bed. Sneaking around on my parents is easier than sneaking around a magical castle."
When he didn't respond she knew he was still staring at her chest. She slid on her dressing gown, "Curse my super powers."
"Just remember Hermione," Harry grinned, "with great power comes great responsibility." She stuck her tongue out at him in response.
Despite what Harry called their new 'horribly cruel' sleeping arrangement, November started off very well. The second weekend of November was a quidditch match and Harry's first time commentating in the box with Dean. It was Slytherin vs Ravenclaw and Harry and Dean found themselves being warned about any off-color remarks about the Slytherins by their head of house before the match. "Professor we can behave ourselves," Harry said.
"Even without Hermione babysitting us," Dean quipped with a grin before looking down when McGonagall scowled at him.
"This is a very serious position," McGonagall said, "and I expect you two to behave yourselves. We have two guest schools here that we are hosting and you represent Hogwarts when you commentate on a match."
Harry spoke up, "Look Professor, no offense but I'm way more afraid of Hermione hurting me because I said something inappropriate than I am of you. And so is Dean. Believe me, we'll behave ourselves."
"Hermione gets scary when she gets angry," Dean nodded. Their head of house seemed slightly appeased at that and they made their way up into the commentary box.
Hermione and Seamus ended up sitting on the Slytherin side of the box. Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw and nearly all of Gryffindor filled up one stand; most of Hogwarts had not embraced the foreign students. Krum was the only exception and that was because of his fame. So they sat in the opposite stand with Fleur, who Hermione had struck up a friendship of sorts with, and the visitors. "Where ees your 'Arry?" Fleur asked.
"He's the commentator for quidditch matches along with our friend Dean," Hermione answered.
"This is actually their first game doing it," Seamus said, "so right now they're probably being scolded by Professor McGonagall."
Fleur smiled at Seamus, "'Ermione says your muzzer works for Gringotts? I am most interested in zhem. What does she do?"
"She works between the two worlds," Seamus explained, "she is an intermediary between non-magical banks and Gringotts. She helps the goblins engage in the economy of Britain to boost their gains and she also helps muggleborns and their parents arrange for money to move between a vault in Gringotts and a bank account."
"Your mother's work really made it easier for my parents," Hermione said.
Seamus grinned, "She doesn't meet customers but she's really good at what she does. The goblins like her." He looked at Fleur, "If they like you you're in for life. If they don't, you're dead. And don't ever violate their trust because they'll never forgive you."
"Yes zey are much more dangerous zan ze vampires of Katabisi," Fleur said. "I intend to work for Katabisi when I graduate," she told Hermione. "Zey do work with Gringotts sometimes."
Harry and Dean entered the commentator box. There were two microphones for them and they smiled at each other. This was cool. "Ready to make the headmaster laugh and frustrate McGonagall?" Dean asked.
"Definitely," Harry nodded. They moved in front of their microphones and gazed out into the crowd. "And here we go," Harry said before pulling the microphone to him, "Ladies and Gentleman, boys and girls, students of Hogwarts, Beauxbatons, and Durmstrang…welcome to our second quidditch match of the year!"
Dean took over, "I'm Dean Thomas, he's Harry Potter, and we're your commentators. The teams squaring off today are Ravenclaw and Slytherin and it's looking like it will be a good match. Here come the teams now!"
Harry spoke, "Slytherin's team lineup is Bletchley, Bole, Derrick, Warrington, Montague, and Flint with Draco Malfoy as the Seeker." Cheers rang out from the Slytherin section as Harry named the team.
Dean smiled, "Ravenclaw's team lineup is Page, Samuels, Inglebee, Burrow, Stretton, and Davies with Cho Chang as the Seeker." The cheers from the Ravenclaw section were quite loud.
"Flint and Davies are captains for their teams again this year and they're both looking determined today. With Gryffindor achieving a clean sheet against Hufflepuff both these teams will be looking to make their presence known as title contenders against the lions."
"The customary handshake between the captains and Madam Hooch releases the balls…and we're off! The game is underway with Ravenclaw in position."
"It's Stretton…Burrow…back to Stretton…a quick fake shot and a pass to Davies and IT'S SAVED! BLETCHLEY SAVES THE SHOT! Good start from Ravenclaw, Slytherin now in possession."
"It's Warrington…long pass to Flint who does a quick lay-up to Montague. Ooh! Bludger to the hand! That's painful!"
"The quaffle drops and Burrow has possession…long pass up to Davies who dips to avoid a bludger sent from Bole…pass to Stretton who…FOUL! Derrick slams Stretton's arm with his beater bat. Hooch blows her whistle and looks to be giving Derrick a warning."
"Harry this is where I think quidditch could benefit from the non-magical world. A yellow card for a warning, a red card for a straight sending off and a second yellow card means a red card and sending off. Would certainly clean up the dirty teams and punish the dirty players."
"Agreed Dean," Harry nodded, "it would keep players safer too. Extended stays with Madame Pomfrey are not fun."
"Nothing much happening for the seekers yet while we pause in the action to tend to what has to be a broken arm for Stretton." Dean looked at Harry, "You've played against today's seekers before. Do you think one of them is better than the other?"
Harry glared at Dean but knew he had to answer, "Malfoy obviously has the better broom which means his speed can make up for a lack of reflexes but he's a very good Seeker. Chang is older and more experienced but her Cleansweep isn't as fast as the Nimbus. I'd tip the balance to Malfoy because he's shorter and in my experience the better flyer. Height as a Seeker just makes it more difficult to make tight maneuvers and Chang is tall." Draco Malfoy was stunned. Harry Potter had just given him a compliment. He licked his lips and focused. He needed to win. He heard cheers from the Slytherin section when Harry had given him the edge in the race for the snitch and he knew it was in part from his new friendship and his new attitude. Blaise Zabini had been a boy that kept to himself but he was far smarter than Crabbe and Goyle. Draco could actually talk to him. Blaise wasn't a bigot either, so Draco saw him as a good influence. Sirius Black had made it plain to Draco that he needed to change to be welcomed into Sirius' house as Sirius' godson was Harry and Sirius was quite fond of Hermione Granger, who had saved his life and who Sirius credited with taking care of Harry.
Changing his personality and beliefs weren't easy but Draco was putting serious effort into it. He never wanted to return to the Weasley home. Sirius had already sent him spending money for trips to Hogsmeade, and had sent him new, nice dress robes. Not hideous used ones like Molly Weasley had bought for Ron and Draco. The whistle blew and he and Chang began to hunt for the snitch again. Stretton was flying again and the Slytherins were being booed. He sighed. They'd still win.
"And now we're back underway, Ravenclaw with a penalty shot. Davies flies up to the spot and…SCORES! Ravenclaw lead 10-0!"
After the first goal was scored it was like a dam broke. At both ends shots were taken and most often they scored. Within thirty minutes it was 60-50 with Ravenclaw in the lead. Draco knew they needed him to find the snitch and he increased his efforts, aware that Chang was across the pitch away from him. He smiled when he saw it hovering inside one of Ravenclaw's hoops. Chang was nearer to it and hadn't noticed. It was time to show that Potter was right. Malfoy was better than Chang. Draco tilted his broom down and focused. He needed to concentrate. "Malfoy dives! Has he seen the snitch?"
Harry knew a fake when he saw it. And Malfoy was faking. But Cho was falling for it so he took over from Dean, "Chang is racing after him! She's pouring on the speed but has lots of ground to make up!"
As soon as Draco heard that he lifted his broomstick and shot off in the direction of the Ravenclaw goals, the Slytherin chasers all around him as they continued to play. Too often in quidditch matches once the snitch was seen the play stopped. Slytherin always capitalized on that. "Far left," Draco yelled to Flint who nodded and the chasers poured on the speed.
"Chang has been tricked! Malfoy is racing down to the Ravenclaw end with a formation of chasers in front of him and she can't get her broom turned back in time. Flint has the quaffle!" The chasers dropped as one at the last moment, letting Draco put the speed on and bear to the far right hoop, shooting through it while his hand grasped the golden walnut-sized snitch. "Slytherin scores just as Malfoy grabs the snitch! Slytherin wins 210-60!"
The roar of victory cries from the Slytherin section was insanely loud. Malfoy had never heard it so loud before. He was sure his grin was massive as he held the snitch aloft and flew down to the pitch. His teammates landed and lifted him up on their shoulders. Malfoy thought the commentators said something more but they were completely drowned out by the Slytherins.
Harry and Dean exited the commentary box and Harry looked at McGonagall, "You two did well," she said before walking away. Figuring that was as good as it was going to get with her, Harry and Dean headed toward the Slytherin stand to find Hermione and Seamus.
"Harry," Hermione hugged him, "you did great."
"Thanks Hermione," he said, savoring the contact. "McGonagall didn't yell at us so we're counting that as a win."
"Smart," she whispered into his ear. "Let's head inside. I want some snuggling time."
Harry grinned, "That sounds brilliant."
"Five pounds says they run off to snog," Seamus said.
"No bet of course they are," Dean laughed. "I reckon if we didn't understand them we'd get jealous."
"You want to snog Harry?" Seamus asked. Dean punched him in the arm in response.
On the ninth floor of Hogwarts was a large window with a very large ledge. It was there that Harry and Hermione ended up, Hermione sitting between his legs with her back against him as they just enjoyed the privacy and the quiet. "How are you sleeping?" Harry asked her.
"Better when I'm with you," she admitted, "but that's not going to make me change my mind Harry."
"Thought I'd give it a shot," he smirked.
Hermione tilted her head and kissed him, "If he thinks you're submissive to me then he just doesn't understand you."
Harry nodded, sighing contentedly as she adjusted her position. "Maybe I'm too complicated for him," Harry said with a chuckle.
Hermione rolled her eyes, "Harry you're not that complicated."
"I could be," he argued.
"But you're not," she kissed his cheek, "I love you."
"I love you too," he tightened his hold, "how about tonight? To celebrate my first match as commentator?"
Hermione leaned into him, her neck exposed as she tilted her head to look up at him, "Harry if I let you you could come up with some little reason every day for why we should spend the night together."
"I would figure that because we love each other and have a hard time keeping our hands to ourselves was reason enough," he mumbled before lightly nipping her neck.
Hermione moaned. When she pulled back she glared at him, "That's cheating, using my weak spot."
"Three nights a week isn't enough. We don't have to shag but I want to snuggle."
"I never thought I could get you to enjoy my touch before we became a couple," she said. "But Harry I really do think we're playing with fire if we make it more than three nights."
Harry stayed silent. Logically, she was right. Too often meant too many chances to get caught. Add to that the times he had to sneak out of the school to transform and…well, it just wasn't worth it. "I'm sorry for going on about it," Harry said. "I guess part of it is that I love you and I've never loved or been loved before and I think that little boy trapped in that little cupboard under the stairs is still afraid you'll be taken from me or realize I'm not worth it."
Hermione was silent for a bit before she stood and grabbed his arm, pulling him off of the ledge. "Hermione?"
"You don't get to say that and not get snogged," Hermione said, turning and kissing him, "I love you and nothing could stop me loving you Harry. Nothing. And if trolls and basilisks can't take me from you then nothing can."
Harry smiled as they headed toward a staircase. He thought the horcrux was the crux of his feelings of unworthiness and loneliness but he still felt that way every once in awhile. He'd talked to Sirius about those feelings and Sirius reasoned that it was because of how the Dursleys had raised him and it was possible he'd every so often feel those things for the rest of his life. Sirius, it turned out, knew about horcruxes because he'd found one in his house, Number 12 Grimmauld Place. Dumbledore and the DMLE had taken it and destroyed it.
The prospect of always feeling that way was disturbing to Harry but knowing that he had Hermione, who would do anything for him and he'd do anything for, felt like everything he would need to get over that.
November moved on with minor displeasure in their opinion. Harry quite liked that Hermione, who was known to keep her emotions to herself, was more vocal about her personal displeasure with their arrangement and Hermione felt better knowing Harry felt more comfortable with their situation and her affections for him. November 21st was the first task but for most of the school the focus was still on the quidditch. The tournament was more of a side-event than the main focus since there were so few competitors.
Harry and Dean found themselves much more popular after that first match they commentated. Hermione felt bad for Harry, to some extent. No matter what he did Harry found himself in the spotlight in some way or another. He just couldn't escape it. On the plus side, the Slytherins were downright civil and decent to Harry, Dean, Hermione, and Seamus since the game.
Draco was walking to the quidditch pitch early one morning for practice when he saw Viktor Krum running around the lake. "Wonder what he's doing," he said to himself. Krum sat at the Slytherin table but he talked to no one. Draco talked to two blokes that indicated they had met Harry Potter that summer at the World Cup; Marko Ivanov and Anton Petrov. They were cool and pretty easy to talk to. According to them, Krum didn't really talk to anyone. He didn't engage in casual conversation and had no friends. He only spoke to students if he was assigned a group assignment.
Consequently Krum was a mystery. According to Hermione, who Draco had Ancient Runes with, Krum hadn't spoken to Harry even when Harry had won the broomstick race at the World Cup. Not even a congratulations. He just stood there looking imposing. Marko and Anton both said that he didn't associate with anyone on the National team or in the school.
The way Karkaroff fawned all over Krum had plenty of people thinking Krum knew what the task was. Maybe Krum was training for the task, Draco thought as he continued on his way. That had to mean that the task was physical, then. He wondered what could be in store for the Champions. Surely nothing too dangerous; but then they had limited the entrance age to 17 and over. So it was probably dangerous. Draco figured the better question was probably whether it was deadly. They wouldn't know for sure until the first task.
Chapter 14
Disclaimer- I don't own HP or any of its properties. I'm not JKR. This is purely for fun, I make no money from this work.
A/N- The past month has been rough. We had two sick pets, a flea-infested house, and more. Writing fell by the wayside. However my dog is doing much better, I have the new Converse All-Star II high tops (or Converse 2.0 as I call them and btw I LOVE them), and I'm finally back to writing.
This chapter was originally going to include the first task but since I haven't posted in so long I thought these 6 pages would tide you over as I work on perfecting it.
Albus Dumbledore sighed and leaned back into his chair. Gringotts had discovered a horcrux in Bellatrix Lestrange's vault. They had permitted Rufus and Amelia to destroy it so long as they didn't enter the vault. Standing outside of it they'd cast Fiendfyre. That meant the locket, diary, Harry himself, the diadem, and the cup were all gone. He felt better about things. Voldemort was captured and he was without five of his lifelines. With the destruction of the sixth Voldemort would finally be vanquished, hopefully. Gringotts had his essence in an enclosed plastic room. The thing that was Voldemort couldn't escape it. Dumbledore marveled at how muggles could create things that flummoxed magicals.
There was only one horcrux left. The night before he'd had a dream in which he'd been shown the final horcrux. Albus Dumbledore had never been a religious man but he valued what he sensed was divine assistance. This year felt very taxing on him and any assistance was of great relief and value to him. The Gringotts inquiry into his role in placing Harry at the Dursleys had been a massive wakeup call to the old headmaster. Then he'd come across the fake Moody and Voldemort's plot to capture Harry and use Harry's blood to return to corporal form. That was when he'd contacted Gringotts. They would take custody of the Goblet of Fire and add their own protections to it, as well as armed guards. Rufus and Dumbledore had added extra wards beyond the age line, including protections from aging potions, entering someone's name that wasn't your own, and polyjuice detectors.
But perhaps the biggest change was also the most difficult task before him; changing the three tasks of the tournament. Such short notice meant that the tasks that had initially been meant to be intense and frightening were now not so much. But he could only do so much on short notice. Cancelling the dragons was easy enough. And personally, he was relieved. What idiot put teens up against dragons that five or six full-grown and highly qualified wizards and witches struggled to handle? Ludo Bagman and Barty Crouch had planned a tournament that was incredibly dangerous and yet at least one task was meant to be unseen by spectators. Two if you counted the maze. On such short notice Albus had been without a clue as to what to do.
And then he'd thought about a trip to Japan he'd once had and a muggle thing he'd witnessed there. Dumbledore knew what at least one task would be. He was putting a magical twist on it, but he thought it would certainly catch the attention of the student body.
Gryffindor's fourth years were sitting in Transfiguration when Professor Dumbledore entered the room, "Professor McGonagall, I need to speak with Misters Thomas and Potter if you don't mind."
"Of course not Headmaster," she responded, glancing to the two boys who looked at Hermione and Seamus, and then at each other, in confusion.
Harry and Dean followed the headmaster up to his office, exchanging looks of concern and confusion as they did. Once inside the office Dumbledore sent the portraits away. Harry swallowed, "Sir?"
"I realized that I have not told you that I think your performances as commentators for quidditch were quite outstanding," he began, "I quite enjoyed it. And I was wondering if you two would be up for a unique job."
Both boys looked confused. Dumbledore smiled, "The tasks for this tournament will be commentated on. It is the job of the commentator to detail what is going on, unique and interesting facts about the people involved, and to explain things to everyone. Worldwide Wizarding News will be broadcasting the tournament throughout Britain, Bulgaria, and France. They have asked me if we perhaps had any students who would like the job. They will pay you both but I think the experience is far more valuable for both of you; in particular you, Mr. Thomas. Since you want to do this professionally I think having a network on your résumé would be quite beneficial."
Harry looked at Dean and knew the answer. Dean wanted the experience and the money. While Harry didn't need the money, he did see the opportunity to debunk the 'Boy-Who-Lived' myth some more and that definitely appealed to him. Plus he knew Dean wouldn't do it without him and Harry wouldn't deny his friend an opportunity like this. "We'd love to sir," Harry said, smiling at Dean's grin.
"We won't let you down," Dean promised.
"Just remember to have fun. Perhaps not as much fun as Mr. Jordan had with his often off-color remarks but some colorful commentary would not be frowned upon."
Harry and Dean grinned at each other. The headmaster handed them a folder, "The task is a week away. This is what it entails so you don't go in blind as well as some information on each competitor. Do not let anyone see that folder. I'm trusting you both to be discreet about this. The champions are not supposed to know what they're facing in the first task."
"We won't tell anyone about it," Harry promised him.
They were soon let go and they walked back toward the Transfiguration classroom, "This is really cool Harry," Dean said. "We get to be live on the air. Do you think my parents could listen in?"
"We can write to Seamus' mum and maybe your parents and Hermione's parents could all visit Seamus' house that day," Harry mused. "We can send Hedwig this afternoon and ask. If she can't help maybe Sirius can." Dean was all grins as they entered the classroom and took their seats again. Harry had to admit, this was pretty cool. And most important to Harry, he'd earned this opportunity.
Sirius was excited for Harry as Harry told him that evening about the opportunity. "I can buy them Wizarding Wirelesses," Sirius said. "If your friend's mum can deliver them to them I'll pay for both sets."
"You don't have to do that Sirius," Harry said.
"Yes I do. And besides, I want to. You'll just have to deal with it pup."
Harry smirked. "Well thanks then. How's your therapy going?"
"I've only had two nightmares this week," Sirius answered. "I'm also becoming less jumpy and paranoid."
"That's great."
"How are you doing?"
"Really good. Draco seems to be surrounding himself with good influences and he's actively trying to change. Dean and Seamus are doing okay, Hermione's great as ever. I think I'm finally having a relatively normal Hogwarts year."
Sirius laughed. "How does that feel?"
"Hermione says that it's a tragedy how no matter what I do I still end up the center of attention. I think I'm more famous now than I was as a seeker."
"Draco said you complimented him. I don't think Slytherin and Gryffindor have ever been civil to each other; even if it was deserved."
"Well when Rufus asked if everyone would agree that Hermione was the smartest fourth year in DADA the Slytherins all agreed with that statement," Harry frowned. "Why wouldn't I say the truth that Draco is a better flyer than Cho?"
"See that's what makes you so liked Harry," Sirius smirked. "You don't see the house divides or why some people think a certain type of person is better than another. Your parents would be proud of the young man you've become."
Harry snuck up to the Room of Requirement. Tonight was one of the lucky nights. He got to cuddle with Hermione until morning. He entered the room and smiled. She had already set it up. It looked warm and romantic as ever. They'd settled on the bedroom they wanted a week ago and Harry liked it. "Home sweet home," he said.
She rolled her eyes and pulled him to her, "Just shut up and get over here."
"You're bossy," he mumbled into the kiss.
"If you're just now figuring that out then you're as dense as Ron," she responded. Harry chuckled and pulled away, "What is it?"
"I'm just really glad we're avoiding that whole awkward teen dating thing that our friends are going through or are going through," Harry said. "I'm yours, you're mine, and though it's been bumpy sometimes our counterparts understand it finally."
Her mind immediately went to Fred Weasley's recent and very vocal arguments with his girlfriend Angelina Johnson. Their favorite spot to argue was the Gryffindor common room. They argued about everything. School, quidditch, their futures (professionally and romantically), and of course they both got jealous easily. If Fred smiled at a girl Angelina would get angry. If Angelina talked to another guy Fred would get irate. According to George, Fred would then keep George and Lee up at night complaining about her. The two boys had taken to slipping Fred a sleeping potion to shut him up. "I take it George complained to you?" Hermione asked.
"More like he's been hanging out with us loads more when you're off for your extra lessons or working on your extra homework," Harry said. "George is fun. He said he wished Fred and Angelina got along as well as we do."
"I suppose you could turn and bite Fred," Hermione mused. "But we can't make Angelina a Veela."
Harry stuck his tongue out at her in response. "And they say you don't tell jokes," he smirked as he removed his shoes, "You're more witty than people give you credit for."
"Thank you Harry," she loosened his tie for him, "are you nervous about this new opportunity?"
"Not really. I'm not in it alone. And I have time to prepare, rather than be suddenly thrust into something."
"I could make a remark about you thrusting but I won't," she kissed him, "besides you're mine this evening and I intend to capitalize on it."
As was so often the case with secrets in Hogwarts, Harry and Dean's job opportunity and knowledge of the task was soon widely known by the student body and one afternoon they found themselves surrounded by Hufflepuffs, "You are going to give Cedric all the information about the task. Or else. After all, you want Hogwarts to win right? You wouldn't betray your own kind."
Harry had never thought Draco Malfoy was much of a bully. But these Hufflepuff idiots made Draco look dangerous. And of all the houses in Hogwarts, Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw were the two that most often proclaimed him a dark lord out to destroy the world. "I didn't know Hufflepuffs cheated. And I'm surprised that you'd even attempt to threaten me when you saw that basilisk. And trust me, it was far more terrifying that you lot ever could be."
"You wouldn't want anything to happen to your girlfriend would you?" One Hufflepuff sneered.
Harry smirked, "You go ahead and try to attack Hermione. I'll be sure to send some flowers to the infirmary for you when you do. Hermione might look quiet and nice but she's way more dangerous than I am."
"Well lookie here. A bunch of Hufflepuffs trying to finish what Diggory started when he nearly killed our Harry," George Weasley said, walking over to the group. "Voldemort couldn't do it, a basilisk couldn't do it, but you lot think you can? Have you lot been getting lots of dark arts training in to take out our Chosen One?" George raised an eyebrow, "I suggest you walk away now or else you'll be embarrassed."
"We can take all three of you on," one of the older Hufflepuffs said. "Now give us the folder."
"Fine, embarrass yourselves," George shrugged. "But don't blame me when you find yourselves humiliated. I gave you the opportunity to walk away."
There was a flash and George grabbed Harry and Dean and pulled them out as the Hufflepuffs closed their eyes and rubbed them, groaning at the bright light. "Where did that come from?" Harry asked once they were in the Great Hall.
"Just a little something I created," George shrugged. "I got the idea from a camera flash."
"It's pretty cool," Dean said. "You know, something like that would be useful for aurors. You could make money for your business if you sold them to them. Maybe Professor Scrimgeour could find out if they'd want it."
"Selling to the Ministry to fund my pranks?" George mulled that over, "That's brilliant! Hanging around Granger must make you smarter," he told Dean.
"It certainly helps," Dean nodded.
"What do you need the money for, George?" Harry asked.
"Fred and I always wanted to open up a prank store of our own, like Zonko's. But instead we'd stock it with our own creations."
"So you need the money to create inventions and get your store," Harry nodded.
"Yeah if Fred doesn't cave and do what I think he might do," George frowned.
"What's that?"
"Be a quidditch player or work at the Ministry like Mum and Angelina want," he answered. "Fred is a wild card but at the end of the day he really loves Angie and he'd do anything she asked."
Dean looked at Harry as they sat down, "Would you change your career to appease Hermione?"
"I guess it would depend on her reason," Harry said. "If I wanted to be something dangerous and she was worried about me and the bad luck that follows me I would understand. If she thought I should do something simply because she wants me to do it and it's the opposite of my dream then I would say no. Hermione loves me. She'd understand."
"I also would never try to control your career choice or your dreams," Harry smiled as he looked to see Hermione sitting down next to him, "so who are we talking about then?"
"Fred possibly abandoning his and George's dream of owning their own joke shop to play quidditch or work at the Ministry like Angelina wants." Hermione nodded in understanding. "Dean asked if I would change my career to appease you. I know you wouldn't ever do something like that to me."
"I can be controlling but it's one thing to make you study or do extra credit. It's another to make you obey my every whim and command. I wouldn't like a Harry that did that."
Harry smiled and kissed her, "You're the best you know."
"So I'm told," she winked at him. "How was your morning?"
"The Hufflepuffs ganged up on us and tried to get us to hand over the folder," Harry responded. Hermione rolled her eyes. Harry didn't even have the folder. It was in the bottomless bag he'd bought her and for added security she had given the bag to Dobby to guard. If they needed it he was there instantly so it made sense to let him guard it. Plus, Dobby loved getting responsibilities.
"George rescued us," Dean said. "Not that we necessarily needed it. We could have taken them without magic or with it."
"They threatened you," Harry said, "so you might want to be on your guard."
"Harry said he'd send them flowers in the infirmary if they went after you." Hermione smirked. That sounded about right. Hermione had learned many hexes through her studies and her extracurricular readings. And she wasn't afraid to use them if the situation called for it. Recently she and Harry had begun using the Room of Requirement to practice dueling, with dummies and each other. If anyone knew what she was capable of, it was Harry. They'd also begun trying to see what the harpy-like creature Hermione turned into looked like but pulling it out had thus far been impossible.
"Any particular spell you'd like me to use love?"
Harry chuckled, "Just don't maim them too horribly."
She pouted, "Spoilsport."
George laughed, "I like hanging around you lot. It's great fun."
Fleur sat down across from Hermione and next to George, smiling at Hermione, "Bonjour 'Ermione, 'Arry. 'Ow was your morning?"
"Pretty good," Hermione said, smiling at her. George tilted his head in the beautiful blonde's direction subtly and she decided to throw him a bone, "George, this is Fleur Delacour. Fleur, this is our friend George Weasley. He's a beater on the Gryffindor team and quite the entertainer."
"And he loves the spotlight so fair warning, he might take it from you," Harry laughed.
"I'll get you for that Potter," George stuck his tongue out at Harry before looking at Fleur, "Hello Fleur. It's a pleasure to meet you."
"Likewise," she smiled, offering him her hand. George dramatically bent his head and kissed from her knuckle up to her wrist, making her laugh. "You ah quite silly Zhorge," she said. George decided he really liked how she said his name.
"I try to be," he grinned. "So Fleur, are you looking forward to the task?"
"Oui, zo I do not know what eet 'olds. Your 'eadmaster 'as changed eet from what eet was before after ze Crouches were arrested."
"So how do you train if you don't know what it is?" Hermione asked. If Harry had been in the tournament she wouldn't have had a clue where to start.
"I 'ave been training my body und practicing my magic spells. Dueling and ozzerwhise," she answered. "Zo I zink a running partner would be most 'elpful," she glanced at George as she said it and he sat up a little straighter, "Zhorge, per'aps you could 'elp me train? Ze first task ees nearly upon uz."
"Sure I can help with that," George nodded.
"You betrayer of Hogwarts," Dean teased.
"I am merely showing proper English hospitality," George responded with a hand to his chest.
"Just don't show too much," Hermione warned him with a wink. Harry snorted. George acted scandalized at the remark. Hermione saw the confusion on Fleur's face and spoke in French to her. The blonde giggled at her words.
In the remaining week leading up to the first task George still hung around with them, but he was often seen in the company of Fleur. He also had Hermione teach him some French, which amused Hermione and Harry to no end. The morning of the first task Harry woke curled up to his mate, who was nuzzling his neck. "Today is the day."
"Nervous?"
"Surprisingly no," Harry answered. "But then I might still just be amused watching George with Fleur."
"They do appear to be quite the odd couple," Hermione agreed. "Still, she likes his humor and his inventions."
"Yeah that's true," Harry agreed. "Does she know that you're Veela?"
Fleur's Veela nature had been confirmed at the Wand-Weighing Ceremony, though Fleur had claimed it was her grandmother that was Veela, not her. Hermione knew better, and she wondered if George knew. Hermione looked up at Harry, "I don't know if she knows, actually. I think she suspects but she's never brought it up with me."
"Do you think she'd tell George?"
"I would tell you," she responded. "If she feels anything serious for George then maybe she would. If he gets upset about it maybe she'd tell him to try and normalize it."
"I think George would keep your secret."
"One can only hope," she sighed. "I like Fleur."
Harry squeezed her, "No matter what, you'll always have me Hermione."
She smiled and kissed him, "I know that Harry." She pulled his watch off the nightstand to look at the time, "We should head back."
"So no shag for good luck?" Harry asked, his eyes sparkling.
She laughed and kissed him, "Well maybe in the shower. It is chilly in here. You'll need to keep me warm."
"Well if I have to, I have to," Harry grinned, scooping her up and carrying her into the bathroom.