Fleur’s Surprise

Dragons

By the time they finished their meeting it was past lunchtime. Harry had received a bank card, usable in muggle environments, to complement the bottomless money bag for all environments. He also took the first dose of potions prescribed by the healers.

They went through a hidden passage from the bank, going directly to muggle London. Harry was at loss what to do next, but Hermione recommended eating a late lunch first before deciding what else to do. They found a fast-food restaurant only a block away and went there, despite Fleur's reluctance.

It was almost empty, as most midday traffic was already over, yet both Hermione's and Harry's rings attracted a lot of attention. Fleur noticed that they weren't happy about it.

"I believe you can make the ring invisible or just make it look like a plain ring. Most old rings have this enchantment, just like mine." She put her hand on the table and a very elegant ring faded into existence on her finger. A moment later it faded back out, leaving Fleur's finger seemingly naked.

"How can you do it?" both younger teens asked.

"I just think at it. The magic is in the ring, not in me. You should try as well."

Hermione tried first. Her ring faded completely. A moment later it reappeared. She tried once more. This time, her ring changed into a kind of ring young girls use to wear. It was still a gold ring, but a thin one, sporting a single small green gem. It would not attract undue attention anywhere. Hermione seemed satisfied.

Harry tried as well. His ring faded completely. He didn't want to show any ornament, leaving his ring invisible.

Once they quietened their grumbling stomachs, Fleur spoke again. "Now that you know you're Lord Potter, it wouldn't do for you to continue wearing these rags. You should buy yourself a new wardrobe, suitable for a man in your position."

The idea frightened Harry. He looked at Hermione for help, only to find she was in total agreement with Fleur. "You don't have to continue wearing those 'hand-me-downs' from your cousin. You can afford buying new and much higher quality than these."

"I've never bought any clothes for me, except for the school robes," he said, a bit frightened.

"Then it's about time we change it. Don't you think so, my love?"

It was the last two words that Hermione said that had the most effect. He could do it for Hermione. Well... for Fleur as well.

Fleur apparated them back to Hogsmeade just before the last carriages left for the school. Hermione and Fleur shrunk his shopping bags, so nobody would get suspicious, and Hermione spent some time with him before bedtime, teaching him the reverse spell, between snogs – that is.

Harry knew his body would change as his treatment advanced, so he bought the minimum and still used mostly his old stuff, gradually introducing the new, so nobody would become suspicious. He decided not to flaunt his new position unless he needed to, a decision Hermione endorsed. They even decided not to tell anybody about their sudden engagement. Nobody could see any special meaning in Hermione's new ring and they didn't change the way they acted in public. Not much, anyway. At most, people would think their friendship was becoming a bit closer, but nobody would suspect how close.

Fleur kept her distance as well. She would meet with them every few days in that old classroom that they adopted as theirs, but publicly she continued being aloof.

Harry used that classroom for reading his parents' letter along with Hermione. He didn't dare reading it alone, knowing he would turn very sentimental and need her support.

"Dear Harry,

If you're reading this, it means that we are dead, probably by the hand of Voldemort or his Death Eaters. We want you to know that we love you dearly and that we did everything in our powers to keep you safe and give you a chance to grow up and have happy life.

Still, you must know that there's a prophecy about you. As prophecies go, it may not be what we think it is and may already been fulfilled or found to refer to somebody else by the time you read this. Anyway, here it is, as heard by Dumbledore from the seer who prophecised:

'The one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord approaches... born to those who have thrice defied him, born as the seventh month dies... and the Dark Lord will mark him as his equal, but he will have power the Dark Lord knows not... and either must die at the hand of the other for neither can live while the other survives...'

If you find out that it still refers to you and not yet fulfilled, please train as much as you can to assure the outcome of the confrontation, whoever the dark lord may be. There are several books that may help you very much on the second shelf of the third row of the library in the vault. You may also need to learn occlumancy and legilimancy – you'll find the appropriate books there as well.

As you are the last of our line, please try to assure its continuation, preferably before the expected confrontation. Even though we hope you win, some injuries may be unavoidable, and certain injuries may make you unable to sire any children.

You'll need a wife for that, of course. The Potter traditionally marry of love, which they find quite early in their life. We hope this will prove true for you as well. If we weren't able to raise you then you'll need somebody to love you more dearly than usual. I, James, have been lucky to find my love at Hogwarts, yet love may find you even at the most unexpected time or place. Repay love with love and you'll have happy life.

With that said, there's also something we've only learned after you were born. It looks like the Potter house has a standing Marriage Contract with Delacour, of France. They are a prominent light family and our allies in the continent. If you find your love before turning eighteen, then this contract may not concern you and would pass to the next in line, but if you don't and the Delacour have an eligible daughter, then you must marry her within a year after the youngest of you reaches eighteen. You may find the contract in the first chest, hopefully under this parchment, for further details.

We love you and we hope you've had a happy life and will continue having happy life. We wish we could be with you and witness how you turned from a toddler into a boy and then a man. As we evidently couldn't, we hope that at least the inheritance left for you will help you lead a good and hopefully happy life.

Your parents,

Lilly and James Potter."

Harry's face was covered with tears by the time he finished reading, but Hermione hugged him tightly and after a short while he smiled at her, his face still wet. "I've found my love..." he said softly.

"I'll help you with those books," Hermione promised, hugging him even tighter.

"I know," he whispered, enjoying the comfort of her hug.

They went on another Hogsmeade weekend. Due to the tournament, they were getting such a weekend almost every week. Harry was just waiting for Hermione to finish looking through some new books at the bookshop when he spotted a familiar color and then a familiar face.

"Charlie! I thought you were in Rumania!" he greeted the second older Weasley.

"I've been sent here for a while, so I thought it would be nice to meet my brothers and my sister. How are they?"

"Ron's a prat, as usual; Ginny seems to gain popularity, and the twins are quite nice. They haven't pranked me even once since school started."

"But somebody else did. I've heard about you being chosen as a champion. I'm sorry for you. It's just too much for someone your age, even considering what you've already experienced. I really hope you make it."

Hermione joined them now, just as surprised. "Aren't you still working with dragons? What are you doing here, then?"

"I'm still working with dragons but I'm forbidden to tell you anything else. Sorry." He spotted Ginny at a distance. "I'll catch with you some other time. Bye."

Hermione thought for a moment and then had a wide grin spread over her face. "I think I know what the first task is."

"So sudden?"

"Not really. You see, Charlie is working with dragons, right?"

"Yea, right."

"And Charlie is suddenly near Hogwarts."

"Yes, we've seen him. So?"

"Dragons! Your first task will be to face dragons! Can't you see it?"

It took Harry a moment of thought before he caught up with Hermione. "Now I see it, thanks to you. This will ease our preparations, I believe."

"Yes, it will, although I wouldn't give up the practice sessions with Neville and the twins, at least not until you beat them all in no time."

"You mean – next week?" he smirked at her.

Hermione just rolled her eyes. "Oh, You!..."

Harry later used his Firebolt to fly around Hogwarts. He spotted the clearing with the four huge cages. He wasn't ready for the enormous monsters within, though. Each looked as big as a small hill and he knew how dangerous they could be, even as small babies, thanks to Hagrid's pet dragon during first year. He would need a lot of help from Hermione and more than a bit of luck to make it through the first task.

They met Fleur the next day. "Madam Maxime has told me that our first task would be to face a dragon and retrieve a golden egg," she informed Harry.

"Isn't it against the rules to let you know?" Hermione asked indignantly.

"It certainly is, but she has already heard that Krum was informed the day after the goblet chose us. She didn't want me to be in disadvantage and I don't want Harry to be in more danger than strictly necessary. I have an interest in him, you know, either as a future husband or future in-law. Dying in the tournament would prevent him from filling any of these positions."

Hermione couldn't really argue. Anything that would help her Harry survive was OK with her.

They saw Cedric on their way to lunch, complaining to his girlfriend. "How can I get ready for a task when I know nothing about it? Testing our courage, they say, but without the proper spells, mere courage wouldn't be enough."

"I think we should tell him," Harry said. Hermione only nodded.

"Hey, Cedric! May I speak with you for a moment?" Harry called.

Cedric lifted his eyes reluctantly and then shrugged, apologizing to Cho.

Harry grabbed his arm and led him a bit farther from others. "I've just found out that the first task involves taking an egg from a nesting dragon," he said quietly.

"Are you sure?" Cedric found it hard to believe.

"I saw Charlie Weasley at Hogsmeade the other day. He works with dragons."

"And he told you?" That was more of a statement.

"No. He can keep a secret, but I then flew over the forbidden forest. There are four caged dragons there, all nesting."

"Wow! Thank you, Harry."

"I just wanted to even our chances," Harry shrugged and went back to Hermione.

The great day had come. All students from the three schools were seated, watching the arena where a large cage, still empty, was waiting for the champions and their opponents. Harry had already devised a few alternative strategies with Hermione's help. The simplest involved just summoning his broom and then outflying the dragon. Simple in concept, but quite dangerous. The one he hoped would prove best was trying to talk to the dragon. Being reptiles, there was a chance they could understand parseltalk. He might then persuade the dragon to give the foreign egg with no fight at all. He wouldn't bet on that strategy, though.

He wasn't surprised when he was paired with the fiercest dragon. It was his luck, he thought, yet that luck brought both Hermione and Fleur to him. Maybe it wasn't such a bad luck after all?

Eventually he stayed with the simpler plan. It was too noisy to even try speaking to the dragon, no matter the language.

That evening, after everybody went to bed, Harry was waiting in the common room for Sirius to fire-call him. Hermione sneaked down from her dorm and snuggled to his side on the sofa facing the fireplace.

Sirius didn't seem surprised to find them in that position. "I was wondering since I first met you how long it would take for you to realize your mutual feelings. It took James three years. I can see you've been much faster."

"Well, I'm a seeker, not a chaser," Harry replied cheekily, before telling about Fleur's intervention.

Sirius was completely floored. "So, you're now engaged to this fabulous girl at your side and due to take a Veela as your second wife?! James would have been ecstatic and Lilly would be proud of you, after admonishing you for not being satisfied with only one wife." He now turned serious. "How did you manage the first task?"

"I just outflew the dragon. It's not too difficult with the Firebolt, you know."

Sirius laughed. "Well done, Harry! Just continue staying out of harm's way."

It was Harry's turn to be serious. "I've got hold of my parents' will and gave a copy to your solicitor. I hope it would help clear your name and set you free."

"Thank you, Harry. I appreciate this. Yet with the current ministry, I'm quite sure they would try to sweep it under the carpet, so to say, not wanting to risk tarnishing their names. But still, if your plan works, it would be fantastic." He changed his tone. "Now, I see you're neglecting your lady, so I'll leave you two alone. Goodnight." He winked at Harry and disappeared from the fire.

Professor McGonagall announced the Yule Ball a few days later. This led to a serious discussion between Harry and Hermione.

"I don't think we should already announce our relationship," Hermione told him.

"But why? Ever since I found out that you love me I feel like shouting it for the whole world to hear!"

Hermione rolled her eyes. "Are you ready for Rita Skeeter hearing that and writing her own version? Do you want us both to get howlers from the mothers of all those girls who think they are better fit for 'the Boy Who Lived'?"

"Well, no, but I'd still like to dance with you."

"That's alright. We can dance a few dances together. It would actually be expected, as everybody knows we're good friends, yet we should not be each-other's date."

"Then who will you date?" Harry couldn't keep his jealousy hidden.

She smiled suggestively. "I have a few prospects. I've not chosen yet." It was clear to Harry that he would only find it out at the ball.

"Who should I invite, then? I only want you."

Hermione pretended thinking hard. "There are a few very nice girls around, you know. I'm sure Lavender would like it, and so would Parvati, who's even prettier, or you could ask her twin, who is a 'claw, promoting inter-house relations. Then there's Ginny and that odd third year 'claw – Luna. She may look quite nice when properly dressed and would attract a different kind of attention."

Harry didn't like the idea. "I think I'll stick to our year. Maybe Padma?"

Padma agreed, with just a little help from Hermione. As Harry's looks were improving tremendously due to the goblin potions, she didn't need any real persuasion. This proved to be a good choice, as the girl was a good dancer and nice to talk to no less than nice to look at. She also wasn't jealous (or didn't show it) when Harry left her alone a few times in order to dance with Hermione. Dancing with Viktor Krum at those times certainly helped.