Fleur’s Surprise

In the Open

Harry didn't trust the media to report correctly. He contacted his lawyer that evening in order to urge him to act, only to find that the lawyer was one step ahead of him.

"You probably know that you own about thirty percent of 'The Daily Prophet'. Lord Black owns about twenty percent and the Longbottoms control about fifteen. I've contacted Lady Longbottom and got her authorization to act in her name. Lord Black is harder to contact, but his lawyer gave me a similar authorization, so that I can now represent more than sixty percent of the owners. I've already contacted the chief editor and made it clear to him that no libel or badmouthing will be tolerated and that everything published must be based on verifiable facts. He wasn't happy about it but he knew better than to argue. I told him that if he doesn't stick with the truth he will be promptly replaced."

"Well, thank you. I was still wondering what I can do and you have already acted on it."

"You should thank your French friends, the Delacour. They contacted me immediately after the second task and suggested buying control over the newspaper, not knowing you already had it almost in hand," the lawyer told him.

"I'll make sure to thank them as well," Harry promised.

The morning paper of next day contained an accurate report of the events during the second task, including the discovery of the fake Moody. What Harry considered most important was the paragraph mentioning that Voldemort was not yet gone, although he lacked a proper body. While this could bring hope to some of the dark lord followers, it was also meant to kick the ministry into action.

The minister was quoted in the paper as saying, "We're still studying the new evidence and we shall act accordingly to assure the public's safety." Harry didn't trust him, especially since he knew that the minister was getting large "donations" from Malfoy. Hermione suggested sending Rita to find all she could about Fudge's relations with supposedly "ex" Death Eaters and expose all those carrying the dark mark and their deeds during the first war. Fleur also supported these ideas.

The third task was still far in the future and nobody knew what dangers it contained. Harry thought his was a good time to start learning from the books recommended by his parents. He first consulted with the goblins, who assured him that once Hermione had his engagement ring she could enter the Potter vault freely. He then took her to the vault.

Hermione didn't pay any attention to the piles of gold and money in there. Some of the old weapons attracted her momentary attention, but what interested her most was clearly the huge library. While other girls may collect jewels or fancy clothes or shoes, she was collecting knowledge, and a library was a formidable place for that.

The first book in the designated shelf contained a very detailed explanation of how to make duplicates of any book within the library. As they couldn't spend much time in the vault and were quite reluctant to take these old and precious books out, having duplicates was most convenient. Hermione made two duplicates of each of the ten most important books, put them in two conjured boxes and shrunk them, to fit into their pockets. Harry was sure she would spend most of the next few nights reading them avidly in her bed with the curtains closed.

As the champions became closer after the second task, Fleur could now speak more openly with Harry. She would even take a stroll with him and Hermione around the lake when the weather was good enough. This brought some expected gossip, but all they would say was "We're good friends."

Fleur had already learned some occlumancy, yet she found the books from Harry's vault very effective in helping her master this ability. She wasn't very good at legilimancy, yet she was good enough to help test Harry's and Hermione's mental shields. These were non-existent at first, but a few weeks of training helped both create some impressive shields. Harry considered them as necessary, having already learned that Voldemort was an accomplished legilimens and so were Dumbledore and Snape.

"We also need to learn legilimancy," Harry told his two closest friends.

"Why is it so important?" Hermione asked him.

"Our shields are already too good for Fleur's current ability in legilimancy, yet our opponents are accomplished at it. We can't build good enough shields unless we can check them."

Under Hermione's rigorous training regime, they reached their goal before mid-April. Harry checked his abilities by penetrating Snape's mind during potions. The professor didn't even notice it, or he would have reacted, and quite badly. He only seemed to get a slight headache. Harry also penetrated almost as easily into the headmaster's mind. Dumbledore noticed the infiltration and tried unsuccessfully to block it, not being able to identify its source. Harry was sitting among some of his classmates at the time and they were all looking in the direction of the head table.

Now, assured that he was good enough at that, he tested the girls' shields and found them satisfactory. Both also tried to break into his mind and failed. It was a cause for a little celebration. Fleur, with Hermione's blessing, kissed Harry on the lips, enjoying it very much. Harry enjoyed it as well, but he preferred the long snog he had with Hermione a moment later.

With the mind arts under control, Harry returned to his other training. The books helped in more than one way. Hermione found how to create some life-like dummies which could cast spells and dodge like a real person. With a few of these dummies as his opponents, Harry was getting better training than before. Hermione also trained, improving her skills tremendously. They even trained as a couple, fighting against several dummies at once, shielding each other and working as a team.

They usually ended each training session quite sweaty and out of breath. Luckily, Harry's apartment was quite close. He could shower or even bathe soon after finishing his training, so he could come to dinner clean and fresh. Hermione needed to go to her dorms to get a shower, and having to climb many stairs on the way, she usually postponed her shower to after dinner, yet she didn't like it.

"Why don't you shower in my apartment?" Harry offered. "We can even shower or bathe together. It isn't like we've not seen each other naked, you know."

Hermione blushed brightly. "Well, we had good reasons then. Besides, it may be against school rules."

"I'm quite sure I've heard that betrothed couples are allowed to stay together. You may check it in the books."

"There is such a law," Hermione admitted reluctantly, "but we wanted to keep our relationship secret, I believe."

Harry smiled at that. "Sure, before I knew I had control of the 'Prophet'. Now I no longer fear it. Besides, you're in as much danger as my best friend as you are as my betrothed."

"We still need to inform our Head of House," she insisted.

Harry grabbed her hand. "Let's go!"

Professor McGonagall wasn't very happy about their request. "Aren't you a bit too young for that?" she said.

"If I'm old enough to take part in the tournament, then I'm old enough to live with my betrothed," Harry insisted.

"I must then see a proof of your betrothal before I can grant you the right," the professor said.

Hermione revealed her ring. "Is that proof enough?"

Minerva's eyes turned suddenly teary. It was only with great effort of will that she managed not to weep outright. "The last time I saw this ring it was on Lilly's finger, shortly before her wedding," she whispered.

It took her a long moment to recover and return to her normal attitude. "Well, miss Granger, you may join your betrothed according to the rules. I'll have your belongings moved there before dinner. You must still act as before when out of your lodging, you know."

"Sure, professor," they both said together, large smiles on their faces.

Hermione had her separate bedroom ready by the time they reached the Potter apartment. She quickly got ready for the bath and went into the bathroom only to find it already occupied. Despite having been naked in front of each other twice already, she still thought it was inappropriate. "I'll wait for you to finish," she said blushingly, turning around.

"It's large enough for the two of us. I just couldn't wait going into the water and I'm sure you feel the same. Then, you've already been here with me before," Harry waved his hand invitingly.

Blushing some more she removed her robe and stepped into the bath, not looking at Harry. He wasn't ashamed, though. He looked at her attentively. Hermione looked a bit too tired, he thought. She was probably not getting enough sleep due to spending too much time with the books from the vault. Harry thought he would need to find a way to make sure she didn't tire herself too much.

"A penny for your thoughts," Hermione's voice brought him out of his reverie.

"I was just thinking that you seem to be affected by the tournament even more than me. Are you getting enough sleep lately?"

"I don't lack sleep," she said, not looking at him.

"Look me in the eyes and say it again," he demanded.

"Alright! I spend several hours each night looking for some spells for you to use. Are you satisfied?"

"No, I'm not. I want my beautiful fiancée to sleep as much as she needs. I'm sure I know more spells than most Hogwarts graduates, and I will probably forget most of them just when I start the task. It wouldn't serve me to get worried about you not sleeping."

"What would you want me to do, then?"

"Well, now that we both live here, we can study more together, get to know each other better and get ready for the time we become truly a couple. What do you say?"

She didn't say. She just kissed him.

Despite their nudity, they both kept a very distinct limit: touching, caressing and kissing were fine, but full s*x was not allowed yet. Harry was actually glad about it. He wasn't sure he was ready and dreaded trying it only to disappoint Hermione.

Despite her initial hesitation, Hermione soon found bathing together to be the highlight of most days, when she and Harry could relax in the warm water, feeling at ease with each other, sharing some caresses and kisses and just feeling good with themselves.

Although she had previously shared dorm with two of the gossip queens, being engaged with Harry and moving to live in the Potter apartment passed without incidents. It looked like everybody expected this to happen sooner or later. Except for Ron, of course.

Ron confronted them one morning on their way to the Great Hall for breakfast. He didn't even look at Hermione. He just held his wand at Harry. "You've stolen my girlfriend!" he said.

Harry grabbed Ron's wand from his hand even before Ron noticed, giving it to Hermione. "She's never been your girlfriend, Ron, so I couldn't possibly steal her from you. Is that clear?"

Ron didn't get it yet. "My Mum told me you were destined for Ginny and Hermione was for me," he said dumbly.

"Then your Mum was obviously wrong. Ginny is a very nice girl and I love her as a friend, almost like a sister, and she seems to be very happy dating other boys. As for Hermione – have you ever asked her if she agreed with your plan?"

"Why should I? As a muggleborn, she should be happy that a pureblood like me is interested in her."

This made Hermione fume. "Ronald Bilius Weasley! I've never thought of you as more than a friend, and many time much less. I would have never dated you of my own free will, you must know!"

"I was going to ask Mum for a love potion," Ron blurted.

"That would have been a very bad idea. It would have sent you for a long vacation at Azkaban. Do you fancy it?" Harry said threateningly.

"No, not really." Some of what was said started penetrating into Ron's head. He still didn't try to understand it, but he knew he was in trouble and the faster he left, the less trouble he would find. He turned around and hurried away.

"Ron!" Harry called after him.

Ron stopped, turning around, a bit hopeful.

"Don't forget your wand!" Harry called, throwing the wand towards him.

Ron caught it barely before it hit the floor. He tucked it into his robes and hurried away.

"We should tell his brothers about this," Hermione suggested. "They will teach him a few lessons."

Fred and George were certainly not happy to hear about this confrontation. They were getting even angrier at the implied suggestion that their mother would have supplied Ron with love potion. Harry didn't even have to persuade them into action. They both promised to teach Ron a lesson he would not forget and to also check if their mother had anything to do with his unbecoming ideas, only that needed to wait for the summer.

Draco also found it an occasion to cause some problems. Surrounded by his goons, he stopped Harry alone on a corridor one day. "So, Potter, you've taken the mudblood w***e to your apartment? That's low even for you."

Harry was ready for the taunting, as Hermione had already anticipated it. "I've taken my betrothed, as is my right and my duty, protecting her against people like you, and as for whores, I see at least one constantly in your company."

Draco paled even more than usual and Pansy pointed her wand at Harry, ready to curse him. Harry just let her see his Potter ring. Being a pureblood, she recognized it immediately for what it was and lowered her wand. She knew it would protect him and she would probably suffer the consequences if she carried on her initial plan. Draco wasn't as smart. His curse was already sailing at Harry, only to rebound as it reached the protection zone of the ring. He wasn't quick enough to dodge. His curse hit him plain in the chest, making his skin become covered with boils and causing him much pain. Harry just shrugged and moved on.

He was soon intercepted by Snape. "Potter! What have you done to Malfoy?" he asked with venom.

"We just talked. I did nothing else. I didn't even take my wand out. It's still somewhere in my robes."

"You're lying, as usual. That would be fifty points from Gryffindor and a week's detention with me," Snape announced.

"How dare you? I'm a Lord of a Most Ancient and Noble House. I'm not lying, and I can swear it on my life and magic if you want to, but you wouldn't see the truth even if it kicked you in the face, would you? It's your pet junior Death Eater you're protecting. Guess what? All those Death Eaters who escaped justice will soon be exposed, as well as the sums they paid for their freedom. Some people are due for a painful wake-up and I'm not sure you're not one of them."

Snape was raging, yet he knew he was in trouble. Ever since Harry got his Lordship acknowledged, things were turning for the worse for him. "Alright, I'll check it first, but if you lied – I'll double it."

"Do it. Just remember to ask your pets to make an oath of telling the truth first."

Dumbledore wasn't happy with the way things were turning. Harry was out of control and he didn't know how to get control back, yet he didn't remember why he needed Harry under control. His memory was failing him too often lately and he dreaded the moment others will find out about it. Still, he needed to talk with the boy.

Harry arrived to the Headmaster's office alone. Hermione still had too much respect for authority figures and he knew this conversation would be hard for her. A quick glimpse into Dumbledore's mind showed him confusion and loss. Even the mind shields were only a shadow of what they had been a few months earlier.

Dumbledore tried a new way to regain Harry's cooperation – honesty. He hadn't really lied to Harry before, he just withheld some information. Now he tried to be as honest as can be, not an easy task for a man who'd been doing otherwise for more than a century.

"You know, Harry, the night that Voldemort gave you that scar, he also left something else with you..."

"Yes. A piece of his soul was embedded into that scar."

Dumbledore was surprised. He expected denial, disbelief, rage, but not this matter-of-fact attitude. "How did you find out?"

"Well, it would have been nice if you had told me this as soon as I was old enough to understand, but the goblin healers found it and then my ring removed it, just as it removed some binds on my magic and several tracking charms."

"Which ring?" Albus was not so quick on the intake.

"This one!" Harry let his ring become visible and shoved it forward. The old man seemed surprised but recovered quickly.

"I hoped you would be spared this burden until you were of age. I tried to handle everything for you the way I believe your parents would have done. Now I'm not sure I succeeded."

"Is this why you left me with the Dursleys? To do what my parents would have done? They specifically asked not to send me there. It's in their will!"

"A will? I was looking everywhere for their will but couldn't find any. Where did you find it?"

"It was in the Potter vault."

"Ah, well... Nobody but you could gain access to that vault. I thought it was the best if you lived with some close relatives, allowing the blood protection of your mother to continue through her sister..."

"Who just abused me, along with her husband and son. It has been hell for me there, you must know!"

Dumbledore didn't feel he was getting control of the situation. If anything, it was slipping further away. Time to divulge another secret. "You no longer need to return there, now that you're emancipated. Now, back to the subject of that scar. Just like the scar, there are some more objects containing pieces of Voldemort's soul, keeping him from dying. The diary was one..."

"And another resided in Quirrel. How many more are there?"

Albus was surprised at the quick response. Harry seemed smarter than before. Maybe it was his close friendship with that Granger girl. He should have kept them apart, probably. He sighed. "I wish I knew. I believe he made seven. You've destroyed two by now and interfered with Voldemort taking possession of either Quirrel or Ginny. I believe his snake is one and he had probably made some more..."

Harry heard enough. "I'll have the goblins look into this. They seem to have some very efficient ways of tracking and destroying dark magic."

Albus wondered why he hadn't thought of this himself.

"Is there anything else?" Harry asked.

"No, Harry. You may leave now."

Harry felt quite sad when he left. Despite not having much respect for the old man, it was sad seeing him in his current situation. Harry hoped to never be in such.

He contacted Gringotts the next day. "Dumbledore believes there are several more objects containing pieces of Voldemort's soul. I think some may even be hidden in the vaults held by Death Eaters. Can you find them and destroy them?"

Kwickill thought for a moment. "The safe room where you were freed of that abomination recorded all the magic released. I believe it can be used to track and destroy the other parts. I'll inform you as soon as I get a definitive answer."

Two days later he met Kwickill again. "We've found one such article in the Lestrange vault. It was decontaminated and moved to your vault. Another was traced to the remains of the Gaunt shack. We treated it the same. We've found some additional valuables there and put ten percent of them in your vault as well. There's one at Hogwarts, where we can't access it and another is somewhere in London. It is probably in some unplottable place. The magical signature that we get is of the Black family. As we have no way to contact Lord Black, we can't take care of that."

"What about the snake?" Harry asked.

The goblin smiled frighteningly. "It's as good as dead. We have it tracked and it will be dealt with once the other artifacts are found. No need to attract attention prematurely..."

Harry asked Dobby for help with the one at Hogwarts. Within a week it was found and treated. It was more difficult finding the one in Black residence. Harry was eventually able to contact Sirius, who gave him the address and promised that the house elf there would be instructed to cooperate. Harry was still unsure when he could handle that.