4th May 1998

Waking up in a warm comfortable bed was nice. Harry decided. Waking up knowing that you had nothing planned for the day was even better. That was the thought that Harry awoke with.

Coming down the wooden stairs at Shell Cottage, Harry noticed that the kitchen was empty. He slowly meandered towards the hard oak table which sat in the centre, on the table sat a note saying 'At the Market. Will be back soon. Fleur xx'.

Harry quickly went to work preparing his breakfast as he realized today was the first day in almost forever that he had woken up without either Ron or Hermione somewhere nearby. This thought seemed to seize on Harry, as he was soon thinking about all the days when the three of them would sit around all day talking about what they would do after the war was done. Ron had always chatted happily about maybe helping his brother's at their prank store, or maybe becoming an auror, his eyes had even glazed over at the mention of possibly becoming the keeper for the Chudley Cannons. Hermione however knew what she wanted to do, she was going to find her parents and then find equality for all magical creatures. She was never a very ambitious girl.

"I went to the market so I could cook you some breakfast." Came a voice from behind Harry in the entranceway of Shell Cottage.

"Sorry… Fleur." Harry said after turning and seeing Fleur's pouting face. Fleur proceeded to glide across the room setting down her bag filled with fruit, vegetables and other foods onto the wooden table.

"It's okay 'arry. I just figured you'd like a lie in" Fleur shrugged as she seated herself on a chair neatly lined up alongside the table. "What are you cooking?"

"Nothing much, some bacon." Harry said trying to concentrate on cooking.

"Have enough for two?" Fleur's voice questioned.

Harry's smile gave her the affirmative and the two continued their friendly conversation while Harry overlooked the cooking. While talking Harry realized that he was here, in this very room just three days ago. But it had felt like an age ago. The whole world had changed since then. Harry Potter for the first time in his life was free. Voldermort was dead, and Harry was alive. Something that just didn't feel real. But it was, and Harry hadn't had a nightmare since the 2nd.

"Where's Bill then" Harry said as the two began to eat their bacon rolls. Which surprised Harry, as he had always doubted Fleur would eat a bacon roll; it seemed too… uncivilized for her.

"He is with his family." Her courteous reply spoke more than her words.

"They're your family too." Harry said with a frown threatening his lips.

"If its convenient for them perhaps." Fleur said sadly.

"What? Where's this coming from? I thought Molly treated you okay since the Battle of the Astronomy Tower." That had been an age ago Harry thought, just under a year ago, Dumbledore died. That day, seeing Snape do that, seeing the death eaters in Hogwarts. It had sickened him. Now it would never happen again.

"You have not been around the family in almost a year 'arry." Fleur said with a sad smile, "You would not know. They have been hiding at their aunt Muriel's house rather than staying here. Is that not revealing?"

"I thought they didn't come here because me, Ron & Hermione were here."

"They did not know you were here. We were worried about a spy since Severus. They may no longer act so publicly distasteful of me. But the anger, the malice it is still there." Fleur said finishing her roll.

"That's… not fair. It doesn't sound like the Weasleys I know." Harry said trying to defend the people he called family.

"You are their son's best friend. You are Molly's seventh son. I am not Molly's second daughter, that is Hermione, even she is not as welcome as you may think." Fleur finished with a shrug.

"I'm really sorry Fleur. Have you told Bill? He'll have a word with Molly."

"Bill knows, and does not care. He is too busy now anyway." Fleur said clearly finished with the topic as she stood up and moved into the sitting room, with Harry following her.

"Right. What do you have planned for today?" Harry said changing the topic.

"The same as you. Nothing. I believe a friend or two of yours will turn up though. I believe you will find the Minister here soon, not to mention other people will likely turn up." Fleur said clearly annoyed her house was being used in such a way.

"I'm sorry I'm a inconvenience." Harry said downtrodden.

"'arry" Fleur said softly "If you are an inconvenience than everything in life is. You are too kind. Let loose. Soon your time will be pressed for by autograph hunters." Fleur said with a smirk as Harry visibly shivered.

"The one thing I hate worse than Voldermort. Autograph hunters." Harry said with a smile.

Fleur's smile suddenly made Harry feel better about the upcoming day, as Fleur pushed him out of the house, ordering him to stay away from the dishes, as they were her job to clean, not his.

Harry proceeded to go down to the beach, where he, much like yesterday, rested and listened to the sounds of the flowing ocean. Before he headed back towards shell cottage, stopping to speak softly to the grave of Dobby, the house elf who died for him.

Entering the cottage he was greeted to the sight of Kingsley Shacklebolt, and a wizard he had not seen since 1995, Amos Diggory, who looked at Harry with a sad smile, as they were waited on by Fleur as she busied herself with teas, and coffees, and milks and sugars. She made a brilliant host, Harry thought to himself.

"Harry!" the booming Shacklebolt voice welcomed. "How are you today?"

"I'm doing fine, I've just been at the beach. It's quite relaxing." Harry responded.

"I'm sure it is. You deserve the relaxing obviously, but unfortunately I'm here to ruin your fun." Kingsley said with a chuckle.

"Figures." Harry muttered.

"Yes, quite." Kingsley said looking at him sadly. "Of course you know Amos Diggory. He's helping me reform the ministry."

"Hello Harry, It's been a while. How've you been?" Amos said clearly trying to be as passive as possible.

"Well the whole dying for a bit, and killing a dark lord and sleeping in tents thing wasn't great. But everything else has been okay." Harry said with a smile.

"I wanted to say thanks for, you know… avenging Cedric." Amos said looking down at the thought of his deceased son.

Harry didn't know how to respond to that. He didn't kill Voldermort to avenge anyone. Not even his parents. He did it because he needed to, and it was the right thing to do. But Harry knew that saying this to Amos would likely be impolite so instead he just gave a solemn nod.

"We won't intrude for long Harry. We just wanted to know your future plans." Kingsley said bringing some focus to the conversation.

"I'm planning on doing nothing for a while." Harry said blankly, praying that his plans weren't about to be ruined by what Kingsley was about to say.

"Of course, that's understandable." Kingsley said with a benevolent grin. "However I was wondering if you could help us."

"No." Came the comment from the French witch who had been silent. "You will not force 'arry to play your silly politics. He has done your work for you already. He shall rest." Harry hadn't expected Fleur to defend him like that, though he was learning that in reality he knew very little about Fleur.

"I believe we were talking to Mr Potter." Amos Diggory muttered before gaining a glare from the witch.

"We are not here to take away his rest Fleur. Don't worry." Kingsley promised. "But we must ask him to help us. We just need a few things. Can I at least say what they are?" Harry's shrug said continue, "We just need you to speak with the press, and say about how you support my position as Minister. Then we were hoping you would attend a celebration we have planned for the battle on the 12th. Is that okay?"

"When would I need to speak to the press?" Harry questioned.

"As soon as possible, I could get it arranged for tomorrow. You can even do it in the ministry." Kingsley said with a pleasant smile implanted on his lips.

"Why should he do that though Kingsley? He is not being paid. He had no need for the publicity, what benefits him?" Fleur said clearly annoyed at their intrusion. Harry pondered that maybe she isn't as good a host as he first thought.

"It's for the good of our nation Fleur. " Kingsley said with an air of seriousness. Before Fleur could again interrupt for Harry, Harry quickly placated Kingsley.

"I'll do it. But remember you owe me Kingsley." He said seriously.

"Harry. We all owe you." Kingsley bellowed as he and Amos said their goodbyes before scurrying out of the door.

"You should not have agreed to them 'arry." Fleur said sadly. "Now they will come back again for something more. Then again and again." She said as settled down on her sofa.

"I couldn't exactly refuse to help Kingsley after all he's done." Harry pointed out.

"After all he's done? He should be the one helping you not the other way around!" Fleur said looking at Harry as if he had finally lost his sanity. "Without you he would not be minister, without him you still would of killed the Dark Lord."

"You don't know that." Harry mumbled.

"Yes I do." Fleur held.

The tense silence between the two descended with the two staring at each other intently until Harry quickly backed up to his room where he proceeded to ponder the day.

Fleur had been kind to him; she was clearly trying to defend him. But he didn't need defending. But Bill had said he needed someone to help him, maybe he was right. But Fleur had just been rude to Kingsley. The same Kingsley who had fought at the Battle when Sirius had died, the same Kingsley who had fought throughout the war, the Kingsley who believed him when the Daily Prophet called him a liar. Kingsley was Harry's friend, and in Harry's opinion the brightest hope Britain had for the near future.

Harry didn't know what to think, he was worried for Fleur. She felt different from when Harry had last had a good long intimate chat with her. More on edge, she seemed more protective of him. She had clearly taken her duty as his host very seriously. Harry worried that she would start putting bars on his window next like his lovely uncle Vernon had. Those are two weird people to compare, the beautiful angelic face and body of Fleur Delacour, and the pig like beached whale Vernon Dursley.

He'd have to see the Dursleys soon he figured. Of course he would. Soon Hestia Jones would likely arrive and take him to them. Where they would proceed to not thank him for saving his life.

Harry still didn't know how to treat his relatives. His uncle would always be in Harry's bad books, he had not physically beaten Harry, unlike some of the rumours Harry had heard, but he had emotionally beaten Harry, with his comments on his parents, his godfather and his "Freakishness". Aunt Petunia was not much better. If she was better at all. She had had glimpses of kindness almost threatening to make her not seem evil, but she too was guilty of emotionally affecting Harry horribly. Dudley, Harry realized, was in fact the most innocent of the three. He had actually been kind to Harry the last time they met. Which still confused Harry. He chalked it up to drug use by Dudley. Maybe he'd extend an olive branch to the Dursley's. Not for a while though, he had more important stuff to deal with.

Harry decided it was better not to dwell on the Dursleys after all it was nearly dinnertime; he didn't want to throw up. Harry wandered downstairs to the smell of a thick strong stew as he followed his nose to the solid table he sat and looked at Bill lounging on the sofa, looking exhausted as he smiled at Harry. His face looked so much older than he was, and it was obvious whatever he had been doing at the Burrow was damaging him physically, if not mentally. But Harry knew that his place wasn't to comment on such a thing. He may even of been digging Fred's grave Harry solemnly realized. It'd be best if he didn't comment.

Harry turned his head then to glance at Fleur. Her red lips glistened in the light as she carefully tucked a strand of her behind her delicate ear. The silver-blonde hair cascaded down to her lower back where it neatly dangled as if held together by some supernatural force. She truly was divine, Harry thought. Before immediately realizing he had just thought that thought about his Best friend's brother's wife, with the husband in the room no less than 10 metres away. Harry quickly decided that staring at Fleur wasn't a good idea.

"Busy day Harry?" Came the voice from the beauty's husband.

"Not really." Harry muttered avoiding Bills eyes. "I just rested. Kingsley was here, asked me to help him."

"He's trying to make 'arry do favours for him!" Fleur said with a soft fury, Harry again tried to avert his eyes from her before he fell into her beauty. "As if 'arry owes him something. 'arry needs to rest."

"Maybe it's important. Kingsley would have his reasons." Bill said looking weirdly at Harry.

"Yes, his reasons are to help make sure he is a more legitimate minister." Fleur said. "That is not 'arry's problem. 'arry is busy as it is."

"I'm really not." Harry tried to interrupt lightheartedly, but he was drowned out by Bill's response.

"Well it isn't like he's manipulating Harry like Fudge did." Bill said. "I don't think it's a bad thing."

"They are using him like a weapon. He is not a weapon, he is a human!" Fleur said angrily.

"Well Harry should help Kingsley. I mean if he doesn't the whole government will fall. Again!" Bill pointed out trying to keep level headed, despite Fleur's obvious anger.

"He has no obligation." Fleur said having clearly given it enough thought. "The whole order has treated him as a weapon! The past few order meetings have been talking about 'arry entering into the war and saving the day, not mentioning the fact that he is a human and needs to be helped after the war." Fleur said her voice clearly growing.

"Kingsley was the one who wanted Harry to go here rather the burrow. Of course he's thinking about Harry's well being." Bill said angrily. "He knew that it would be nicer here for him. Less busy!"

"I like Kingsley. You know that. But the only reason he has Harry here is because he is worried that your mum wouldn't let 'arry leave the burrow." Fleur pointed out clearly angry. Harry while trying to keep quiet and disappear couldn't help but notice Fleur seemed to get more attractive as she got angrier.

"That's not right. Mum would do what's right!" Bill's face was slowly growing into a Weasley red, that Harry had only seen on Ron before.

"And I am not doing what is right?" Fleur said clearly peeved at her husband.

"You are trying to stop Kingsley from being recognized as minister. Yeah you're doing the wrong thing!" Bill's face was getting even redder, if that was possible.

"He does not need 'arry for that!" Fleur exclaimed.

The silence that formed afterwards could only be called uncomfortable. The trio sat and ate in silence, with the occasional look being given by Harry towards the two who were both refusing to look at each other. Harry pondered that this is exactly why he needed to break up with Ginny. She had the Weasley temper, as did Bill, apparently. Not to mention she was often stupidly blind in her arguments, as both Bill and Fleur had just been. Although both made good points. Harry was under no obligation to help Kingsley he did need his rest, but at the same time he was doing a good thing if he did help Kingsley.

Harry thought about it again as he lay in bed. He decided that both were right, as well as wrong. But one thing was sure. Harry was worried about their relationship, the two were clearly on edge, and the Weasley's treatment of Fleur clearly wasn't helping. Harry would have to see if he could help Fleur. Fleur would help him, Harry knew that.

Author Note: Alright so thats chapter 2 done. I'm trying my hardest not to make the story too obvious. Hopefully I don't fail too bad at that. I know its obvious to the reader that Bill & Fleur's issues are currently prevalent in the story. But thats because it represents the fact that Harry is currently still very sheltered and unaware. He is not a OP character in this story, he is a close-to-canon Harry, he is awkward, guilt-ridden and is secretly pretty damn magical if he allows himself to be.

I'm also trying hard to not bash any characters. I really like the Weasley's but its often hard to portray them as full of good-intent. I'm also trying really hard to make no one a flawless character, and to make Bill Weasley not a one-dimensional figure as he is in many Fleur/Harry stories as I always get annoyed at that. I mean he's a nice guy, he risked his life for Harry's several times.

For the record my other story Aberforth's Pride is set in the same universe as this story. I'd like to make a few more one-shots from Aberforth's point of view later on when the story has expanded. The Aberforth story hints at events that will come up in this story as the Aberforth one is set in around the 23rd May.