Henri watched his opponent closely, as they both circled around each other like predators, waiting for an opening to strike. The fight had been going on for nearly half an hour now and both adversaries were bruised and bleeding. But they were also too stubborn to yield.

Spells and curses were flung, shields erected, attacks evaded. The spectators watched with baited breath. The display of skill and cunning was stunning, especially from two as young as those. The final fight between the heirs of the Flamel and Grindelwald families had been greatly anticipated and did not disappoint. But even this fight would eventually come to an end.

"Ladies and gentlemen, I present you the winner of the 1994 Under-19 European Dueling Tournament, Tristan Grindelwald," The people cheered even louder at this, celebrating their new champion.

Henri did not mind losing against this opponent. He knew that Tristan was one of the very few in their age group, that could defeat him. But sadly this was also their last duel in this kind of competition. During the next Tournament Tristan would already be in the adult section of this championship, the place where the real fun begins. Duels like the one they had just fought were far to restricted to be fun, when the worst they could do were cuts and scrapes, with their power severely limited by the wards around the arena. Oh how Henri dreaded that he would have to wait one year longer to follow the young Grindelwald, next year would be no fun at all.

He was just about to leave when Tristan grabbed his arm and dragged him into the spotlight, making sure that they would both be celebrated as the best in the age group 18 and below.

"Don't be so shy, Henri. You deserve this as much as I do. Without you it wouldn't have been any fun," Tristan said with an impish grin.

"Whatever you say, Grindelwald. How about we go to the healers now? My wounds are getting itchy and I don't fancy tainting the rest of my robes with my blood as well."

"Ah, Flamel, always so tidy. Just stop wearing white robes and no one will ever see the blood."

"But I have an image to uphold, you know this whole Paladin thing," Henri whined as they both hobbled out of the arena and towards the healers, who had already prepared everything they would need.

The healers were busy for nearly an hour until they had taken care of all the cuts, bruises, burn wounds and damaged bones, before both duelists were ready to be released for the final award ceremony.


It was already past twelve when Henri woke up in his bed, back at Chateau Flamel, feeling slouched, both by the fights of the day before and the party afterward. Deep into the night they had celebrated the outcome of the Tournament. Henri and Tristan had been quite content with the way it had ended, knowing that the next time they would fight each other, there would be no restrictions but their own powers.

Ever since Henri had started competitive dueling at the age of twelve, he had clashed with Tristan Grindelwald, the grandson of the infamous dark lord Gellert Grindelwald. They had an odd relationship, a camaraderie outside of the dueling arena, but a fierce competition once they face each other in a fight. Some would call them friends, but both always said that a friendship would suffer greatly due to their competitive streak. But that did not stop Henri from having a close friendship with Tristan's younger sister Cassandra. A much too close relationship for Tristan's liking.

"Hn, what time is it?" Groaned the girl next to Henri, as she slowly woke up due to the light that streamed in from the opened windows.

"We missed dinner. So we have more than enough time til supper, Cassy. Don't worry," Henri said with a grin as he pulled the girl closer.

"Already... oh shit. Tristan is gonna have a fit when he finds out that I was away all night..." Suddenly she was wide awake and struggled to break free from Henri's hold, but he held her down and nuzzled her neck.

"Relax. He was with his fiancee and you know them. He won't start looking for you unless you don't show up for a few days."

"Still, no need to push our luck."

Finally she broke free from Henri's hold and jumped out of bed. Henri groaned at the sudden loss of closeness, but remained in bed none the less, while he admired the view.

"Believe me, your brother can't be against this. He always says that he only wants the best guy to be with his sister and who can be better than the only guy who can kick his ass in a fight?" Henri said cockily.

"As far as I recall, you lost yesterday. So Mr Runner-up, have you seen my dress somewhere? Just how much did we drink last night..." She paced around in his room, searching for her elusive clothing as Henri finally stood up himself to get ready for the day.

"Ouch, that was a cheap shot, Cassy. You wound me deeply." He made a mock dieing gesture, before they both started laughing. "I guess you will have to make it up to me, that have you hurt my feelings." He said with a mirthful expression as he suddenly jumped out of the bed and swooped her up in his arms. "Now we can do this my way or... let's see, oh yes, my way. I really love the latter by the way."

Cassandra just sighed in mock exasperation, rolling her eyes at his antics. "So what are your terms, oh so gracious Paladin?"

"First we take a shower... no sense in starting a day without one." He said as he walked towards his private bathroom. "And if you behave I might feel inclined to tell you where your dress has ended up or else..."

"Else what?"

"Else you will have to stay for supper with me and my parents, wearing only your underwear. Oh I like that idea," He replied with an impish glint in his eyes.

"Oh yeah, your parents would surely like that. Do such things and your mom will start preparing for a wedding... our mothers both have the wrong ideas about our relationship."

"Less talk, more showering," Henri said as he quelled all further objections with a kiss.


It took them more than an hour, before they finally exited his chambers. Far too late in Cassandra's opinion, so they directly walked towards the main floo connection of the Chateau, so Cassandra could return home. Hopefully before her brother would realize that she had been gone all night.

"You really worry too much." Henri said with a smile as they arrived at the fireplace in the main hall.

"Sure. You weren't there when he contemplated sending bounty hunters after you at the time he found out what we were doing as recreational exercises." Cassandra retorted smiling.

"If he insists to be old fashioned, then I will officially ask your father for permission to court you." Henri replied confidently. He knew that the Grindelwalds were not fanatical followers of the old traditions and customs since old Gellert had been vanquished, but he was sure that Cassandra's family would expect good behavior from any suitor of their daughter.

"And what if I don't want to be courted?" She asked with a raised eyebrow.

"Do you want me to court you?" He asked dubiously. He had to admit, so far he had spent little thought on this topic. Neither had they ever really questioned whether their relationship was more than just friends with benefits.

"I don't even know the answer to that." She muttered. "Anyways I will see you soon. Hopefully one more time before we have to leave for our schools in September." She gave him another kiss before she turned to leave. "Bye, Henri."

"See you soon, Cassy." He hated to see her leave, especially since he knew that chances were high, that he wouldn't see her for quite some time. He really envied Tristan right now. The older Grindelwald had graduated from Durmstrang last year, while his sister still had to attend her seventh year there. And he himself would attend Beauxbatons for his final year. He and Cassandra would be at the opposite ends of Europe for many months.

"Was that Cassandra I heard moments ago?" Perenelle Flamel had entered the hall only moments after Cassandra's departure, looking amused at her son.

In the last eleven years that Henri had stayed with the Flamels as their son, neither his mother nor his father had aged a single day. He knew that his mother was more than six hundred years old, but she did not look a day older than thirty, the time she had started drinking the Elixir of Life. She still had a youthful aura surrounding her, her long black hair and jade colored eyes giving her a regal look. His father too still looked like the day he started drinking the elixir, only his hair had started to gray a little over the many years of his life.

Albus Dumbledore had often marveled how the elixir worked. He was astounded when the Flamels did not age, even after the Philosopher's Stone had been lost nearly three years ago. Henri knew everything about the incident that had involved his former sister, Erica and the specter of the dark lord Voldemort. What neither Dumbledore nor Voldemort knew at that time, was that the stone that Nicolas Flamel had given his old friend was a fake. The original was still safely hidden at the chateau. And now that everyone thought that it had been destroyed, it was even safer than ever before. 'Let the children play with the toys, pretending to hold the secrets of life in their hands.' Nicolas had told his son back then. They had a good laugh when they heard about all the troubles that both Dumbledore and Voldemort went through because of the stone.

"Yes, maman. She had to get back home, else she would have stayed a bit longer." Henri replied with a hint of disappointment in his voice.

"You will surely see her again soon." Perenelle replied with a knowing smile. "I really wish the two of you would take the next step in your relationship. You are such an adorable couple... oh I can already see the grandchildren, golden hair and emerald eyes..."

"Maman!" Henri exclaimed embarrassed. "Just let it rest. If it is meant to happen it will, otherwise it won't." He shook his head in indignation before he turned to leave. "I'll be outside flying some rounds."

"Ah, not so fast. There is a guest here for you. He joined us for dinner hoping you would come down in time, but alas now he is waiting in the drawing room for you."

"Who is it?" He asked, but his mother did not answer, instead she left him with a smile on her lips.

Not knowing what to expect, Henri walked towards the drawing room of the chateau, one of his favorite places in the entire building. He would sit there for hours, reading, studying or just talking with his father and guests.

When he entered the room he could hear an all too familiar laugh. And just like he had guessed first, there was Albus Dumbledore, sitting together with his father.

"Ah, my son. You finally deign us worthy to come." Nicolas greeted his son, the moment he saw him at the door. At least his father had the decency not to mock his relationship with Cassandra, his mother would have used this as another chance for yet another jab, guest present or not.

"Good morning to you as well, father." Henri retorted. "And greetings, Uncle Albus. What brings you here on this fine day? I thought you were busy preparing for the next school year."

Albus stood up and greeted the boy with a friendly hug which Henri returned readily. "How could I not come to congratulate you. Second place in such a prestigious Tournament, I am really proud of you, my boy."

"How could I not get this far. I have the training I received from you and father to rely on; that is an advantage not many can claim." Henri said.

"Aye, it is good to know that the many hours we spent in training were not wasted." Albus replied. "Only one opponent was too strong for you this time, but as I heard it was a very close fight. Sadly I could not see it, due to the problems after the Quidditch World Cup I could not leave Britain at that time. Too much Ministry business. Even today I can hardly stay longer than for this friendly chat."

"Tristan is one tough adversary, but as comrades we both see no problem in losing from time to time. We can accept defeat and learn from our mistakes." At these words Albus nodded sagely. He had watched the Grindelwald family closely for many years, but in the end he saw no ill intentions coming from them and accepted that they were not connected to Gellert's madness. He somehow also felt relieved that Henri was getting along with Tristan Grindelwald, a good friend would definitely help ensuring that the Grindelwald heir would not be tempted by the dark path his grandfather had chosen.

"Good, good. But there is another thing I need to tell you. Usually I would not reveal this secret, but since you are a special case, I deem it prudent to warn you beforehand." Henri raised an eyebrow in confusion when he heard that. "This year there will be another great Tournament, a competition between Europe's three major magical schools. The Triwizard Tournament will take place for the first time in many centuries."

"That is great. I always wanted to see such a competition, since father told me the stories about the last Tournament he had attended."

"Yes, well initially we had planned to have the Tournament at Hogwarts this time..." He paused when he saw Henri blanch a bit, Albus knew exactly that Henri had no intention to go to Hogwarts and face the past he wanted to leave behind. "But because of the incident at the World Cup both Durmstrang and Beauxbatons have threatened to desist from participating, unless the Tournament will be somewhere else. So the final vote decided that it will be held at your school this year."

"They will come to Beauxbatons?" Henri asked with a frown.

"Yes. At Beauxbatons there will be more competitions between the schools than just the three tasks that Hogwarts would have offered so both Hogwarts and Durmstrang will come with a variety of students from the years four through seven. This will also include your younger sister and her friends I am afraid. I tell you this, so you can prepare yourself to the inevitable meeting."

"Don't forget your oath Albus, even should they recognize my son, they will never get a chance to reclaim him." Nicolas said tersely from his position next to Henri.

"All they can do is beg his forgiveness, but the law is on your side, my friend. I know that Erica had been beyond mad at her parents when she found out that they had sent her older brother away, because of his special ability. Especially after the shocking revelation that Erica can speak Parsel as well, during her second year. Both Lily and James had been shocked beyond believe after that. They had begged me for years to tell them where I had brought young Harry. But they don't deserve to know, not until they have shown true repentance for their deeds. At that time I had the suspicion that they only wanted him back because the secret about the disowned son had come out and they were publicly ostracized for it. I am not so sure about that anymore, but in the end, it will be Henri's decision whether he forgives them or not. He is seventeen after all and therefore of age to make his own decisions." Albus said with a contemplative look. But the doubtful look her got from both Nicolas and Henri showed him that they would not believe him just like that.

"Yes, well I still believe they suffered enough, but they need to earn Harry's forgiveness. But back to the topic, Hogwarts and Durmstrang students will spend nearly the entire school year at Beauxbatons, so please try not to cause an incident with the Potters when they show up." Albus said.

"I'll try. But with the Durmstrang seventh year students at my school, I believe I will manage to find ample distraction." Henri said with an impish grin. Maybe he would see Cassandra much sooner than he had hoped. And for an entire year there was no chance for her overprotective brother to interfere.

"Please don't give Mr Grindelwald more reasons to kill you than he already has, son." Nicolas said with a sigh.

"Don't worry, father. Everything will be alright."

Not really knowing what exactly the father and son duo was talking about, Albus stood up to leave the chateau. "I'm afraid that I need to leave now. There is still so much to prepare for the coming school year."

"As you wish. Thank you for warning me beforehand, Uncle Albus."

"Don't worry about it too much, Harry. Goodbye, Harry, Nicolas." And with that Dumbledore was gone.

"This will be one hard year." Henri mumbled mostly to himself, but his father heard it anyway.

"Will you try and enter the Tournament? It might be a once in a lifetime chance for you." Nicolas asked.

"Dunno. I'll have a look at what else will happen this school year. I actually planned on using most of this year for my work on acquiring my mastery for combat magic and further my studies in alchemy." Henri seemed contemplative for some moments. "I guess I will cross that bridge when I get to it. There is no need to decided yet."

"Good. Whatever you decide, your mother and I will support your decision." Nicolas told his son sincerely.

"Thank you, father."

"Now let us go and have a look at the potions, that have been simmering since yesterday. Time to finish them." Nicolas said as he stood up and left for the potions laboratory in the basement of the chateau, closely followed by his son.


As Albus Dumbledore returned to his office at Hogwarts, he had to see that he was not alone, but that there were already several persons waiting for him, passing the time with a rather heated discussion as it seemed. But the moment he stepped out of the fireplace they all stopped talking almost immediately.

"Albus, where have you been? We need you here and no one knows where you have run off to. At least leave a message when you leave for one of your other duties." Minerva McGonagall admonished the headmaster.

"Forgive me, Minerva, but even I am entitled to some privacy. I was merely visiting some old friends."

"Of course you can, but there is so much work to be done... Just where have you been?" The stern witch continued, though with much less fervor than before.

"I was merely visiting the Flamels. Young Henri finished second place in the European Dueling Tournament. Such an achievement needs to be acknowledged."

"Yes of course. The Flamel boy is bound to be a great duelist with both you and Nicolas training him. A pity I can't meet him this year, but one of us has to stay here at Hogwarts during the Triwizard Tournament at Beauxbatons." Minerva said.

"Henri Flamel? I believe the Daily Prophet published an article about him a few weeks ago. The kid is seen as a prodigy when it comes to dueling." James Potter, Hogwarts resident dueling instructor said with a chuckle. "I will judge myself how much of that is the truth and what is simply sensationalistic conjecture. I just wish you would spend nearly as much time training Erica as you spend on that boy."

"I told you before, James, that Erica gets a lot more attention than I could ever offer Henri, simply because she is here at this school and he is not. The difference in their strength and accomplishments is caused only by his unrelenting self training and the age difference. His second place in the dueling tournament is a testament to his conviction and tenacity."

"Of course." James said in a disbelieving tone. "Just thinking about this, my own son would be old enough to participate in the Triwizard Tournament, do you reckon whether he will show up with one of the other schools?"

Albus just looked scolding at James for his words. "I told you countless times, that I won't tell you where he is. Should he ever forgive you, then he will find you on his own. Stop your attempts to goad me into revealing anything."

For the last few years James had repeatedly tried to find out where Albus had brought Harry, but the old wizard remained adamant. This infuriated James every time. His wife and his daughter had not spoken with him for months, after they had found out for what reason James had banished the boy from the family. And even their youngest daughter, Ariana, who had not even been born before Harry was gone, often glared at him whenever they talked about the lost Potter son. His family wanted the lost child back and even he himself could see now that his actions had been rash and the way he treated his son had been unfair. But to find Harry and make it up to him was a task that seemed almost impossible to James... if only he knew what would await him at Beauxbatons.