Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or related characters. All belong to JK Rowling.
AN: Alright so I'll write the same as I have been for how the girl's will speak. So this chapter will be more of Diagon Alley trip, hope you like it.
Fleur looked over at the window and saw a very large man who must be part giant like the students at Beauxbaton's thought their Headmistress was standing there waiting outside the store. Taking a guess Fleur asked "'arry is that the man that 'as been showing you around?" Harry turned slightly to look and nodded "Yeah, that's Hagrid, he works at Hogwarts" Nodding her head she said "I will ask 'im if he will be willing to 'elp us as well"
Walking over to the entrance she walked out and curtsied "'ello sir, this is my sister's and I first time in the alley and 'arry has offered to 'elp us find our way around but 'e said that 'e was being shown around 'imself. Would it be alright if we came along with you?" Hagrid looked at the young lady in front of him and stroked his beard "Well if it's alright with 'arry then sure I don't see why not" Fleur beamed and nodded, then seeing her Mother she called out "Maman, a boy named 'arry offered to 'elp Gabrielle and I through the alley but 'e was being shown around by this nice man. 'is name is 'agrid, 'e 'as offered to 'elp us find everything we need today" Fleur explained
Now it was with well practiced years that Apolline Delacour was able to keep a straight face when her eldest daughter mentioned Gabrielle and Harry in the same sentence. She wasn't expecting them to meet so soon. Looking over to Hagrid she gracefully inclined her head "Thank you for your offer 'agrid, we appreciate the 'elp" Hagrid chuckled and stated "Think nothing of it, friend of 'arry's is a friend of mine" Fleur then ran back into the shop to tell Harry and Gabrielle the good news. "'agrid as said 'e'll be 'appy to 'elp us" Both Harry and Gabrielle beamed for similar reasons.
Harry because he could spend more time with his new friends and Gabrielle because she got to be around Harry more. "Ok dears, all done, let me just wrap them up for you." A few minutes later had an animatedly talking Gabrielle walk out of the store pulling Harry along and Fleur walking behind rolling her eyes. Gabrielle saw her mother and exclaimed "Maman, this is 'arry, 'e offered to show us around, now we 'ave a friend at 'ogwarts."
Apolline smiled kindly at the small boy "It's nice you meet you 'arry and thank you for 'elping us out today" Harry blushed at the kind beautiful woman "It's no problem Mrs Delacour, they are the first people since I've arrived that treat me normally." Apolline frowned mentally and made a note to herself to find out what the meant later on. "Please call me Apolline, friends of my daughter's 'ave that right" Harry beamed at her for two reasons, she didn't ask why he wasn't treating normally and she is happy that Harry has made friends with her daughters. Something he never had before. "Sure Apolline"
Hagrid then grunted and stated "Harry since it's your birthday how about you get some ice cream with your new friends, the Ice cream stand is right over there, I'll go and get your school books real quick" Harry looked over to where he was pointing then turned back and beamed "Thanks Hagrid" He just chuckled and ruffled the boy's hair before heading off towards the bookstore. Gabrielle squealed in delight, she loved Ice cream and grabbed Harry's hand to race over to the shop.
Harry had never realized how lonely he felt until now, but that feeling was completely suppressed by the utter joy he now felt at having a real friend. This girl was obviously from a magical family but he saw her look at his scar and completely disregard it. She wanted to know the real Harry and not the hero this world seemed to think he was. He had gone from a house where he was raised to believe he is worthless to being thrown into a world where he is considered a hero, Harry's emotions were in serious turmoil. But somehow this bubbly girl pulling him now had levelled his emotions out to pure happiness. Was this what it meant to have a friend, to have someone that actually cares for you?
He didn't know and he didn't care, from that moment he knew he would defend this girl, fight for this girl or even die for this girl. They had only just met but he knew she meant the world to him, when he looked in her eyes before he swore he saw the same thing in her eyes. He didn't know what it was he was feeling, but he knew he would let nothing stand in the way of facing it together with Gabrielle Delacour.
"'arry what flavour are you going to get?" Gabrielle exclaimed happily looking at all the flavours. The man behind the counter gasped "Harry Potter. Merlin, pick anything you like son, you and your friends can have it on the house. Bless my soul Harry Potter." Harry looked over at Gabrielle expecting to see a similar reaction but she just smiled with her head cocked to the side "Well 'arry what are you going to get?" He beamed at her "I think I'll get cookies and cream" Of course he missed both Fleur's eyes widening in shock and Apolline struggled to not do what her eldest just did.
Gabrielle kept looking mumbling to herself as if it was the hardest decision in the world before she exclaimed "Ok, sir could we get two large cookies and cream please" The man chuckled at the girls antics and dished them two servings of the cookies and cream. Fleur got mint choc chip but Apolline declined getting any. The man happily exclaimed "Have a good day" Gabrielle beamed at him "Thanks" Before grabbing Harry's free hand and leaving the store.
Apolline was in shock, she had no doubts in her mind that the future version of herself would have completely ignored her daughter's rantings if it was about Harry Potter. She was in love with the boy-who-lived but she smiled as she watched her daughter interact with him now. It was like all she saw was a boy named Harry and not the boy-who-lived. Fleur had a similar thought process to her mother. She would have scoffed at her sister's plea of claiming to be in love with the boy-who-lived.
Once the kid's finished their Ice creams Hagrid reappeared to the group. "Alright 'arry how about we go get you your wand. I assume you'll be needing one too Gabrielle?" Gabrielle nodded vehemently and he chuckled. Looking over at Apolline he offered "How about we drop these too off to get their wands while we get their potions supplies, trunks and writing stuff?" Apolline looked over at the pleading look in her youngest daughter's eyes and sighed "Alright but no wondering off afterwards understand young lady"
Gabrielle just merely put on her best innocent look which made Apolline twitch her lip slightly. "Of course Maman" Before Hagrid led the group over to Ollivander's before himself, Apolline and Fleur left the two 11 year olds. Entering the old dusty shop they looked around curiously. "Ahh I've been wondering when I'd see you Mr Potter" His sudden speech earning a small short scream from Gabrielle who had caused Harry to jump up in shock at both.
"You look just like your father, Mahogany 11 inches Unicorn hair, excellent for transfiguration. Ahhh but you have your mother's eyes, Willow 10 inches Dragon heartstring, perfect for charms work." Harry looked at the man like he was crazy and Gabrielle giggled causing the man to turn his attention to you. "Hmmm I don't believe either of your parents got their wand from me young lady, I don't recognize your face, Muggleborn?" Gabrielle shook her head "Non, I am from france"
"Ahhh of course but you are attending Hogwarts, Interesting." He turned his attention back to Harry and touched his scar freaking the boy out "Yes, I'm afraid I also sold the wand that did that, Yew 13 inches Phoenix feather, Very powerful." Gabrielle got a curious look in her eye "What was 'is name sir" Ollivander looked at the young lady and said "His name was Tom Riddle, a polite young man at the time but alas if I could have foreseen what he would have become." He trailed off before stating happily "No matter, we are here now, which is your wand arm"
He went on to explain about wand cores before having each of them try wand after wand. Getting no significant results he paused and mutter "I wonder" Before passing Harry holly 11 inches Phoenix feather. If gave a very small reaction and Ollivander looked even more excited "Not the same as him, good thing I guess. Tricky customer ay. Not to worry looks like I'll have to make you a custom wand. Follow me" The two kid's followed Ollivander to the back of the store where shelves full of various objects stood to one side and planks of wood spread out was at the other end.
"Welcome to my workshop, very few people have the chance to see it, what you see on your left is my many wand cores, some of them are extremely rare, on your right is the various wood I use to case the core and shape the wand. What I'll have each of you do is run your hand over the wood until you feel a strong pull, take it then do the same with the cores." The kid's nodded and set about their task. Gabrielle chose Yew and a phoenix feather from the phoenix rumoured to belong to Godric Gryffindor. Harry chose Holly with Phoenix feather from Gabrielle's cores mate.
"Curious" Ollivander muttered. "Alright I'll need around 30 minutes to an hour to get these done. You have the option to watch but I assure you that it's quite a boring process for an observer" Nodding their heads Gabrielle seemed to go into a deep thought before exclaiming "Let's get more Ice cream 'arry" Harry just blinked at her. He was still getting used to the fact that he could actually get things for himself like Ice cream. But knowing that he could he stated "Sure let's go then" Beaming that she didn't even have to persuade him she grabbed his hand and they left.
Meanwhile it didn't take Apolline, Fleur and Hagrid long to get most of the kid's school supplies. The only thing left was their trunks. Heading to the store Hagrid immediately went to the cheapest filmiest looking trunk in the store. Frowning Appoline asked "'agrid, knowing who 'arry is shouln't you look for something that is a little more protected?" Hagrid blushed at that and stated "Ay, you're right, this was similar to the trunk I had when I attended Hogwarts. Which one would you recommend Apolline"
Looking around she said "Maybe that 2 compartment one, the first can be for 'is school supplies and the second we can make into a little living area for 'im so if 'ogwarts gets to overbearing with all the stares and whispers 'e 'as a place to escape to. I plan on getting the same for Gabrielle for the same reason since she like me is part Veela" She expected some sort of reaction from the man but when he simply nodded glumly she realized that perhaps he really was part giant and understood the discrimination against those not completely human.
30 minutes later Harry was once again being dragged by an excited Gabrielle back to Ollivander's with Gabrielle animatedly talking about Ice cream being the greatest invention made. Chuckling at his new best friend he smiled and they entered the old wand shop. Ollivander was already there waiting at the counter "Ahh perfect timing, here are your wands, 10 inch Yew with Phoenix feather Miss Delacour and 11 inch Holly with Phoenix feather Mr Potter. Because of the cores used in this case I'm going to have to charge you a little extra for the wands I'm afraid, it comes to 10 galleons a piece"
Harry nodded and payed for both while Gabrielle dug into her bag for her Galleons, when she found some she went to pay to find Ollivander gone "Where did 'e go?" Harry shyly stated "Uh, he left cause I payed for your wand already" Gabrielle blinked before jumping at him giving him a tight hug and a kiss on his cheek. This time Harry relaxed much faster which she was especially happy about.
As they left the store Hagrid, Fleur and Apolline were just arriving. "'ow did it go darling?" Apolline asked her daughter. Beaming Gabrielle explained about no wands matching them and getting these wands custom made and having really rare cores. Harry had to once again stare in awe of the fact Gabrielle seemed to have no need to breathe when she got going. Hagrid then walked over nervously and said "Uh Happy Birthday 'arry" Hagrid stated presenting a beautiful snowy white owl. Harry beamed "Thank you Hagrid" and he latched onto one of Hagrids massive legs. This was his first ever Birthday present. It meant more to him then the big man though. Thinking about something Harry asked Hagrid "Umm Hagrid, do I have to go back to the Dursley's?"
Hagrid looked at the boy in concern. Truthfully he didn't want to send Harry back to them. Apolline looked surprised by the innocent question and then she looked at him properly, he was very small for his size and looked to be very skinny. A sign of malnourishment, she then looked at his clothes, many sizes too big and looking very old and faded. She frowned wondering what sort of fools he had been given to raise the boy-who-lived in such a way. Turning to the boy before Hagrid could reply she stated "'arry, who are the Dursley's?"
He looked over to her and blushed with embarrassment "Uh, they're my umm relatives Mrs Delacour" She quickly realized they must be a sensitive topic for him if he called her that. Thinking of something she stated "Well if you don't want to go back to them why don't you come stay with us until Hogwarts starts?" His eyes did a 180 and he excitedly said "Really Apolline, I don't have to go back to my cupboard again?" He clamped his hand over his mouth after he realized what he had said.
Gabrielle's eyes widened and she was about to say something when Hagrid roared "They kept you in a cupboard. You will not be returning to those filthy muggles 'arry" Thankfully Apolline had cast a quick silencing charm expecting her daughter to scream but it seemed Hagrid had beaten her to it. Harry's eyes began darting around but Apolline stated calmly "No one heard that outburst 'arry, I put a silencing charm around us and now more than before I want you to come and stay with us"
Harry had tears in his eyes when she offered to let him stay with her even after learning that, he wouldn't have to return to his abusive relatives. He timidly stated "You would really take me?" Apolline's heart almost broke at the hope laced in that one statement "Yes Harry, I would take you even if you weren't friends with my daughters." Harry's really did start crying then, Gabrielle instinctively got hold of him and pulled him into a tight hug, he cried into her shoulder and she whispered comforting words to him.
For Harry the emotional turmoil went out of control, he found a real friend, he got his first present, and he discovered that he wasn't worthless and that he was actually famous. And now he had a family who were nice to him that wanted him to stay with them. Even if it was for a few days that was the nicest thing anyone could had done for him, he couldn't contain his tears anymore and for the first time since he was 5 he cried and he felt warmth around him as he cried. Calming down he opened his eyes to see what was so warm and who was whispering those comforting words.
His eyes widened when he realized it was Gabrielle, he suddenly felt embarrassed and wanted to go run and hide somewhere rather than face the situation. Realizing that she was still holding him tightly and no escape was possible he sighed and whispered "Thank you Gabrielle" She looked up and beamed at him before kissing his cheek. "Whenever you need me I'll be there" She whispered back to him and for the second time that same day he wanted to cry tears of joy but he held himself back.
"There is nothing wrong with crying when they are tears of joy love" He heard her whisper to him and that did it, the dam broke and he cried for the second time that day. Unbeknownst to the two kids Apolline was casting notice me not charms at them and then Hagrid when he started crying loudly and blowing his nose. Fleur was crying realizing how much harder this boy's life must have been and at the scene in front of her.