Harry Potter and Morpheus's Plea
Rating: Teen
Warnings: Occasional bad language, action violence, fluff, spoilers for those who have not read the books & ooc main characters.
Standard Disclaimer: I am not JK Rowling and do not own any of the copyrights to any borrowed characters or locations used in this work and this is not written for profit. All other known characters and locations borrowed in this work belong to their respective copyright owners.
Authors note: Italics equals spoken French in this chapter, and yes Hermione is technically a dual national, Emma Watson was born there. This chapter also marks a hint of the direction I'm moving the tale. To answer some of the points left by guest reviewers, that's a great idea with the dragons, I might work that in at some point if I can make it fit with what I've already written so far and have planned for the plot. I'm not sorry about Ron bashing, compared to some fics I've read, I went easy on him and think canon Harry was way too quick to forgive him after the first task and don't get me started about Deathly Hallows. True the whole money grubber Weasley's and potion/contract queen Molly/Ginny scenario gets old pretty quick. But to redeem Ron properly he needs one heck of a wakeup call to strip him down and rebuild his character more or less from scratch. Also, nobody expects perfection in fanfiction, yes I probably could have written a few of the early sections a bit better to explain what's happening but hopefully the next few chapters should fix the issues mentioned.
Chapter 3: Girl Talk
Fred and George had indeed thrown a party in Harry's honor much to his embarrassment as he was pulled into the common room to a torrent of cheering to find the space decorated with a lot of Dean's finest artwork showing him flying around the dragon, and a few with Cedric with his head on fire. The merriment went for most of the day, the whole house seemingly finally believing that Harry hadn't put his own name is much to Harry's surprise. The highlights of the party in Harry's eye were Neville spontaneously being turned into a giant canary and the egg screaming like a banshee when he was goaded into opening it by the crowd. Fred and George shocked Harry somewhat when they pulled him aside, cackling over a bag of gold they'd obvious won by betting on him and selling their wares with the two being twins, they started rallying.
'Bonjour Monsieur Potter.'
'Inspired effort against that dragon.'
'Áwe inspiring.'
'But more importantly.'
'You simply must tell us your secret to attracting haughty French veela,'
'Everybody else that tried it on got hexed apparently.'
'Love potion?'
'Entrancing charm?'
Harry looked around, luckily most of the crowd's attention was still on the party and he whispered.
'So you noticed?'
Both leaned in closer and Fred said, 'Harry, a blind man would have noticed, she used to hate you and now she's hanging around you almost as much as Hermione does. That's a pretty big deal, she definitely likes you.'
George carried on, 'however you did it, just invite us when it all happens and if you could tip us off in advance of the public announcement you'd really be doing us a favor. Still, good going Harry, just don't let Ronniekins drown in his own drool if you end up inviting him to the wedding. Though that would be a more amusing death than him being hexed by his man crush for stalking.'
Harry laughed at the mental image as they left.
The twins weren't the only one who'd noticed Fleur's attention to Harry and Hermione hoping for some answers tracked Fleur down and asked for a private word a few days after the party, the two witches ducking into an unused classroom.
'Fleur can I have a word, it's about Harry?'
'Yes of course, I was waiting for zis to be honest and may I say you speak very good French for an Englishwoman.'
'I was born in France and lived there until I was 10, so I'm actually a dual national. Beauxbatons offered me a place which I would have taken up if my parents hadn't moved us back to England, I still spend a lot of time there in the summers.'
Fleur looked surprised, but pleased as she replied, 'wonderful, you must tell me more sometime, but back to the key point, Harry. You want to know what I've done to him and why yes? Before I tell you, what do you know of the veela race?'
'Changeling humans, live mainly in France and Bulgaria, active veela are always female and there isn't any such thing as half or quarter veela it's an all or nothing gift. Male children carry the potential to sire veela offspring and are usually very handsome, and all veela can project an aura that entrances men and can assume a birdlike form that can throw lethal fireballs. I read a few other things that sounded like nonsense, but those are the only facts that were really universally known.'
'Very good, but there is far more about the veela than those books would ever have written. Veela are beings of love and fire and our magic is based on tapping into those elements. Take the allure for example, in the majority of cases it reduces men to drooling imbeciles. But those men who hold the strength to resist shine out to us and we are drawn to them as they are the best choice for us as potential mates. But the key here is that veela can also sense emotions to a degree, especially in men. When Harry used the plea on me, not only did it show me the memories he used for the ritual. It also made his emotions shine out to me like a beacon. While Harry is fundamentally good natured and yearns for the love of family, I could sense a great darkness within him, a darkness so foul it could mean only one thing.'
Hermione was shocked at what she was hearing, 'What are you saying exactly?'
Fleur looked grim, 'Your dark lord whether accidentally or on purpose left a terrible legacy within Harry's scar, I dare not speak more of it, as though I do trust you there are those who can steal the truth from unprotected minds. I only know of it as veela are naturally resistant to mental attack and the knowledge of the nature of these objects has been passed down by some veela clans as a sacred trust to their members ensure the destruction of any that are located. If I'm right, I believe your dark lord created several such artefacts in an effort to spare himself from death, his very name is the clue, Vol de mort "Flight from Death". The problem we have is that normally to destroy the magic one must destroy the item beyond repair. This is not an option in Harry's case and left me only one means to remove the taint from Harry's mind whilst sparing his life though it will come at a cost, for us both. That is to replace it with a bond of equal power but opposite in nature given willingly, and the only bond short of a soul bond that can do this is the knighthood bond which in time seals an unconditional mating between a veela and a human permanently. The hatred of the dark lord's essence bound in the scar would not be able coexist in the same soul and as such should be expelled once the bond becomes strong enough to overcome it, given enough positive reinforcement. I always saw Harry's potential to be my knight as he managed to resist my allure, even if his entry to the tournament infuriated me. But once I saw the truth he showed me I knew then what I had to do. Even if in normal circumstances I would never have chosen Harry as my knight for several reasons. It will help him, beyond saving his life so you can rest assured it won't hurt him, and I and my family will take care of him so you need not worry that I will take advantage of this. Were there any alternative, I would have done it.'
Hermione was speechless, 'my god, well I only hope you know what you're doing, you know you're going to have to tell him all this at some point. He won't like it if he doesn't hear this from you, and soon.'
'I know that, once the bond is strong enough which hopefully should happen around the time of the second task his mind will be protected enough to stop all but an expert at ze mind arts, my family and I will tell him everything he needs to know. I don't like keeping secrets from him any more than you do, but if the wrong person were to steal the knowledge…..'
'But why me? Why tell me now if this is so sensitive? Everyone knows how close Harry and I are.'
'That is so, but you are also 'Arry's closest friend and I'm hoping you'll be able to help me keep him calm when the time comes, plus an organized mind such as yours does have some natural resistance to passive mental attack. I would suggest you look into a branch of magic called Occlumency. That should afford you the protection you need to be safer from mental attack, I can explain more of what I know once you gain enough of a skill in it. In the meantime I would be careful about which adults in the castle you make eye contact with, Professor Snape and Professor Dumbledore for example, both are well known as masters of legillimency, the art of scanning minds.'
Hermione nodded, rather shocked at the revelations and tried to turn the conversation onto a lighter note,
'You've just broken the hearts of every fan girl in England, you do know that right?'
'I know, but none of them deserved him anyway, so I do not care. But one last thing, I know you love Harry, and he loves you even if he has never truly understood the emotion himself. I'm sorry if you feel I have stolen him from you but I truly had no alternative. But please, for me, don't feel you have to settle for that immature pig of a red headed boy. I'm sure you can find someone better. I believe there is to be a ball at Christmas, what better opportunity than to begin to look around you for a better man. I myself shall take 'Arry even if I have to ask him myself it will be a good chance to get to know him better as a person, but I promise I won't keep him to myself all night.'
Hermione flushed pink at Fleur's rather frank assessments, knowing them to be true even if she'd never admitted them to anyone, even herself.
As winter began, the change in season brought freezing temperatures and strong winds to Hogwarts and Hagrid was still raising the Skrewts, much to Harry and the rest of the classes' annoyance as the beasts had grown to over six feet in length and were becoming much harder to manage than ever, even if there were only ten of them left. They certainly didn't hibernate as they all found one day when Hagrid bade the class to lead them into the pillow lined boxes he'd brought, only for the boxes to soon be destroyed and over half the class to stampede into his hut and barricade themselves in, just as Rita Skeeter arrived much to Harry's suspicion as he had heard that she had been banned from the grounds by Professor Dumbledore. She apparently arranged an interview with Hagrid about the Skrewts before quickly leaving, Ron whispering that Skeeter was likely to twist everything Hagrid said.
Later on that week, Harry looked up as Professor McGonagall called for the class's attention, the lesson had already finished and the bell was due to ring any minute.
'The Yule ball is approaching, a traditional part of the Triwizard Tournament and an opportunity to socialise with our foreign guests. Now, the ball will be open only to fourth years and above, although you may invite a younger student if you wish. Dress robes will be worn and the ball will start at eight o clock on Christmas day and finish at midnight in the great hall.'
The professor paused while she looked around at the class before she continued. 'The Yule ball is of course a chance for all of us to, err let our hair down.'
Harry heard Parvati and Lavender giggle at this before the Professor carried on, 'but this does NOT mean that we will be relaxing the standards of behaviour we expect from Hogwarts students. I will be most seriously displeased if a Gryffindor student embarrasses the school in any way.'
The class was dismissed and Harry was held back by Professor McGonagall and told of his obligation to open the ball much to his embarrassment. But as he was leaving the classroom, a harried looking Fleur came around the corner, a look of annoyance on her face which softened as she saw him before she fell into step beside him and slipped her hand into his. Harry felt his face warm, and the odd tingling feeling in his scar return.
'You look troubled mon chevalier, ze ball per chance?'
'I get the feeling, all the "boy who lived groupies" are going to swarm me now I'm back in fashion after the first task hoping I'll ask them to this ball even if there's only two witches I'd seriously consider asking. But what about you? Have the drooling fan boys been troubling you again?'
Fleur smiled, 'oui, but eet is not unusual for me.'
Harry frowned, 'it shouldn't have to be like that, and you don't deserve to be ogled like fresh meat at the butchers.'
'Merci 'Arry, but you consider deux witches?'
Harry blushed even harder, 'Well, yes, but it leaves me in an awkward spot if I choose one I break the heart of the other and I really don't want to do that. Firstly there's Hermione, she's stood by me through thick and thin since first year and we've always been close. But on the other hand, you've been so nice to me and done a lot for me after we got over the embarrassing first meeting and, well….' Harry started to go a bit red.
Harry struggled to form words, but it seemed Fleur could read his face and he felt her hand rest on his cheek and a single finger press itself to his lips silencing him.
'Oui, 'Arry I know you're confused now and seek answers, answers I wish to give you more than you could possibly know but as soon as I can, my family and I will tell you everything. I 'ad a talk with 'Ermione a few days ago as I felt zis could become a problem. She will not 'old it against you, and we can always 'elp her find someone better zan ze red headed pig, non?'
Harry smiled inwardly at her description of Ron and swallowed as he felt his nerves rising but as her finger fell away he asked,
'Fleur will you come to the ball with me?'
'Oui, of course I will mon chevalier.'
Before he could blink, Fleur leaned in closer and pressed a chaste kiss to his lips and as she did so, Harry could swear he heard a faint scream on the edge of his hearing.
Life was great to Harry as Christmas drew closer, almost nobody beyond a few hard core Hufflepuffs who'd never liked Harry anyway were wearing the Support Cedric Diggory badges anymore. He wasn't being hounded constantly by boy who lived groupies after he had let slip that he had a date already, though Fleur and he had both decided to surprise the school on the night of the ball. Dancing lessons that were offered to the house by Professor McGonagall were actually quite fun and Harry found that he picked the steps up quite quickly much to Hermione's shock and delight. Watching his friends and roommates bunglesome attempts at wooing their chosen became a daily comedy show for Harry, Ron's pathetic attempt at asking Fleur where he only barely got the words out while drooling being the most memorable. Harry snuck over in the aftermath and surreptitiously hexed Ron to sound like Mickey Mouse gassed on helium for the rest of the day much to Fleur's amusement as Ron skulked off. No nasty story about Hagrid had shown up in the Daily Prophet either as he explained during their last Care of Magical Creatures when thankfully he had finally stopped the class's direct handling of the Skrewts.
'She wasn't all that interested in magical creatures ter tell yeh the truth, she jus wanted to talk about you. So I told her all about you, not that she was too interested in what I was saying.'
'Probably because you weren't giving her any juicy gossip.' Said Harry
'You coming to this ball on Christmas Hagrid?' asked Ron.
'Thought I might, yeah,' said Hagrid, 'should be a good do I reckon. You'll be openin the dancing won't yeh Harry, who yeh going with?'
'That's a surprise, but don't worry you'll soon be enlightened.' Said a serene looking Harry as he and Hermione shared a knowing grin.
Rumours began flying everywhere as to the identity of his date as the last days of term passed though most were completely ridiculous to Harry and like always, the twins even set up a betting pool with the longest odds being on Professor Trelawney at 500 to 1. Most of the teachers were winding down on their lessons though some like McGonagall and Snape were keeping them working until the last day.
Cedric came up to him one afternoon and put him onto a hint about the golden egg saying that Moody had tipped him off, but Harry had already solved it with Fleur and Hermione's combined help, and was already working on a solution.
Christmas day soon dawned and Harry was jolted awake much sooner than he would have liked when Ron got up far too early for Harry's taste and woke him and the other boys before they began exchanging gifts and unwrapping those from the piles at the end of their beds. A new black dress robe with silver accenting and dark blue lining and some new casual muggle clothes proving a pleasant surprise as they were labelled as coming from the Delacours who at Fleur's suggestion he had begun to write to, Fleur's parents proving to be good people who were full of useful advice that he wished the other adults around him had given him in the past. After getting ready for the day, Harry and the others met Hermione and the other Gryffindor witches and went down for breakfast before returning to the tower where the whole house was sitting around enjoying their presents. Harry spent the afternoon having a massive snowball fight in the grounds with the Weasley's and a few others before Hermione disappeared to go get ready for the ball.
Harry and the boys hurried upstairs to follow suit, Harry inwardly smirking as he listened to Ron complain about his absurd maroon dress like creation.
'I should get a move on, I don't want to miss her in the crowd,' Harry said to the room at large.
Checking himself over one last time, Harry grabbed the corsage he'd ordered and sighed as he gave up on getting his hair any neater than it already was, ready to leave the tower.
'Who are you going with? I've got 5 galleons on you and Hermione so don't let me down.' Seamus called over.
'3 on Susan Bones from me,' called Dean.
The others bade him good luck and Harry hurried downstairs, passing through the common room which looked much more crowded than usual with so many people in different colours.
A few people called out to him trying to get him to reveal his mystery date.
'You'll all see soon enough now seriously, I gotta go.'
'Good luck,' said Fred or George.
'Please don't turn up with someone we've given too long a set of odds for,' they winked slyly at him.
Harry grinned and waved as he pushed open the portrait and left the common room, making his way down to the entrance hall which was also packed and full of people, with people looking for their partners edging through the crowd. Thankfully he didn't need to look far for Fleur as he spotted her almost instantly as she looked to be almost glowing in a stylish dark blue dress that matched the lining of his robe. Harry felt his jaw drop
Fleur smiled at him, a hint of pink on her cheeks, 'bonsoir 'Arry, am I so beautiful you have no words left?'
That snapped him out of it and before he lost his nerve, Harry grabbed her hand and bent to kiss it much to the shock of the whole room and Fleur giggled as she looked him over approvingly.
'Bon, you learn quickly and look very suave mon chevalier.'
Harry heard the sighs from surrounding witches as he offered and pinned the corsage he'd brought and made a mental note to thank Neville later.
'You look….Well, beautiful hardly does you justice.'
Harry stood and spoke with Fleur as more and more people arrived, a few of the pairings highly surprising to him. Such as Ron arriving with a younger Ravenclaw who he remembered seeing about a few times at the start of the year. Amazingly with his ludicrous robe charmed to match his partners silver dress, making it look surprisingly good on him but the real shock came when Hermione arrived a few minutes later on the arm of none other than Viktor Krum himself.
Harry was shocked as he said to Hermione, 'wow, this is a surprise but a good one though, you probably annoyed a lot of fan girls Mione.'
Hermione giggled, 'who cares, and come on Harry he's alright, besides you're not the only one who can surprise people.'
Cedric looked peeved from his spot next to Cho, 'damn, you just lost me 10 galleons Potter.'
Harry turned to Cedric, 'never bet against the twins, they have a habit of winning, I saw them win a bet against Ludo Bagman at the world cup, at very long odds.'
Cedric shrugged, 'well I hope he paid them, I heard my dad say old Ludo's in a tight spot at the moment.'
Professor McGonagall called the champions to her and told them to wait in line while the other students went into the hall before they would enter in procession. Harry stood straight and waited for the moment, Fleur squeezing his arm in support.
The doors were thrown open and the rest of the school went in, many students shooting daggers at him and Hermione others had their jaws dropping as they noticed Fleur on his arm. Finally they were bade to move in and Harry walked forward, determined not to let disgruntled fools spoil the night for him and Fleur. They made their way to the top table where the judging panel were sitting and stopped before Professor Dumbledore. Harry was guided into a seat next to Percy Weasley who was supposedly filling in for an absent Mr Crouch. Harry found Percy boring as usual but picked up a few points of interest from him.
The meal was as good as any he had eaten at Hogwarts, though the conversation was more the high point, Fleur proving quite a charming dinner companion as she spoke of Beauxbatons and how it was different to Hogwarts.
Dumbledore stood up and bade the students to do the same as he conjured a stage where some musical instruments were standing. The band trooped on stage and Harry asked,
'May I have this dance?'
Fleur smiled and took his arm as they made their way onto the dance floor, she was as good a dancer as Harry suspected and as the song began his nerves seemed to disappear. He soon noticed that soon more couples were joining in, even Ron was among them as he danced with his date from Ravenclaw. The champions were no longer the centre of attention, though as he swept Fleur around the floor many a couple were watching enviously.
Mad Eye Moody was dancing nearby with a scared looking Professor Sinistra and as Harry and Fleur went past, Harry asked.
'Have you ever wondered if there was something funny about him? I knew he was a bit strange, but there's something else I've been noticing.'
Fleur smiled, 'E is well known for eet 'Arry, but zat flask is full of pungent fluid and eet is not the same scent as the whiskey ze 'orses drink.'
The song ended and the next few numbers were far too fast for the two of them to speak to each other, but after a while Harry said.
'Bit stuffy in here, let's go grab a drink and find somewhere to cool off.'
Fleur nodded and followed him off the dance floor which was fast becoming rather hazardous as he noticed Hagrid and Madam Maxime taking up a fair amount of space, students eyeing the pair nervously. Harry led the way to a table where Hermione was sitting, rather pink in the face from dancing. Hermione commented that Viktor had gone to collect butterbeer and Harry quickly followed suit.
'Quite the dancer isn't he? You looked like you were enjoying yourself.'
'Yes, he's been great, I'm amazed how well he's adapting.'
'Oh no, what are they doing?'
Harry and Viktor got back just in time to see Fred and George trying to waylay Ludo Bagman after he had finished dancing with Professor McGonagall, he shook them off fairly quickly before the twins quickly joined them, butterbeer quickly being passed around.
Hermione looked confused, 'what was that all about?'
Harry had a brainwave as he looked between the twins and Ludo Bagman and thought of the jovial man's actions at the Triwizard tournament and the world cup and a few things he'd noticed and slowly came to a disturbing conclusion.
'Oh man, surely not, Ludo can't be that dumb can he?' He thought with surprise.
Harry had his suspicions all but confirmed as Fred tried to shrug Hermione off.
Fred looked conflicted, 'Business my dear lady, we wanted to ask him a few questions on business law and he's more fun than our brother.'
That seemed to mollify Hermione as she blushed and said, 'oh I see, Percy is a bit uptight sometimes isn't he.'
George grinned, 'that's right.'
Harry took a sip of his drink and felt Fleur's eyes on him and he mouthed,
'I think I know what's going on here, and it gives me an idea.'
She nodded before she said
'Come 'Arry, let's go get some fresh air.'
Harry followed her out through the entrance hall and into the rose gardens lit by fairly lights where here and there Harry could make out the odd couple hidden from view behind pillars and bushes as they walked and just as Harry felt his heart began to race at the look on Fleur's face he heard voices coming towards them.
'Listen.' She hissed as she pulled him into a bush.
Professors Snape and Karkaroff were close by and seemed to be in serious conclave.
'…..don't see what the fuss is about Igor, you managed quite well for yourself if I remember correctly.'
'Severus, you cannot pretend this isn't happening! If he returns I'm a dead man'
'It's been getting clearer and clearer for months, I am becoming seriously concerned, and I can't deny it.'
Snape sounded much firmer, 'then flee, I will make your excuses. I however am remaining at Hogwarts.'
Snape left, luckily without seeing them and Harry took a deep breath and said, 'What was that all about? Might be worth checking a few facts.'
Fleur look as confused as he felt as they continued along, soon noticing Hagrid and Madam Maxime and overhearing another conversation which revealed that Hagrid was actually half giant. But what Harry spotted was a beetle perched on a reindeer statue which had rather unusual markings on its eyes which curiously failed to see him as its gazed was fixed on Hagrid.
Harry's eyes widened as his mind processed the implications and the possibilities, even though it felt like something of a Faustian deal to him.
Fleur had noticed the look on his face.
'What's wrong?'
Harry whispered 'That beetle, on the statue, I'm fairly sure it's Rita Skeeter, fits what everyone knows about her style. Who'd notice a beetle normally? Only normally beetles are dormant this time of year. I bet she's unregistered, or people would have put wards up, hang on. I'll just check…'
Harry put his hand into his pocket and pulled out the Marauders map which he always kept handy and quickly activated it and scanned the parchment with the aid of the light of a nearby group of fairies and soon spotted what he suspected before he wiped it.
'Yeah, it's her alright. Gives me an idea though even if I hate the implications.'
Harry watched as the beetle flew away as Hagrid and Madam Maxime split up and he whispered his idea to Fleur.
The look on her face was priceless, a mix of mischief and pride.
'Oh Arry, zat is ingenious! I am so proud, beating er at er own game and using er to fight your enemies at ze same time?'
Fleur pulled him close and kissed him and Harry knew then if it helped the world he'd do it just for the affection and happiness of the beautiful witch in his arms.
Harry and Fleur went back to the ball, dancing a few more songs before switching partners for the last few, Harry swapping with Viktor and dancing the last songs with Hermione, quickly filling her in on what he had overheard and what had happened, much to her astonishment.
The ball finished at midnight, much to the disappointment of the students who wished it could go on for longer, Harry walked Fleur out and began bidding her farewell at the door to the entrance hall where the Beauxbatons students were mingling, ready to head back to their carriage.
'Thanks Fleur, I had a great time, even the bit where we had to deal with Rita was kind of fun.'
Fleur laughed musically, 'welcome to ze world of backroom politics Arry.'
Harry pulled her into his arms before he leaned in to kiss her, and as he walked up towards the common room he knew that nothing would ever be the same again.
'
