A/N From here on out most of the dialogue is in French. Thank you to my Beta matt2parker and I own nothing and make no money. Please to enjoy.

Ch. 4 Vive La France

Harry gazed out of the window of the Eurostar Express Train as it made its way out of Waterloo station in London, feeling a mixture excitement and sadness. He was excited to finally be traveling to another country and hopefully starting a new chapter of his life, while at the same time sad that he was leaving England for what he knew, deep down, was most likely for good. Even though his life in England had not been that good, he was still a bit sad to be leaving it.

Harry shook his head, clearing his mind of depressing thoughts, and instead focused on the new chapter of his life that was beginning today. Harry felt a soft pressure lean against him and he looked to his left, noticing that Gabrielle had fallen asleep and she had decided to use him as her pillow. Harry smiled down at the younger veela and, not for the first time in the last week, thanked whatever deity there was that brought her into his life. She had given his life purpose again and a chance at a fresh start, and he would be forever grateful to her. Over the last week, the two had spent a lot of time together, and Gabrielle had quickly taken over Harry's best friend spot. Harry thought that one day, they might be more, but he knew that that one day was still a ways off.

Deciding to let her sleep, Harry glanced around the train car, and noticing no one was around, summoned his bag to him and with his free arm pulled out a book and went back to studying, with a well-placed notice me not charm on the book's cover. Harry had been devoting most of his time over the last week to his studies and was quite surprised to find that, without constant threats to his life to worry about, he was able to absorb quite a bit of information. With the help of Gabrielle, he felt that he would be ready to take his NEWTS in not only DADA, but also Charms and Transfiguration, along with the Runes OWL. Slightly adjusting himself, he propped open his book and began to read.

-(=)-

Five and a half hours later, Harry was once again staring out the window watching the City of Lights flow past. As the train entered Gard Du Nord, Harry gently nudged the sleeping girl on his shoulder who instead of waking up, emitted a soft moan of complaint and tried to burrow deeper into Harry's shoulder. Chuckling softly, Harry tried again to wake Gabrielle. "Time to wake up Gabrielle; we wouldn't want the train to take us back to London now would we?"

Slowly the silver haired girl lifted her head and blinked owlishly as she looked out the window, until a large smile graced her face as something on the platform caught her eye. Quickly rising from her seat she reached down and grabbed Harry's hand, pulling him up and only pausing long enough to grab their luggage before exiting the train. The cause of Gabrielle's excitement became evident to Harry for as soon as they were on the platform, Gabrielle was drawn into a tight hug by a woman Harry vaguely recognized as Gabrielle and Fleur's mother. "Bon jour ma petite angle," Madam Delacour said in French as she hugged her daughter tightly. "I am so happy you are out of the uncivilized county and back 'ome."

"Oui maman, it is good to be back," she replied. Harry smiled as he watched the two women until he was spotted by Madam Delacour.

"It is good to see you again 'arry," she said in heavily accented English while surprising Harry by drawing him into a hug also.

"It is a pleasure to see you again also Madam Delacour," Harry replied in his best French.

"Ah your French has improved quite a lot since our last meeting, non?" she replied switching back to her native language.

"Oui, Fleur has been teaching me for the last year, and I find that languages come surprisingly easy for me, and I can't help but feel fortunate for that considering Madam Maxime's offer."

"Tres bon, and I will hear none of this 'Madam' from you. You are practically part of the family and as such, you must call me Apolline." Harry nodded smiling in response as the older woman released him from her hug. Looping her arm through his while Gabrielle took the position on his other side, she led them off to where Fleur and Bill were waiting with Monsieur Delacour.

"Papa!" Gabrielle squealed while jumping into the waiting arms of her father.

"Ah it is good to have you home princess," he said before turning to Harry and extending his hand. "And it is good to see you again Mister Potter. I was quite pleased to hear you would be joining us before you start at Beauxbatons."

Harry smiled and shook the older man's hand. "Oui monsieur, thank you for letting me stay with you, and please, call me Harry. I hope it is not too much an inconvenience."

"Nonsense, we have plenty of room at our home. It seems quite empty with only Apolline and me, and Jean Luc will do for me." Harry smiled and nodded as the group began to make their way out of the station. When they were outside, they found an out of the way alley and, after making sure the coast was clear, Jean Luc pulled out a long rope and passed it around before he tapped the rope with his wand causing it to glow blue momentarily and Harry felt the familiar tug behind his navel as the portkey twirled the group away.

The portkey deposited the group in a small entryway with marble floors that Harry was currently getting a close up view of as he picked himself up off the floor. "I hate portkeys," he grumbled, hearing the soft laugh of Gabrielle beside him. He looked up and gave her a mock glare that only made her giggle more, causing Victoria to join in from Fleur's arms.

"That's enough girls," Apolline admonished moving to help Harry up. "Portkeys and floo travel are notorious for their hard landings, especially if a witch or wizard is particularly powerful."

Harry smiled his thanks as he stood up with the help of Apolline and looked around the house he had appeared in. The small entryway opened up to an elegantly designed turn of the century sitting room complete with a marble fireplace and white winged armchairs surrounding a dark cherry wood coffee table under a crystal chandelier hanging from the ceiling. "Welcome to our 'ome 'arry," Jean Luc said leading the group into the sitting room. "Please make yourself at home and you can leave your luggage and our house elf will take it to your room."

Harry took a seat in and looked around the sitting room, appreciating the lived in look of the house with numerous pictures of the four person family through the years. "I thought you lived in your manor?"

"When the girls were growing up we did, and we still spend time there, but the home is just too large for the two of us," Jean Luc replied

"So 'arry, is there anything you want to see while in Paris?" Apolline asked smiling.

Harry considered the question for a moment trying to remember what he knew about Paris. "Other than the major sights like Le Louver or the Eiffel Tower, I'm not too sure. I would like to stick to mostly muggle areas and I need to make sure I leave time to study."

"Then leave everything to me 'arry, I will make sure you see the best that Paris has to offer, starting with the food as I am starving," Gabrielle grabbed his hand and practically dragged Harry out the door and onto the streets of Paris, leaving behind her laughing family.

Hours later, Harry collapsed onto his bed completely exhausted, and he now understood why the others had decided to refrain from exploring with the two teens. Gabrielle was a whirlwind of energy and excitement, and she wasn't kidding when she said she would show him all that Paris had to offer. She made a valiant effort to cram as much as she could into the day while always making time for the food whenever it caught her eye. Harry had lost track of all the wonderful food they had eaten throughout the day, be it the light lunch in a café overlooking The Seine, the still warm crepes filled with fresh berries and cream they bought while meandering down the Champs-Elysees, or the quiet dinner they had shared in a small restaurant with a wonderful view of the Eiffel Tower alight in the clear summer night. They still hadn't gone to the Louver yet, but Gabrielle told him that in order to fully appreciate it, they would need to spend a whole day there. Harry, devoid of energy, fell asleep as soon as his head hit the pillow with the thought in the forefront of his mind that he had forgotten to do something.

-(=)-

Gabrielle was shocked awake by a loud scream, pulling her from her wonderful dreams of a green eyed, black haired wizard. Grabbing her wand, she quickly exited her room and followed the source of the sound to Harry's room, which coincidently, happened to be right next to hers. Wand drawn expecting trouble, she opened his door and found Harry curled up in a tight ball sobbing uncontrolledly. Lowering her wand, she moved to his bed and placed her hand gently on his shoulder, only for Harry to flinch away from her touch.

"He is having a nightmare," a sad, quiet voice came from the door. Gabrielle looked back, seeing her sister standing in the doorway dressed in her bathrobe looking sadly at Harry. "He thinks we do not know of course, as he usually puts silencing charms on his room when he would stay with us, but Bill removed them once or twice to make sure Harry was okay."

Gabrielle nodded absently, her heart breaking for Harry. Forgetting all aspects of propriety, she climbed onto the bed and lay down on her back pulling him into her arms with his head on her chest. With her arms circled around him, she began running her fingers through his hair like her maman used to do when she was younger, and his sobs began to subside as he began to relax into her embrace with his breathing evening. Gabrielle heard the soft click of the door and looked up, seeing her sister had closed the door leaving the two alone. Gabrielle gazed down at the troubled man in her arms, her fingers still running through his raven locks, vowing that she would do all she could to help him never have to suffer from nightmares again. Listening to the gentle sound of his breathing, Gabrielle's eye lids became heavy, and soon she was back asleep.

Gabrielle was again awoken a few hours later as she felt someone trying to pull away from her. "Stay, you are quite comfortable," she said in a sleepy voice. She opened her eyes to see Harry's eyes looking right at her, a mixture of fear and surprise marring those beautiful emerald orbs.

"Not that I do not enjoy my position, but what are you doing in my bed?" Harry asked, nervously attempting to hide his discomfort through cheek.

"You had a nightmare last night, and my presence seemed to help." Gabrielle smiled at her friend. "You seemed to sleep much better in my arms."

Harry's face turned scarlet, but whether from embarrassment from her hearing his nightmare, or their sleeping position, Gabrielle didn't know. "It was the best night's sleep I have had in a long time," Harry admitted quietly. "At least the second half of it, I must have forgotten my silencing charms last night. Sorry for waking you."

"Do not apologize 'arry, do you have nightmares every night?" Gabrielle asked, her voice full of concern.

Harry nodded and averted his eyes, trying to look anywhere but at her. "The only times I don't are when I'm too drunk to dream. It's the main reason that I started to drown myself in alcohol. When I'm passed out, I don't dream."

Gabrielle tightened her hold on Harry. "We need to find a better solution then." Gabrielle got a mischievous look on her face. "I quite like this solution," she said tightening her hold on Harry, smiling as his face turned scarlet again.

"I do not think your father would approve," he said, only for Gabrielle to wave away that argument.

"I'm just teasing 'arry; though I wouldn't mind waking up like this every morning, I know you are not ready for anything; and papa has no say in what I do anymore, as I am a grown woman."

Gabrielle noticed Harry's smile increase slightly at the mention of waking up together every morning, and she suddenly thought that maybe that someday wasn't too far away. "Now we should be getting up if we are going to go to the Louver today." She released Harry from her arms and crawled out of bed and made her way to the door, making sure he noticed the sway of her hips. "Take a shower and meet me downstairs. Bill, Fleur and Victoria are joining us, so we should get a move on."

Gabrielle exited Harry's room and was immediately greeted by her mother, who wore a knowing smile. "So, did you have a good night's sleep last night?" she teased.

Gabrielle rolled her eyes, "Yes maman, we SLEPT fine. As you no doubt heard, Harry had a nightmare last night, and I held him until he calmed down."

"I was just teasing you my angel, though your father might not find it quite as amusing. You are still his baby girl after all."

"I doubt anyone else could have calmed 'arry down."

Her mother sighed sadly. "Oui, that poor man has had a hard life, and has the nightmares to go along with it. Fleur told me a little about them. At least he isn't drinking anymore."

Gabrielle nodded in agreement. "I think our bond helped last night. As soon as I had him in my arms he calmed down, and he admitted it was the best sleep he had in a long time."

The knowing smile returned to her mother's face. "'ow are things going on that front? I know how much you like him and hope the bond turns into something more. 'ave you two kissed yet?"

"No we have not, we are still just friends, as Harry still has some trust issues when it comes to relationships. I think the only reason I have made this much progress is due to the bond and how it allows us to feel more comfortable with each other. He has even begun to initiate more contact, just hugs and hand holding, but it is something." Apolline nodded in understanding before the two separated, with Apolline heading down for breakfast while Gabrielle made her way to her room to get ready for the day.

-(=)-

The next few weeks passed quickly for Gabrielle and the rest of the residents of the large townhouse. The majority of her time was divided between showing Harry around Paris and the surrounding areas, helping Harry study, and spending time with her mother and Fleur, while Harry worked with Bill and her papa on Runes and Defense. Before Gabrielle knew it, July was coming to an end, and with it, Harry's birthday.

Gabrielle had thought long and hard on what she wanted to do for Harry's birthday, as she wanted to make it special. The breakthrough came after a conversation with Harry where he told her about the first time he talked to a snake. He made a casual comment about his cousin's birthday and how he was taken to adventure parks, movies, or other exciting places while Harry was always left at home until that faithful trip to the zoo. Gabrielle decided that since Harry had always been denied trips to amusement parks, she would take him to the best amusement park in all of Europe.

On the morning of July 31st, Gabrielle was already waiting downstairs with her parents, Bill, Fleur, and Victoria when Harry walked into the breakfast area. The loud cry of 'happy birthday' from all present chased the last vestiges of sleep from Harry as he looked around in surprise before a wide grin broke out on his face. "We have a special day planned for you 'arry," Gabrielle told him, giving him a tight hug. "It's time to start making up for all those experiences you were denied from your relatives." Gabrielle pulled out a silk scarf and held it in front of Harry, with a mischievous smile playing on her face. "But it is a surprise and you must be blindfolded."

Harry looked suspiciously between the blindfold and Gabrielle's smiling face before his lips turned up into a smile and he turned around allowing her to tie the blindfold around his eyes. "Can you see, and be honest," she asked him.

"Nope, completely blind."

"Bon, now hold on tight." Gabrielle grabbed his arm and spun on the spot apparating them both, followed quickly by the rest of her family. When she materialized again, she led Harry from the hidden spot used for apparitions and stood him in front of the main entrance. Reaching up, she untied his blindfold and Harry was able to read the sign above the main gate proclaiming 'Euro Disneyland' in big friendly letters. The wide grin that broke out on Harry's face was all it took for Gabrielle to know she made the right decision. The grin never left Harry's lips as they spent the entire day exploring the park and riding the rides and just having fun.

The week after Harry's birthday, Gabrielle joined a nervous Harry at the French Ministry of Magic Testing Center. The ICW had long ago standardized the OWL and NEWT exams to allow for better cooperation between witches and wizards from different countries, with the only major exception being England, as they had gradually lowered their standards below International levels over the last three decades. Gabrielle looked over at her friend, and seeing how nervous he was, took his hand and gave it an encouraging squeeze. "You will do fine 'arry. You've studied hard over the last few weeks and know the material backwards and forwards. "

Harry smiled at her and gave her hand a squeeze back. "Thanks Gabrielle, and thanks for coming with me."

Gabrielle smiled back, moving closer to her friend. "I will always be 'ere for you 'arry," she said leaning against him holding onto his arm. The French Ministry of Magic was located under the Palace de Justice and you entered through a barrier at the base of one of the towers much like the barrier onto Platform 9¾. When the two reached the spot, Gabrielle looked around and quickly led them through the barrier and onto a moving spiraling staircase that carried them deep underground.

The staircase emptied out into a large marble tiled atrium, each tile inlaid with a gold fleur de lie lined with dozens of fireplaces and marble pillars, and at the center, a giant fountain with a white marble obelisk jutting out from the center surrounded by jumping jets of water. As they passed the fountain, she saw Harry eyeing the statue curiously. "The statue was made to 'onor all those who lost their life fighting in the resistance against Grindelwald and the Nazis during the Second World War. The British like to complain that we never helped them during their troubles with Voldemort, but where were they when Grindelwald was slaughtering us in numbers far greater than Voldemort ever did." Harry nodded absently still reading through the names. Gabrielle looked at her watch and saw they were cutting it close, so she gave Harry's arm a gentle tug and led him away from the fountain and into the lifts, riding it down to the Testing Center. After Harry checked in, she stood on her tippy toes and gave him a soft kiss on the cheek while whispering 'good luck' before he was led away by the proctor, while Gabrielle took a seat in the waiting area.

A few hours later, Gabrielle was still sitting in the waiting area, reading the same sentence in her book for the tenth time as she anxiously waited for Harry to be done. She looked up as she heard the door open, right as a smiling Harry walked out. "Well, 'ow did you do?" she asked, trying not to let any of her nervousness show.

"See for yourself," he replied handing her a piece of paper. She glanced down noticing it was his results.

Ordinary Wizarding Level and Nastily Exhausting Wizarding Test Results For Harry James Potter

Passing Grades

O – Outstanding

E – Exceeders Expectations

A – Acceptable

Failing Grades

P – Poor

D - Dreadful

T- Troll

NEWT Exam Results

Defense Against the Dark Arts – O

Charms – O

Transfiguration – E

OWL Exam Results

Runes – O

Gabrielle beamed at Harry and hugged him tightly. "Harry this is wonderful. I'm so proud of you." Her smile increased when she felt him warp his arms around her and hug her back just as tightly. Releasing him, she instead took his hand "Come, maman and papa are expecting us, and I know everyone is anxious to see your results." Gabrielle couldn't stop smiling as the two returned home, as the last hurdle was now clear for her Harry to teach at Beauxbatons with her.

A/N thank you for reading, let me know what you think.