Cho had spent the day taking to Cedric, in the hospital wing. The burn on his face had needed more healing, but Cho stayed by his side. Fleur wondered briefly if anyone would stay by her side, if she was in trouble. Her family would, but would Cho or Harry? Would Harry stay by her, like Cho was with Cedric?

"Fleur," Harry said tapping her shoulder. She was sitting at the Gryffindor table; everyone else was talking happily to one another, all discussing the first task. She looked down at her plate, and realized with a slight blush, that she had been holding her fork in mid-air. She hurriedly dropped it onto her plate, where it clattered loudly to the floor.

"I'll get it," Harry said bending down beside her. "You OK?" he asked once her fork was back on the table.

"I'm fine, sorry, I'm just tired," she apologized quickly.

"You just seemed to be thinking about something," he shrugged. Fleur realized with a small jolt her stomach that she had been thinking about him. She felt the blush creep up her cheeks, and instantly hid it with her hair.

"Ze egg," she said, hopefully providing a decent enough lie. Harry nodded, seeming to accept the fact. Fleur didn't like lying to him, but he didn't need to know that she was thinking about him. "It's strange, don't you zink?"

"It is a bit yeah," Harry agreed his brow furrowed. Fleur wanted to talk to Harry more, about anything, just to talk. She had never 'just talked' in her life. Her wishes were dashed when Ron and Hermione started talking to Harry. For some reason, that Fleur was completely baffled by, Harry looked a bit disgruntled by the conversation. Fleur went back to her meal, and was shocked when she found that it was, Shepard's Pie. She quite enjoyed it, even if it was a foreign meal. She had never enjoyed foreign meals, but then, she'd never had anyone to enjoy them with.

"Harry, mate, hadn't you better tell Sirius what happened," Ron said in a hushed voice. Fleur's ears perked up at the name, she recognised it from somewhere, but she couldn't place it.

"Yeah, Fleur I've got to go, see you tomorrow?" he smiled at her getting up from the table.

"OK," she nodded as Hermione passed her, then it was like a light bulb lit in her brain. She had heard the name Sirius before when she had been talking to Harry by the lake. Who was he? Was he the family Harry had said he never had? No, Sirius sounded as though he cared about Harry, the people he lived with didn't seem to care about him. She wanted to ask Harry who Sirius was, but he was already by the doors. She sighed, it could wait until tomorrow.

When she finished her food she left the table. It was still early in the evening, so Fleur decided to enjoy the final rays of autumn sun as it set. The grounds were empty as she set herself down by the beech tree. She felt strangely at peace whenever she stared out at the lake. She watched the sun set in the distance, its orange glow reflected on the smooth surface of the lake.

Her thoughts drifted away from the lake, to the strange phenomenon that was, Harry. She was still having trouble getting to grips with his friendship. At times she thought it was all a dream, and she would wake up to find him gone, her one great fear. The silence, by the black lake, held until the moon was hanging high above her in the sky. She hadn't realized what time it was, or even that a large amount of time had passed. She got up and headed towards the Beauxbaton Carriage, she thought about writing to her Papa, but when she got there she just laid down on her bed and fell asleep.

Fleur enjoyed a blissful week of normality after the First Task. Her routine was back to normal, mealtimes with Cho, free time with Harry, Ron and Hermione. She hadn't expected Ron to be able to talk to her. While he never looked at her directly, she was pleased that he was trying. Hermione found his antics somewhat amusing, Harry went silent whenever Ron 'slipped up' as he put it. It was clear to Fleur that Harry didn't like Ron reacting to her like all men did. She found Harry's reaction to Ron strange, but decided it was best to ignore it.

"'Arry," she said to him while he poured over a rather long, dull potions essay. "Why do you react so badly when people stare at me?" He didn't react for a second, just stared at the potions essay. Slowly he put his quill down and looked at her. She could see he was thinking how to answer her question.

"I just don't like it," he said finally. He didn't look at her, instead he inspected in the bookshelf behind her. Fleur was flattened by his reluctance; Harry was always open and honest with her, what could be so bad to stop that? She was about to ask but at that moment Ron and Hermione appeared from a gap between two bookshelves.

"Please Hermione, just this once," Ron pleaded pulling up a seat beside Harry. Harry looked pleased with the distraction that Ron and Hermione were now causing.

"No, Ron, do it yourself," Hermione huffed, she was having one of her arguments with Ron. The two of them constantly bickered, but Harry assured her it was normal. Fleur still couldn't understand how they were friends.

"Snape will kill me if I hand this in," Ron groaned staring at the essay clasped tightly in his hand. Hermione had told Fleur that Harry and Ron left homework until the last minute, but Harry had started doing his homework. He was nowhere near Hermione's standard. She was truly brilliant, even Fleur recognised that. She had to be the brightest in her year, if not the entire school. Fleur could relate to that, she had been able to master all the spells she had learnt. She was Maxime's prize student that only insured her isolation. She sighed as Hermione and Ron fought some more.

She let her mind wander, if Harry wasn't going to tell her why he reacted like he did, then she would respect his privacy. But there was something else nagging at her, from the morning before. She had heard the name Sirius somewhere else. That was one of her problems, she wouldn't let go of something if she couldn't help it.

"'Arry," she whispered while Ron and Hermione's argument reached new heights. "Who is Sirius?"

"Sirius," Harry repeated and Hermione falls silent. She visibly stiffened and her face showed her panic taking control. Ron didn't seem to notice, he continued to stare at the essay. Hermione was about to speak but Harry cut across her. "He's my Godfather, how do you know about him though?"

Fleur blushed slightly in embarrassment; she couldn't exactly admit the fact she had overheard Harry and Hermione talking about him a few weeks ago. But neither did she want to let Ron take the blame, he had only just reconsolidated with Harry. "I 'eard you mention 'im zee ozzer day," she shrugged, Hermione arched an eyebrow, but remained silent. "Who is he zo?"

"You don't know?" Harry asked, uncertainly. "The murderer," Fleur stared at him for a second, now she remembered; her papa had mentioned him last year. He had escaped from Azkaban, Fleur had no idea how, or why. The real question however was why Harry was in contact with a murderer. "He was falsely accused," Harry said quickly, obviously he had noticed the slight flash of fear on her face.

A clock chimed somewhere in the library, Hermione let out a squeal and picked up all the books off the table. Ron groaned and got up, but Harry remained still. "Thank you," he said finally.

"For what?" Fleur asked, confused. Harry had a strange, sincere look in his eyes. The same look he had been bearing when he first apologized to her, when they had both apologized.

"For not asking if he was," he said getting up from his chair. He put the scroll into his bag, gave her a small, warm smile and followed after Hermione and Ron. She stared after them for a moment, Harry was confusing to her. At least his family was, he had an ex convict for a Godfather, and lived with people who though him a freak. She wished she could do something, to help him. But of course she couldn't, her papa had no power in England. She left the library soon after, to preoccupied to remember what was to be announced the following day.

The Yule Ball, the announcement spread through the school like wild fire. Harry and Ron were nervous, so was she. In all that had been happening she didn't know who she would go with. Her mama had told her to get a respectable date, she might be, was, a champion. Her papa didn't share the same view, he wanted her to be happy with her date, it didn't matter who he was. She hadn't thought about it, in France she had no friends. And here, here she had Harry, the only man she considered her equal. But he would never ask her, never.

She looked at Harry from across the hall, he seemed cheerful, his smile genuine, joyful. Hermione was shaking her head at him and Ron was howling with laughter. It was now a few weeks after the announcement, where had the time gone?

"Fleur," Cho said after taking a sip from her goblet. "Who are you going to the ball with?"

"I don't know," she said slowly, taking her eyes off Harry. She had no idea why, but in the past few weeks she had been more drawn to Harry. She hadn't told anyone about it, she didn't want Harry finding out.

"How about..." Cho said looking up and down the table. "Roger."

"Who?"

"Roger Davis, my quidditch team captain."

"I..." Fleur started, not sure what to say. She wanted to go with Harry, but she hadn't told Cho that. She hadn't told anyone, except her papa. The problem was that Harry was her friend, would going to the ball with him push the boundaries of their friendship? She had only known him a month, but already she felt like she had known him all her life. For the first time since becoming his friend, Fleur didn't know how she felt about Harry. She had started to depend on him, his opinion, his advice, anything. What did it all mean?

"The ball's only a few days away, and you still don't have a date." Cho pointed out, she had been keen on helping Fleur find a date, but she had always declined her help.

"Does 'e want to go wiz me?" Fleur asked sceptically. By 'me' she meant the person, not the veela side of her. The side of her most men were attracted to.

"I think so," Cho said, "What harm could it do?"

'A lot of harm,' Fleur said privately inside her head. If he was like all the others, and by the way Cho was talking she knew he would be, then it would cause a lot of harm. But she was running out of options, she needed a partner. "OK,"

"I'll tell Cedric," she beamed getting up from her seat. Fleur sighed and took a sip from her own goblet. A dark haired seventh year, who Fleur presumed to be her date smiled at her. There was the same dreamy look in his eyes, she got up trying to avoid his gaze. She left the Great Hall as quickly as she could, stopping only when she reached the lake. She stared into its depths, she would have to spend Christmas with a man she knew she would hate. The only reason she left the beech tree that morning was because she had lessons. Luckily for her they took her mind off of her problem with Roger.

The day passed without much incident. Fleur was introduced to Davis, he stared at with dreamy eyes, it made her feel sick. Nothing drastic happened until late that evening. Hermione and Ron were in the Gryffindor Common Room. Fleur had told Harry he should be with them, but he was having none of it. So he accompanied her to the grounds, they spent hours just talking. He told her about his life at Hogwarts, the life he'd never wanted. He'd give anything for a normal life, but it was something he could never have. For her part she told him about her family, not the isolation. She told him everything, from her papa's job to her ancestral family home. As much as she was enjoying being alone with Harry, she couldn't help but notice that he was slightly... distracted. Every so often he could look out of the lake, start to say something, and then falter.

"'Arry, what is it?" she asked when Harry fell silent.

"I..." he tried but he faltered yet again. "Will you... ball... with me?" he asked his words disjointed by his nerves. But she got what he was trying to say. The only person she had wanted to go with, and now she had to refuse his offer. If she had only waited one more day. Her anger was snuffed out by the look on Harry's face. His eyes bored into hers, she felt like she could see all the fear and worry in his eyes.

"Oh 'Arry," she whispered, she felt a small, warm tear trickle down her face. "I can't, I'm already going wiz someone."

"Oh," was all he said. He nodded and got up from the patch of grass they had been sitting on. He looked almost broken, his voice shook when he next spoke, as though he was trying to keep his emotions in check.

"I'm really sorry, 'Arry," she said, she could barely stand to the see the disappointment and the hurt in his eyes. She didn't want to be responsible for causing him such pain.

"Don't be, it's not your fault," He said smiling sadly. "Who are you going with?"

"Roger Davis," she answered. "It was Cho's idea," she amended quickly so as Harry didn't get the wrong impression.

"I'd better go," he said looking at the moon floating high in the sky. "I'll talk to you later,"

He got up and Fleur felt his wrist shift in her hand. Blushing she released his hand, he smiled at her as he set off towards the castle.

"'Arry," she called. He turned arching an eyebrow. "I promise you a dance,"

"I'll hold you to that," he shouted back. She smiled at him before leaving for her bed. She was so glad that he wasn't angry with her that she didn't notice the small beetle climbing slowly off of her robes.

The weeks leading up to the ball went better than Fleur could have hoped. For one thing Davis didn't talk to her, he had attempted to but he had failed. The last time he tried Fred and George had fed him a sweet, the sweet subsequently swelled up his tongue, prohibiting any speech. She thought that Harry may have had something to do with it, but she was glad that he had. It meant that she didn't have to suffer they boy's presence and longer than necessary.

Hermione was keeping who she was going to the ball with a secret, a secret from Harry and Ron at any rate. She was convinced they would, as she said 'take the mickey'. Fleur was sure Harry wouldn't, Ron was a different matter. So she too kept her mouth shut. She and Hermione had become good friends over the winter term. Hermione was kind, patient and considerate of Fleur's feelings. It was a more than welcome change from last year.

The only problem Fleur had with Hogwarts was the weather. She wasn't used to such extreme temperatures. The cold snow filled grounds were the worst. Fleur had to trek through them every day to reach the castle. The castle itself however was beautiful, the professors had gone to great lengths to show off their skills. The Great Hall was the best in her mind. The huge Christmas Trees that lined the walls were covered with many babuls, they were even adorned with real, life fairies.

The Christmas spirit was filling the castle. Everyone was looking forward to the ball, and what presents they would get each other. Fleur had gotten Harry a small set of golden snitch cufflinks. Hermione had told her all about Harry's love for the sport, so Fleur had asked her papa to buy a pair. Cho and Hermione each got a long silver necklace, with the first letters of their names as pendants. She had also gotten Ron a new chess set, she knew he loved the game. She enjoyed her Christmas Eve more than when she had at Beauxbaton. They all went outside, even though Cho rarely spoke to Harry, they all threw snow at each other, she had acted like a normal teenage girl, she didn't want it to stop. So when she went to sleep, she dreamt of the day's events and how she wished they could go on forever. The presents for her friends lay under her bed, she had gotten them because she wanted to acknowledge how much they meant to her. What she didn't expect was to get some in return.