Partners?

A/N: Don't own a thing, especially not HP. I hope you enjoy chapter twenty five. Italics denotes thoughts. Bold is for spells. Also, thank you for the great feedback. You're only getting on instead of your customary two chapters today, so I'm going to make it a little longer.

Chapter Twenty Five: Fireballs

"Potions, and the way Dumbledore said he could visit when he needed rather than when he wanted bothered me. I'm worried that Bill has been giving her something."

Harry finished the sandwich Tonks had made and went back upstairs. Bellatrix was sitting up in bed watching him, she had the sheet of the bed up around her neck and a coy smile teased on her lips. "So Lord Potter-Black, what is the plan?"

"The plan?"

"Yes, eventually she's going to notice something. I'll start waking myself up earlier in the morning. If I cast my Glamour each morning she won't notice that one of the women in your home is a notorious murderer." She said with a little chuckle.

Harry stripped and slid into bed beside her, he felt the warmth of her hip against the cotton of his boxers and turned to face her. "You're not wearing knickers?"

"I'm not wearing anything Harry, this is our 'wedding night'..." She smiled and slid the covers back off to reveal she was in fact nude.

"Bella- I uh.."

"Bella, I like that, it sounds better than Bellatrix." She said with a smile, her hand moving up his chest. She leaned in and kissed Harry soundly, before turning out the lamp.

The next morning, Harry went downstairs to find the kitchen table set for breakfast. Kreacher had set out a proper breakfast this time, something in the way Bellatrix had spoken to him seemed to have gotten through to the House Elf. His spot it seemed was at the head of the table. Bellatrix, in her Josephine disguise was on the right side of his seat and Narcissa was on the left. Beside Bellatrix Tonks sat, pouring a glass of pumpkin juice for Fleur who sat opposite her.

"Good morning everyone." Harry said helping himself to breakfast.

"Good morning Harry, please do not forget, the three of us need to go to Gringotts today." Narcissa said spreading a thin layer of jam on her toast. Narcissa it seemed believed in a very light portion, all she had was the toast and a mug of tea. Bellatrix on the other hand, had a much healthier appetite.

Harry smirked softly watching her add another rasher of bacon to her plate. It makes sense, after last night I'm starving...Harry dug in.

"'arry, do you mind if I accompany your leetle group? As Professor Dumbledore said, I need to stay near you. It would not do if I appeared to be abandoning my duty." Fleur said taking a sip of her pumpkin juice, like Narcissa she hadn't wanted a large breakfast. This English food is still too heavy on my stomach.

"I suppose you could, it's a private affair though, so you'd have to wait for us in the lobby. Would that be alright?" Harry offered, Fleur nodded though she didn't appear happy about it. Professor Dumbledore had instructed her to follow Harry anywhere he went, but waiting in the lobby of Gringotts was a better idea than waiting at Grimmauld Place she supposed.

"Before we do that Harry, I've got a few security measures I want to put in place if it's alright. It's nothing too drastic, just tightening up the basic wards. You're the Lord of our House now, so you might as well have control over who comes into the house. No offense Fleur, but all it would take is a mole from the bad guys, like a reverse Snape and Harry could find himself on the business end of a killing curse." Tonks finished her breakfast of coffee and a bacon sandwich.

"I wouldn't put it past Snape, he'd probably love to turn me to over to Voldie." Harry muttered darkly. Narcissa frowned slightly, but said nothing. She knew her place as a wife, Lucius had made sure of that, she was to be silent and attractive. Harry noticed the look and took her hand, not thinking about Fleur sitting there mentally taking notes.

"Narcissa, what's wrong?"

"Severus is Draco's Godfather, the idea that he would hurt someone his age distresses me that's all..." She said, her cheeks reddening slightly. Lucius never would have asked me that, if he'd actually noticed my frown at all it would have been to tell me that frowning causes wrinkles...

"I'm sorry if I upset you, but Snape has had it in for me ever since I got to Hogwarts. He's always treated me like I was just another James Potter." He was focused on Narcissa and didn't notice Bellatrix wince slightly. Am I treating him like another James? Damn it..am I just trying to recapture the romance I had with James Potter?

After breakfast Tonks began work on strengthening the wards. A specific addition was a ward that would alert the occupants if anyone brought in compulsion potions of any kind. I don't care if it's a love potion, a loyalty potion, or even veritaserum...no one is bringing anything like that into my home. Tonks thought with a little grin. The next change was a little trickier to work in, this ward would act as a doorbell. No one could enter Grimmauld Place, either from apparating or via floo without Harry or a member of his families permission.

Narcissa was working on a purging potion in the basement lab. Tonks had informed her of her suspicions early that morning. This potion was a standard in every pure blooded families home. It was too easy to assume that someone would seek to gain influence over a family member with the use of a tainted bottle of wine. The purging potion was a simple one, but it was powerful. Ms. Delacour will need to be given this and then directed to the bathroom quickly. She thought, watching the potion turn from clear to silver and then back to clear. The potion needed to rest for an hour, so it would be ready before the group left for Gringotts. She'll still probably wish to come with us, just so she can hex her former love..

Harry and Bellatrix had retreated back upstairs. Bellatrix put her hands on his shoulders. "Harry, please tell me something...are you sure you love me? It isn't that you feel that you owe me, or that I'm just a quick shag?"

"Bella, " Harry started, using the nickname she'd enjoyed while he whispered it against her ear last night. "I do love you. I don't know how to explain it, but whenever I see you..I just.." He didn't know a good way to describe it, so he kissed her.

Bellatrix froze for a moment and then wrapped her arms around him. "I'm so sorry Harry, I just...I heard you say that Snape treats you like another James, and I was worried that I was doing the same."

"I've heard you call me James in your sleep." He said softly, "I'm still here Bella. If I was worried that all you wanted was another James Potter, I would have talked to you about it." He said with a smile.

"How'd you get this smart Harry?" Bellatrix asked him, before Harry could answer Bellatrix kissed again and then pushed him back onto the bed.

Tonks came upstairs once her work was done. The house was warded against 'foreign influences'. If someone brought in a compulsion potion, not only would they know about it, but the person responsible would find themselves stuck kneeling at the door. Try to talk your way out of this Bill Weasley you ass. She went to knock on Harry's door, but she heard a soft moan and froze. I think I'll see if Narcissa is ready to go. She thought, walking back downstairs and heading towards the basement.

Fleur Delacour sighed as she sat at the mirror in her room. She was combing her hair absentmindedly, she hadn't felt exactly right this morning. Perhaps I am coming down with something..maybe I miss Bill..Harry's little family was a strange one. He was obviously very close with Josephine, she had noticed, the way she looked at him had put a strange feeling in the pit of her stomach. She remembered Hogwarts and the Triwizard tournament.

Harry was a strong contestant. She had, like everyone, considered him just a little boy. But time and again he had surprised her. Summoning his broom and beating the Horntail. Then the second challenge. He'd saved Gabrielle when she couldn't, he'd saved her own life in the maze. He had seen the worlds most evil wizard and dueled him to a draw.

She remembered the night before they were scheduled to go back to Beaubaxtons, Professor Dumbledore had asked to see her

The headmasters office was not what she had expected. At Beaubaxtons, Madame Maxime had an office that was painted in all white. It was an elegant place, Dumbledores office had been much more cramped. When she had arrived Dumbledore had offered her a candy and knowing the rules of etiquette, she had taken it.

"Ms Delacour, I know that you and Harry were planning on writing each other during the summer. I would ask that you refrain from doing so. Harry will be staying with his maternal aunt and uncle. They do not approve of magic and I fear that any letters you would send would be poorly received. If you'd care to, you may send the letters to me and I will ensure that Mr. Potter gets them when he comes back to Hogwarts."

She sent five letters before she gave up. Perhaps Harry had decided he didn't want to be friends with her anymore. Then came the day she had received a letter. It was from a friend of Professor Dumbledores named Bill Weasley. He had offered to float her name to his department head at Gringotts to fill a vacancy. That was the beginning of their relationship.

Bill had not been what she'd expected at all. At first she had thought he was boorish, but he did have a certain sort of sweetness about him. He always brought her a glass of tea each morning, he always had their lunch prepared, it was those little touches that made her love him.

That brought her back to her discomfort. Tonks had acted very strangely regarding Bills spoiling of her. Perhaps she's never been with a gentleman. With the looks she gave Harry this morning I wouldn't be surprised if she really was jealous of his girlfriend. Molly Weasley had suggested that before the meeting yesterday.

"She got very upset at the thought of Harry being cross with her, but all she needed to do was explain that we were trying to keep him safe. A girl like that would have him wrapped around her little finger with a bat of her eyelashes." She had said, Ginny had nodded like her mother had spoken the Gospel.

There was a knock at her door, "Entrez." it was Mrs. Malfoy, though Fleur supposed she should start thinking of her as Ms. Black, Harry nearly died to give this woman her family name back. She thought frowning for a moment before schooling her features into polite disinterest. "Ms. Black, what can I do for you? I'm not keeping us from Gringotts am I?"

Narcissa shook her head, "No, Ms. Delacour, I just wanted to speak with you. I know that the order doesn't trust me, they have no reason to. However, I would ask you to remember that Harry is the Lord of my House. It is my role as a member of House Black to serve him. Even if I wished it, I would be unable to harm him."

"Zen what do you consider sending 'im to fight your 'usband?" Fleur said, this was apparently the wrong thing to say though as Narcissa changed her tone from polite to very cold.

"Lucius, Ms. Delacour saw me as a prized possession to be taken back. At no point did he see me as an equal, or a loved one. He risked my only child's life. Harry risked his very magic by promising me, when I did not ask him, that he would not kill Draco. You of all people should have any idea what it's like to go from a life where no one valued you for anything other than your beauty to one where you are considered a member of the family." Narcissa looked to the woman, "Harry saved your life, just as he saved mine. Would you betray him so easily as you seem to think I would?"

"You are a Malfoy..."

"I am a Black!" Narcissa shouted, Fleur shrank a bit but Narcissa wasn't finished, " I am Narcissa Black, Harry Potter-Black is my Lord and I would give my life to protect him!" Not too mention that he is my husband. Narcissa thought.

"I am sorry then, Ms. Black. I was not aware of what 'arry means to you. 'e 'as not been as a good a friend to me I must confess. We were supposed to write to each other, but 'e never sent me a single letter." Fleur said.

Narcissa walked out the door, "Perhaps you should ask if he ever received a letter."

That thought struck Fleur oddly, What if my letters got lost on the way? But my letter to Bill Weasley made it...I will speak with Harry before we leave.

Narcissa had left the room fuming, but she had done as Tonks had asked, "Just go upstairs, get under her skin just a little, enough to make her question things.." Her niece was indeed a clever witch, she mused as the group began to gather for the trip to Gringotts. "'arry, I must ask you something...did you ever receive my letters?" Fleur said hesitantly.

"No Fleur, I figured that you were busy, or you decided that you didn't want to send me anything after all." He said.

Fleur looked confused. "'arry, I sent you five letters before I gave up, I sent them to 'ogwarts..."

"I promise you Fleur, I didn't receive any letters. If I had I would have written back."

"But Professor Dumbledore said 'e would make sure that you received them."

Harry frowned slightly, "Dumbledore doesn't think that I'm capable of managing myself. Fleur we are supposed to be friends, do you really think I would ignore you?"

She looked unsure, "I don't know what 'as 'appened, Professor Dumbledore asked me not to write to you during the summer out of fear that your relatives would not approve of you receiving letters from the magical world."

Harry rolled his eyes then, "My aunt and uncle wouldn't approve of anything I did, if I dropped dead in front of them they would say I was rude to not die somewhere they couldn't see. I was at the Burrow for part of the summer, you could have sent them to me there."

"Bill said that you were staying 'ome all year until it was time to come to London."

Now it was Nymphadora's turn. "Fleur, Harry has spent nearly every summer at the Burrow since he started Hogwarts. I'm not sure why Bill lied-"

"'e would not lie to me, we love each other."

"He loves you so much he's dosing you with potions."

"'ow dare you! Bill would never do that, 'e is a good man. You are just jealous!" Fleur spat.

Tonks laughed, "I am with a man who's ten times better than any Weasley. But if you're so certain, drink this." She put a small clear vial on the table before Fleur.

"What is it?"

"It's a purging potion. If I'm wrong nothing will happen, if I'm right you'll be rid of any traces of potion and you'll know that Bill and Dumbledore have been lying to you." Tonks said confidently, waiting to see if Fleur would take the challenge.

"And 'ow do I know that you wouldn't try to poison me, to 'ave my wonderful Bill for yourself?" Fleur said with a superior smirk, "Admit it, you want 'im for yourself!"

Harry looked to Fleur, "Fleur please, just to be safe, drink the potion. If you are worried, I'll make a wizards oath here and now that we aren't trying to harm you. Will you trust me?"

Would Harry lie to her? It didn't seem like something he would do, but she felt a vague voice inside her whispering that he wanted her to distrust Bill, perhaps he wanted her to himself? The 'little boy' thinks that he's a match for my Bill? I'll show him.

Fleur picked up the vial and drank it. For a moment nothing happened and she sneered, "You see, my Bill is beyond reproach 'e...'e..." then she went green and raced towards the kitchen. They could hear violent retching as Fleur lost the contents of her stomach. Harry went to the kitchen door once the noises stopped and he heard a soft sobbing. Harry opened the door, finding Fleur sitting beside the trashcan, her arms around it.

"Fleur are you alright?" He said, walking into the kitchen and kneeling beside her.

"'ow do you think I am. I 'ave just found out that the man I thought I loved was feeding me potions to make 'is." She began to cry harder now. Harry, at this point somewhat used to comforting crying women now, pulled her to him. She sobbed against his shoulder.

"I'm sorry Fleur, really I am. Tonks changed the wards though. If someone comes in with compulsion potions they won't be able to use them."

"Good 'arry. Because when I see Bill Weasley again Ce bâtard, je vais le tuer. Je vais brûler ses couilles...''

Harry noticed that Fleur's hands were hot around his neck. He moved and saw that she had small fireballs in them now.