Disclaimer: I do not own the rights to the Harry Potter Franchise or its characters. All characters used are the property of their respective owners.

This story is rated M for violence, language, & sexual themes.

A Special Thanks to my Alpha on this story Sakubato.

This story is a Horcrux free zone.

Warning: Manipulative Dumbledore & Weasley Bashing (Ron, Molly, & Ginny.)

Where the Wild Roses Grow 11

Outside Paris, France

20 July 1995

"Ah, good morning Severus, how are you settling in?" Dumbledore asked as he entered the kitchen of the cottage safe house.

"I am fine Headmaster, and the lodgings are… adequate, I am glad you were able to make arrangements for me to come here before the Aurors came looking for me."

"Good, good, you won't be here for long, once we have young Harry pacified, I will make every effort to rescind the Red Notice against you."

Snape resisted snorting a laugh; Potter had grown a big head over the previous school year, he didn't think it would be quick or easy to quell that rebellious streak. The only way to do it in his opinion was through the potion he'd devised. But Dumbledore was still reluctant to go that course, but Severus was sure he would come around eventually.

As Dumbledore left, Snape spoke. "You don't seem bothered by the revelations of Lucius's trial. Aren't you worried I will return to the Dark Lord's side?"

"I have faith that you will keep your word, Severus, lest young Harry finds out who betrayed his parents. And if you were to stray, I would simply turn you into the Aurors."

"You would risk me spilling your secrets?"

Dumbledore graced Snape with a kind smile that didn't reach his eyes. "It would not get that far."

Snape felt a cold chill run down his spine. He recalled how quickly Dumbledore had removed Black from Potter's life and he knew the older man had friends among the Aurors, friends that would go to considerable lengths to protect him. Snape sat back down, staring at his food. Dumbledore's genial demeanour returned as he gave Snape a small wave. "I will be back in a few hours with Molly, Ginny, and Ronald Weasley, please make an effort to tidy the cottage, they will be with us for a while."

Paris, Charles de Gaulle Airport

Hermione and Emma emerged into Charles de Gaulle Airport's arrivals terminal, and Hermione's eyes lit up. She dropped her bags and ran over to Harry, wrapping him in a hug and crushing her lips against his. Harry wrapped his arms around Hermione and cupped the back of her head. A minute later, they came up for air sharing identical dazzling smiles as Tonks stood to the side with a goofy grin on her face. Emma, who had collected Hermione's bags, walked up, and she noticed a beautiful blonde girl standing to the side staring at them with a scowl on her face. The girl caught sight of Emma and arranged her features into a passive expression as she approached Hermione's Mum. "Bonjour, I am Fleur Delacour. I am a mutual friend of your daughter's boyfriend."

"But not my daughters' friend?"

Fleur winced, and she rubbed her arm. "We are on friendly terms."

"But, not friends," Emma pressed.

Hermione finally untangled herself from Harry and crossed over to Emma and Fleur. "Mom, please stop bothering Fleur, it's fine. It's as she said, we're on friendly terms, and anyone who protects Harry is ok with me."

Emma frowned but said nothing as Fleur moved to take Harry's left-hand while Hermione took his right. Harry blushed while Emma sighed, it was clear to her both girls were at least interested in Harry romantically. Hermione was head over heels in love with him, and the way he reacted to her told Emma that he was at least as enamoured with her. But Fleur was difficult to deny. She had an unearthly beauty which even now was turning many heads. Emma recognised love in both Hermione and Harry, but she still worried about Fleur's ability to turn Harry's head.

Chateau Delacour, Neuilly-sur-Seine, France

Fleur and Tonks apparated back to the Chateau with Harry, Hermione, and Emma and Fleur led them towards the house while the Guard returned to his usual duties. After surrendering her wand at the Guard House, Hermione followed the rest of the group into the house where Apolline Delacour was waiting for them. "Bonjour Missus and Miss Granger, I am Apolline Delacour, Fleur's mother. I am pleased to welcome you to my home."

Hermione smiled and gave Apolline a small bow. "Thank you, Madame Delacour, thank you for giving somewhere for us and Harry to stay. I'm so glad Harry is safe with you this summer, it's much better than where he was living." Hermione replied it wasn't a lie. She was happy that Harry was staying somewhere other than with his relatives. She wished it weren't in the same house with Fleur, but she was going to keep that to herself.

When Hermione realised her mother hadn't said anything, she elbowed Emma in the ribs, which made her snap out of her stupor and smile brightly at Apolline. "Thank you for inviting us into your beautiful home."

Apolline returned the smile, not entirely hiding the way her eyes travelled up and down Emma's body as she did. "You're welcome, Missus Granger."

"My friends call me Emma," She replied.

"My friends call me Apolline."

Harry, Hermione, Fleur, and Tonks looked between the two older women, and Fleur wasn't surprised to see her mother, a well-known bisexual, flirting. But Hermione was struck dumb in shock. She'd never seen the flirty side of Emma before and she'd rarely seen her mother smile like she was at Apolline. Harry meanwhile was trying to think of anything but the two older women kissing, and Tonks looked on bemused by the varying reactions of the three teens.

Hermione, Tonks, and Harry followed Fleur upstairs and through the house to the guest quarters, along the way, she passed Harry's room, stopping two doors down and turning around. "Hermione, this will be your room, your mother will take the room across the hall. Harry is two doors down, and Auror Tonks has the room in between."

"Yeah, so I'll know if you sneak out for some late-night nooky," Tonks added teasingly, causing the two teens to blush.

"Who sleeps in that room?" Hermione asked, pointing at the door opposite Harry's.

"That's my room," Fleur announced smugly. Hermione cast a withering glance at Harry who wilted slightly under the glare as she marched forward grabbing his hand and dragged Harry into his room, slamming the door shut.

Tonks sighed, leaning her back against the wall, watching Fleur evenly. "Why are you antagonising her?"

"Why not?" Fleur asked with a smile; it fell away as Tonks expression didn't change. "I bear no ill will towards Hermione, except that she is dating the man I love. I said I would not pursue him while they are dating; I regret that now."

"Have you considered you don't have to be enemies, you both love him, he loves both of you, I don't see why you can't share." Tonks opined, Fleur opened her mouth and then closed it again.

When Fleur didn't respond Tonks added. "Continue to antagonise Hermione, and you won't just lose your opportunity to be Harry's girlfriend, you'll lose Harry as a friend as well. From what I'm told, Hermione is his entire world, but hey smart people do stupid things all the time."

Once Harry and Hermione were alone, Hermione turned around and planted a kiss on Harry's lips, wrapping him tightly in a hug. Once Hermione pulled away, Harry gave her a wry grin. "What was that for?"

"Just a reminder that I'm your girlfriend."

"Believe me, and I haven't forgotten. there is something we need to talk about though…" Harry explained, leading Hermione to the bed. "During the Second Task, I saved Fleur from a group of angry Grindylows, by the time I got to her the Bubblehead Charm she'd been using had failed. I had to give her mouth to mouth…"

"Harry, I know all of this, Fleur told me."

Harry nodded. "Oh, um, well, what we didn't know at the time is, by saving her life Fleur and I created a soul bond," Harry explained as he watched the blood drain out of Hermione's face. "Oh, so I guess you know what that is."

Hermione looked down at the ground, gently pulling her hands out of Harry's. "I need some time alone."

Hermione stood up and walked out. She stopped at the door when Harry called out to her. "Hermione, I still love you."

"I love you too, Harry," Hermione replied quietly.

Hermione walked down the corridor without a word to Fleur or Tonks and moved to shut the door, but a hand reached out and stopped her. Hermione glared at the blonde girl on the other side of the door as she tried to force it to shut again. "Fleur, I don't want to talk to you."

"I know, but we should. I assume Arry told you about the Soul Bond?"

"Yes, he did."

"You think it's the end of the two of you?" Fleur asked, walking into the room.

"What else am I supposed to think? You have a claim on his immortal soul as he does with yours! How do I contend with that Fleur?"

"You shouldn't. I told you that before."

Hermione dearly wanted to slap that smug look off Fleur's face, but instead she simply curled her hand into a fist and turned away from Fleur to sit down at the small desk provided. "I think you should leave before you say something else you can't take back." Hermione hissed. Fleur swept out of the room in a huff as Hermione fell onto the bed and began to cry.

Fleur walked out of the room and rested against the wall, not looking in Tonks's direction, watching Harry and Hermione together made the blonde Veela angry beyond reason. It made Fleur want to say spite-filled, hurtful things to the English girl that had never done anything to her except loving the same boy she shared a Soul Bond. But at the same time, it hurt her to see Hermione upset when her brown orbs clouded with anguish it pulled at her soul. So much so Fleur had to look away, or she feared she would break down crying.

Fleur knew Harry had intense feelings for Hermione; they were beyond love or friendship; he adored her. Fleur could feel that through the link, but it wasn't as described. Fleur's Grandmother was the last Veela to share a Soul Bond with a Wizard, she spoke about that time in her life rarely, but when she did it was clear she still held great affection the man she'd lost to Grindelwald's forces many moons ago. Fleur's Grandmother described the emotions she shared with him as something she could reach out and touch. It was tangible and real to her in a way she was never able to describe to someone who hadn't experienced it themselves adequately.

But Fleur felt none of this, all she could feel were surface emotions from Harry, the occasional glimpse into his psyche. The only times it ever felt tangible was when his feelings peaked, and all of those had been negative thus far.

Fleur decided she needed advice and went directly to one person she trusted to give her good advice, her mother.

Fleur knocked on the door to her mother's office and was surprised to find Emma Granger sitting in one of the office chairs talking with Apolline. Fleur's mother graced her with a smile. "Good afternoon Flower, was there something you needed?"

Fleur nodded. "Oui, Maman, but in private please?"

Emma smiled and rose from her seat. "I will go find the library then, Au Revoir Cherie."

"I will join you soon," Apolline replied, giving Emma a saucy wink.

Once Emma was gone, Fleur regarded her mother with a raised eyebrow. "Another one of your conquests Maman?"

"We'll see, so, what did you need to talk to me about?"

"Do you remember how Grandmother described the Soul Bond she shared with her first husband?" Fleur asked, to which Apolline nodded. "I don't feel that with Arry, it's as if something is interrupting the connection. All I feel are intermittent surface emotions with the occasional spikes when Arry is hurt or being tortured. I don't know what's wrong and there isn't enough written about soul bonds to explain it."

Apolline nodded and came around the desk to kneel in front of her daughter. "Show me your magic Flower, that may provide a hint."

Fleur nodded and focused, bringing forth a sphere of ambient magic that represented her core. There were two taut strands of magic, one connected to Fleur and the other pointing in the direction of Harry's room. But the magic did not shine brightly as Fleur had been told it would. Instead, it was a dull grey colour. Apolline walked around the sphere and stopped kneeling again and brushing her fingers over a third strand that hung limply. "I have known a few men like this..."

"Maman..." Fleur admonished with a slight grin on her face. "Although I am proud to say that Arry does not have this problem."

"Lucky you..." Apolline commented dryly. "It would seem that this is the cause of your problems. There is another the Soul Bond trying to reach, but the connection is incomplete. There is no acceptance of the Bond."

"So, until we find this third person, I cannot share myself completely with Arry?"

"I would imagine..." Apolline began before being loudly cut off by Fleur.

"We need to find this person soon, Maman."

Fleur began to storm away, but her mother's voice drew her back. "Fleur Delacour, you know who the third in your Soul Bond is as well as I. Do not play stupid with me. If you do not tell them, I will."

"Maman, no!" Fleur protested angrily.

"Fleur, this is for your benefit as well as theirs. If the Soul Bond isn't complete, it could harm all three of you. The damage to your magic will be irreversible."

"How do you know the third is Hermione, it could be that Weasley girl," Fleur argued, but the thought made her slightly ill.

"Because, my flower, the Bond is incomplete, the Weasley girl is not here, but Hermione is. When I first saw the Bond, I didn't see any evidence of a third. But here, now, with the three of you under the same roof, we can see the incomplete strand. The only explanation is that strand developed because of the proximity of the third. And the direction was pointing roughly towards Miss Granger's room."

Fleur paused, scowling. "Fine, I will tell them..."

"Today, Fleur."

Fleur dropped her head, shielding her eyes behind her fringe. "Yes, Maman."

Harry was about to flop back onto his bed when he heard a knock at his door. He looked up to meet the brown eyes of Nymphadora Tonks. "Are you ok, Harry?"

Harry fell back on the bed and sighed. "I don't know. My brain is a mess…"

Tonks closed the door and sat down. "Tell your favourite cousin what you're thinking?"

Harry smiled a little. "I love Hermione…"

"I noticed that."

"But I love Fleur as well, and we're soul bound."

"Wow," Tonks replied, sounding genuinely surprised.

"Yeah, it happened during the second task, I saved Fleur's life by giving her mouth to mouth and…. Yeah."

"How do you feel about it?"

Harry groaned. "I… wish I knew. I know I should be excited; most guys would be. But I love Hermione, and she's my girlfriend. She deserves better than this."

"That still doesn't tell me how you feel about it?" Tonks pressed.

"I don't like it, but I want to. I love Hermione and I want to be with her, just her. But Fleur keeps pushing me to dump Hermione and date her, not explicitly but I can feel it and it annoys me."

"But you haven't said anything," Tonks pointed out.

"I know, I should but… Fleur and her Mom took me in when the Death Eaters attacked, and if it weren't for them, I'd be back at the Dursley's believing Hermione had dumped me because Dumbledore put a mail redirection ward on that house. I want to say something but what if I upset them and they kick me out. Where do I go then? Dumbledore will immediately force me to do what he wants, and no one will be there to protect me."

Tonks frowned. "Firstly, I'm here to protect you, so are Madam Bones and Hermione and my Mom, we won't let that stupid old man hurt you again. As for Fleur, you need to be firm with her, you have to tell her what you're feeling or she'll continue to disrespect Hermione. That's not what you want, is it?"

"Of course not, but I don't want to hurt Fleur's feelings either."

"You have to decide Harry because someone is going to end up hurt no matter what you do."

Harry dragged a hand over his face. "Yeah, I know..."

"If you need time to think..." Tonks paused, pondering something as she got off the bed. "I could ask my Mum if you could go stay with her. She's staying in a hotel in Paris, and she has a room going spare."

Harry cocked his head, deep in thought. "That's a good idea, but I can't, it feels too much like running away, and I don't want to give Hermione the wrong impression."

Tonks leaned in and ruffled Harry's hair. "Ok, but you need to talk to them soon. Don't worry, Harry. Things will work out."

Tonks walked out leaving Harry on his own. He sighed and stared up at the ceiling. "Yeah, it'll work out for everyone but me. Because that's how it always goes."

Harry looked up from the bed when he heard a knock on the door, he crossed the room and peered out to find Hermione and Fleur waiting for him. "Arry, we need to talk."

Harry looked down at the floor and frowned. "Yeah."

Harry stepped aside, allowing the two girls inside and closing the door. When Harry turned around, Fleur was still standing, but Hermione was sitting on his bed. "Arry, I am not the first in my family to share a Soul Bond, my Grandmother shared a Soul Bond with her first husband, but he died in the war with Grindelwald before he could give her any children..." Fleur briefly relayed how the Soul Bond had been described to her.

"Fleur, are you sure we share a Soul Bond? I don't feel anything like what you described."

"I am sure we share a Bond..." Fleur paused. "It's better if I show you."

Fleur focused her magic for the second time that day and revealed her core to the two younger teens. Hermione stared in fascination and resignation. Hermione had hoped that Fleur had been lying, the Soul Bond was a convenient lie to drive a final wedge between Harry and herself. But staring at it in the magic brought it home to Hermione that the two did share a Soul Bond and she would have to step aside. Lost in thought, she didn't see Harry step forward to examine the sphere.

"Fleur, what's this third strand?" Harry asked, running his fingers over the strand that was jutting out and pointing in Hermione's direction.

Fleur crossed her arms over herself and looked away. "That's the third person in our Bond. The Bond will be incomplete until they join."

Harry blinked looking between Hermione and Fleur. "But... Hermione... I mean she was down in the lake with us. But not with us when I saved you from the Grindylows. And if that was the case, Cho, Cedric, Gabby and..." Harry shuddered. "Ginny would be in the bond with us."

Fleur smiled a little. "The Bond is based on many factors Arry. Ours was created due to the circumstances under the lake. The Bond between you and Hermione was based on your love for one another."

Hermione and Harry blushed and stole glances at each other. "So..." Hermione began. "If we were to finalise the bond, it would bind the three of us together?"

"Oui," Fleur confirmed.

Hermione frowned and looked away, walking to the far end of the bedroom, the furthest point from Fleur and Harry. Harry ran his fingers through his hair and walked over, he tried to put his arms around her, but Hermione shook him off. "Hermione, talk to me."

"This isn't how I thought things would go... I never imagined it would be perfect. But I... wanted it to be closer to normal than this. I wanted the man I love to love me and only me. I don't want to share."

Hermione turned around to face Fleur. "What happens if we don't complete the bond?"

"It will leave a permanent scar on our magic. It may even turn us into squibs, I cannot say for sure, but I know there will be a penalty."

"Hermione, do you not want to..."

"I don't know Harry. I need to think about it."

"Ok," Harry replied softly.

"I think we should all take some time to think about this," Fleur said, walking to the door with Hermione joining her.

Once Harry was alone, he flopped back on the bed, he heard the flapping of wings but didn't react as Hedwig landed next to his head and began grooming him gently. Harry lifted his hand and began stroking his Snowy white owl gently. "I wish I knew what the right answer was. It seems easy on the surface, just complete the Bond and everyone gets what they want. Except they don't if they don't want to be bonded for the rest of their lives, what happens in a week or a month if one of them gets fed up with me, we'd be stuck together."

Hedwig hooted softly, pecking at his head. "I don't think I could ever get fed up with Hermione. Not in a way that means I'd never want to see her again."

Hedwig clicked her beak and cuffed Harry around the head. "Hey!"

Harry glared down at his owl, who fixed him with a measured stare. "Ok, ok! I know, if Hermione were going to get fed up with me, she would have in the four years we've known each other. But..." Hedwig hooted loudly flapping her wings threateningly. "Ok, ok..." Harry replied, raising his hands placatingly. This seemed to appease his owl, at least for the moment.

"So... what should I do?" Harry asked.

Hedwig tilted her head sideways and flew off the bed to the desk Harry had put his photo album on. The owl picked it up in her claws and flew back, dropping it on the bed. Hedwig nudged the album towards Harry and, taking the hint he opened the album to the pictures he had of Fleur and Hermione which had been taken by Colin. Hedwig tapped her beak on the only picture of the three of them together. Harry smiled a little as he ran his fingers over their faces. "I want that too..."

Fleur walked back to her mother's office where Apolline was waiting. "So?"

"I told them, we have separated to think over our choices."

"Do you think Hermione will accept her place in the Bond?"

"I…" Fleur began, she wanted to say yes, but after… "I don't know, I hope so."

Apolline stood and walked around the desk, crossing her arms. "This would have been easier if you hadn't openly pursued Arry while he was dating Hermione."

Fleur winced and looked away. "Yes, I know."

Apolline walked up and kissed her daughter on the head. "Go rest, Flower. It has been a long day."

21 July 1995

The next day the three teens decided to stay in their rooms, Emma had planned to take them out for a walk around Paris, but none of the three seemed interested, too wrapped up in their conflicting thoughts around the Soul Bond. As the noon sun hung overhead, Harry heard a knock on his door. He reluctantly answered to find Fleur waiting for him. "May I sit with you?"

Harry regarded her for a moment before speaking. "Depends, are you going to talk about the bond?"

"Only briefly."

"Ok, but after that, we won't talk about it."

"I can agree with that."

The two sat on the bed together, but Harry kept his distance. Fleur frowned, pulling at her dress slightly. "Arry, I'm sorry for what I've been doing recently. My mother reminded me last night that if I hadn't openly pursued you, Hermione might be more open to sharing a bond with us."

"The thought had crossed my mind," Harry replied quietly. "You should apologise to Hermione though, as should I."

"I will, I…" Fleur paused. "I won't promise, I can't. I said I wouldn't try to break the two of you us while you were together, but I broke that promise. Now I have to earn that trust back."

"Yes," Harry replied.

The two fell into an uncomfortable silence as Fleur noticed something on the bed. "Arry, what is this?"

"Oh, it's a photo album, Hagrid, the Hogwarts Groundskeeper gave it to me for Christmas the first year I was at Hogwarts."

"May I look?"

Harry nodded, and Fleur picked up the album off the bed. Fleur paused at the first photo of Lily and James. "Your mother was a beautiful woman."

"Yeah, according to everyone who knew them I look like my dad, but I have…"

"Your mother's eyes?" Fleur finished and smiled when he nodded. "Oui, you both have enchanting eyes."

"Thanks," Harry replied quietly, Fleur took this as a hint to leave.

As she exited Harry's room, Hermione came out to have a shower. The two stared at each other for several seconds before Hermione walked away, her eyes hidden behind her fringe. Fleur opened her mouth to say something, but the words died on her tongue. Fleur decided she wasn't ready for that conversation yet.

22 July 1995

Office of the Bureau de la Justice Magique, Paris, France

Apolline Delacour let out a sigh as she entered the small office, she'd allocated for Amelia Bones on the days she was in Paris as they continued to search for Remus Lupin. Amelia looked up from her work and gave the younger woman a sympathetic smile. "Louis for your thoughts?" (A/N: Louis is a colloquial term for a 20 Centime coin. Also known as a Napoleon.)

Apolline massaged the bridge of her nose and nodded. "Oui, I love my daughters very much, but sometimes they can do some utterly stupid things."

"Anyone in particular?" Amelia asked if only to allow the older woman to complain. She knew who Apolline was talking about having had this discussion in the previous few days.

"Fleur, Arry, and Hermione continue to dance around each other, no one is willing to commit to the soul bond, but at the same time, they're not willing to walk away."

"They understand the implications of walking away, though, right?"

"I asked both Arry and Hermione personally, Fleur explained, however reluctantly, the consequences of Hermione not joining the Bond. But I think Hermione believes she will be frozen out of the relationship."

Amelia nodded. "We can only hope that they figure out their feelings soon."

"Oui..."

Outside Paris

Ron entered the living room of the cottage he was sharing with his mother, Ginny, Lupin, Snape, and the Headmaster. Because Molly was the only one who could go out without arousing suspicion and with limited funds, the amount of food each member of the house got was small. This didn't sit well with the youngest Weasley male, and he was on the hunt. Dumbledore was sitting at a small table near the window etching runes into a block of wood.

"Professor, what are you doing?"

"Ah, Mister Weasley, come here, this might interest you," Dumbledore said, summoning Ron over. "I am etching runes into this wood. I have calculated Arithmantic values for each rune and then carved them into the wood. I will now add some enchanted ink…" Dumbledore reached over for a small cup and poured the contents into the etchings. "And apply the etchings to the paper."

Dumbledore finished by pressing the block of wood into the paper and casting a spell that heated the block to dry the ink. When he was finished, he tossed the wood into the hearth and lit a small fire with his wand that he extinguished once the block was reduced to ash.

"What will it do, Professor?" Ron asked, sounding slightly bored.

"It is a small surprise for Mister Potter," Dumbledore explained but refused to extrapolate further when met with Ron's quizzical expression.

"Well, there's no food in here, I guess I'll go ask Mum," Ron replied, walking out of the room. As he left a thought passed through Dumbledore's head, one that often recurred when he saw the youngest Weasley male. 'Was he dropped on his head as a baby?'

23 July 1995

Chateau Delacour, Neuilly-sur-Seine, France

Emma Granger stood outside of her daughter's room and knocked. She heard Hermione padding across the floors a few seconds later before she opened the door. "Hi."

"May I come in?"

Hermione nodded and opened the door enough to allow Emma to enter the room. As soon as Emma was inside, Hermione shut the door and locked it. "Hermione, you've not come out of your room in days, except to collect food or bathe."

"Mum, I'm just sorting through some things."

"The same things Fleur and Harry are sorting through?"

"Yes," Hermione replied shortly.

"Hermione, talk to me?" Emma pleaded.

Hermione sighed and proceeded to explain to her mother in great detail the nature of the Bond the three shared and the consequences of not finalising it. Emma frowned as she considered the information. "So, if you don't finalise the bond, you could lose your magic?"

"Yes."

"Are you comfortable with that?"

Hermione brought her knees up to her chin and worried her bottom lip while she mulled the answer. "I don't know..."

"Is this about Fleur or Harry?"

"Both I guess... Fleur has made me so angry recently by not respecting that Harry and I are in a relationship even though she said she would. And Harry is letting her. Now they're tied together for life, and I'm supposed to join them?!" Hermione ranted as her voice took on a higher lilt. "I'm supposed to make a decision that will affect the rest of my life at fifteen. What if I decide in a month or a year that I don't like Harry anymore and I want to date someone else, what if I wanted to date Neville or Dean Thomas or Seamus... no, not Seamus." Hermione spat angrily, dismissing her year-mate and noted womaniser.

"Hermione, be honest with me. Would you dump Harry? Would you want to live your life without him in it?"

"I..." Hermione began but stopped as she recalled the few months in Third Year when Ron had convinced Harry that Hermione had betrayed him by telling McGonagall about the Firebolt. She remembered how miserable she was and the longing stares she would send Harry's when no one was looking. "No, I wouldn't, but he might dump me! You can't tell me that Fleur isn't way more beautiful than me!"

Emma sighed and gently stroked her daughter's hair. "No, I can't, but I can say that you are beautiful in your own right. Not just on the outside but inside as well. Harry sees things about you that you don't see in yourself. You are not only smart but incredibly loyal; that's something you have noted that Harry treasures. You don't lie to him or treat him like something he's not. You take people at face value, so long as they prove they're trustworthy."

"Fleur is stunning, but Harry chose you. As for why he hasn't told Fleur to back off I can't say. You're right, he should, but I hope he has a good reason for what he's doing. I'm sure he's just as confused and scared about all of this as you are."

Hermione nodded and sat silently, playing with her fingers. Emma leaned down to catch her eye. "What are you thinking about now?"

"I think I want to be part of the Bond, but I need more time to think about it. What Fleur has done hurts, I'm going to need to move passed it in my head before I can consider accepting this."

Emma nodded and leaned in, kissing Hermione on the head. "Ok love, just don't take too long."

24 July 1995

For the first time in a few days, the entire Delacour Household and Andromeda Tonks were present for Breakfast, but the mood was still tense as the three teens yet hadn't decided whether their future would be together or apart. The room was mostly quiet until an Auror entered carrying the mail. "Mister Potter has received a letter."

Harry looked up, and his eyes widened. "It's from Sirius!"

Andromeda and Apolline both looked up as he said this. "Harry! Don't touch…!"

As Tonks and Apolline reached across the table, Harry disappeared in a twist of Portkey magic.

To Be Continued…

I wanted to address a review I got recently, the review pointed out that the French use the Euro as a currency, which is correct, in 2020. In 1995 they still used the Franc, the Euro would not become an accounting currency until 1999 and legal tender until 2002. The Franc was phased out in March 2002 (Although you could still exchange it for Euro's at French Banks until 2012).

Thanks for reviewing:

Forthwith16, Clavyus, DriftWood1965, The Real Hell Fire, Aaron Leach, HowlnMadHowie, Rori Potter, jaqmaq77, Drouppi, sykartracer, Ashkan Dehno, Seros109, setokayba2n, Guest, EagleHasLanded, DRAGONDAVE45, RandoUser777, gabrieljuarezl, Lerris, dragun95, Guest, boricuagizmo1, Guest, azphxbrd, Romavictrix.