Hello People!
So... long time no hear? I guess. Really my bad all around. Life and such and dragons and really. I should have. Well... Hey?
Massive thanks to Astro and Honorversefan for helping me with the beta-reading of this.
My bad for not posting it sooner.
WaskeHD
XxX
Chapter 5: Yule Ball Festivities
Harry looked at himself in the mirror. He felt like a stuffed penguin, his robes were stuffy and stiff and he was about ready to call this whole evening when he considered the chances he was about to choose the wrong necktie to complete the ensemble. That was what it had boiled down to at this point. Bow or Tie?
"I still think you should go with the bowtie," Dean said. "It's better. More you."
"You're just saying that because you're wearing one," Seamus said. "I don't really get it myself. What's the big deal?"
"I'm going with a dragon," Harry said. "The small deal would be tears and crying. Not fun. The big deal would be getting roasted."
"Right, me ma once told me that as long as you're sincere, ya'll be alright," Seamus said sagely. "Don't worry sa much about -"
Whatever Seamus was going to say was interrupted by a whimper coming from the bathroom. The four guys turned their heads towards the sound to find Ron standing in his dress robes. Harry wasn't sure who was the first to crack, but soon the whole dorm was laughing at Ron's misfortune. Harry could see Ron's mood darken at the unwanted attention.
"Sorry, sorry," Harry said, trying to hold in his laughter. "We know we shouldn't. They're not so bad."
"I'm hideous!" Ron exclaimed.
He twirled in a circle, maroon dress robes billowing out around him. The colour clashed with his ruddy skin, and the ridiculous puffy cut of the robes made the effect even worse. They were quite frankly atrocious. At one point Harry would have felt bad for Ron. But, considering how the boy had treated Harry this year, and that the situation hadn't gotten better after Katarina had made her fiery entrance into their lives, Harry had a hard time summoning any sympathy.
"Tie," Harry said, nodding to himself.
"Why?" Neville asked.
"I think it makes me feel older," Harry said nervously. "I know it's silly, but Katarina looks nineteen."
"I feel ya," Seamus said. "She's smoking."
An overwhelming need to punch Seamus in the face flooded his body, clouding over his rational thoughts. He turned away from the others to grab the tie on his bed before standing in front of the full-length mirror again. It took him a few deep breaths before he calmed down again. Looking up into the mirror, he had to blink a couple of times. His eyes had looked almost reptilian for a second there, but it might just have been a trick of the light. He would never get over the fact that he didn't need glasses anymore.
What had just happened? Seamus had been a cad for so long that he should be immune to his crass comments by now. It had felt like fire poured into his veins, and his magic turned almost feral. He'd wanted Seamus to burn for having the audacity to look at his mate. It was like another animal entirely was scratching to erupt through his skin. Taking a few calming breaths, Harry turned his attention back to the mirror in front of him.
Finishing with his tie and adjusting his pocket handkerchief, Harry gave himself a final look over before heading down to the common room. His hands felt clammy as he descended the stairs with the others.
"You never told me who you were going with," Harry said absentmindedly.
"I'm taking Lavender," Seamus said smugly.
"Susan Bones from Hufflepuff," Dean said in a tone that suggested he was pleased with himself.
"Ginny," Neville muttered so quietly, he almost wasn't heard.
"You what?!" Ron snarled.
"Come off it, Ron," Harry said tiredly. "I'm sure they're just going as friends."
"Yeah, yeah," Neville said, nodding vigorously
"But she's my-"
"And she wouldn't have been able to go at all if Neville hadn't asked her," Harry said, cutting him off. "Do you want to be the one to tell her she can't go?"
"Eh," Ron said backpedalling quickly. "No no, just treat her right."
"Neville will be the perfect gentleman," Harry said. "Won't you?"
"Of course," Neville said.
Shaking his head, Harry put it out of his mind. He really didn't fancy spending his night around Ron if this was his mood before it even started.
"And who are you going with?" Harry asked Ron.
"Nobody," Ron said sullenly.
"Who did you ask?" Harry asked. "Other than Fleur."
The other guys sniggered at his comment and Ron's face turned a deeper shade of red.
"Hermione," he muttered. "Said she had another date."
"Oh," Harry said. "Good for her."
"She's lying," Ron said. "I'm sure she's going alone."
Harry just shook his head, not sure if he should tell Ron just how delusional that thought was. Hermione was growing up too. Harry was sure he wasn't the only one who had noticed. She probably had her choice of several dates, if he hazarded a guess. Thankfully, he hadn't been asked out at all. He was sure at least one girl would have been stupid enough to disregard the fact that he was taken by a dragon.
"Harry!" Katie shouted out from the other side of the room. "Over here."
All three of the chasers were standing on the opposite side of the room with their dates. Katie with Lee Jordan, Fred with Angelina and George was standing next to Alicia.
"You three are looking great," Harry said honestly.
"Thank you, thank you, great dragon tamer," Fred said flamboyantly.
"Most gracious of you, Square wizard Champion," George bowed, almost knocking over Alicia.
"Knock it off!" Angelina growled. "She'll be down here in a moment. The tie is looking very fine. Good choice."
"Better than a cravat," Katie said, nodding approvingly.
"How nervous is she?" Harry asked.
"She only had one accident," Alicia said with a gentle smile. "Breathed a bit of fire at us when we tried to calm her down."
"Oh," Harry blanched in horror. "No injuries?"
Harry didn't hear the answer to his question. No sounds seemed to be reaching his ears at all. The door to the girl's dormitory opened up behind the others, and Harry lost himself at her divine visage. It was like his ability to think coherent thoughts had stopped. The fire running through his veins was back. Her scent was tantalizing to his sense of smell. Her black tresses had been smoothed out from her usually spiky appearance until they flowed down her back in gentle curls reminiscent of the midnight sky. Her flame orange eyes were alight in delight as she gazed upon him, they seemed so full of life, so full of magic, so slitted… reptilian. There were no words. Her dark blue dress hugged her sensual curves, hinting at a budding almost overwhelming femininity as she gingerly tried to keep her balance on a pair of high heels.
"I think you've broken him," Angelina said, her voice filled with mirth. "Good job."
"Husband?" Katarina said, stumbling slightly towards him. "These dreaded torture devices."
"You look beautiful," Harry said, his voice filled with awe. "You look radiant."
"Thank you," Katarina said, blushing all the way to the roots of her hair. "You're looking nice as well."
"Awe, isn't this precious?" George said, fanning his face.
"Shut it," Alicia said, elbowing him in the side. "Do not ruin this for them."
"Yes, ma'am," George said quickly.
"We'll head out now before these two ruin it all," Angelina said. "Or Lee. Sometimes I wonder if he really is the most level headed of these three."
"That's only until he commentates on the Quidditch matches," Katie joked.
Lee just smiled, letting all of their comments flow over him, not phasing him in the slightest. "Yeah yeah, it isn't hard being the okay guy when compared to these two. Have a great night."
"We will," Harry said, smiling. "Shall we?"
He extended his arm towards Katarina. Her skin felt like it was on fire , and the feeling mixed with the fire burning inside of him. His tongue kept darting out of his mouth as they walked together down the stairs to the Great Hall. It was only when a hubbub of voices penetrated the fugue around him that he looked away from her again.
"Mr Potter, Miss Katarina," McGonagall's voice rang out against the room. "Over here please."
Next to McGonagall, Fleur stood with her date Roger Davies.
A silver dress accentuated her hair as it floated down her back over her soft white skin. She would have taken his breath away as well if it wasn't for the dragon on his arm, gripping tightly enough to make him wince in pain. Davies looked dumbfounded at his luck, but that might have just been Fleur's Allure taking a toll. Harry felt bad for her, and he wished that she had been able to get a date as fantastic as he had. Krum was standing there alone, leaning against the wall. Cedric was already there, his eyes completely focused on Cho in her chinese inspired dress. Neither of the other two champions seemed perturbed by Fleur's aura.
"You look lovely tonight, Fleur," Harry said. "You as well Cho."
"Merci, 'Arry," Fleur said, smiling beautifully at him. "You clean up nicely as well, Lizard."
"Likewise, Bird," Katarina said smugly. "I suppose we don't need to compete on the subject of superior mate."
"Non," Fleur sighed. "Save me a dance?"
"Maybe/Sure," Katarina and Harry said at the same time."
Harry almost backpedalled at the glare Katarina sent his way but he remembered what Angelina and the chasers had told him. "I promised to give Angelina and the others a dance as well."
"That's fine," Katarina huffed.
"Fleur too," Harry whispered. "Imagine if you were the one with the lacklustre mate going to the ball."
"I see," Katarina tilted her head cutely, giving Davies a once-over not that he noticed. He still hadn't blinked or taken his eyes away from Fleur. "Fine, you can have one dance with him."
"Thank you," Fleur said, though her eyes were twitching slightly as she did so. "Most gracious of you."
"I know," Katarina said imperiously.
"Viktor," Harry said, interrupting the growing argument. "Where is your date?"
"She is coming," Krum said gruffly.
If it had been at the beginning of the year, Harry wouldn't have seen the slight nervousness on the Quidditch star's face. Krum always seemed to have all of his emotions under control, but he was freaking out as much as the surly Bulgarian could. Just as he was about to ask who Krum was waiting on, he heard a whisper coming from the crowd around him. He turned towards the stairs, and spotted Hermione walking down in a periwinkle blue dress. Her hair was smoothed out, with none of its usually frizziness and her face was gently highlighted by make-up. If Ron hadn't been jealous before, he was definitely going to be jealous now.
"Hermione," Harry greeted with a gentle smile.
"Her-mi-nee-nee," Krum said. "You are looking great."
"Thank you, Viktor." Hermione blushed. "You are looking great as well."
"Tank you," Viktor said.
"The mysterious date," Harry said with an amused smile. "Treat her well."
"I vill." Viktor nodded seriously. "She does not care for Quidditch."
"No." Harry laughed. "She really doesn't."
"Harry!" Hermione blushed. "I've been to all of your games."
"And I am very grateful for that," Harry said. "But that does not mean -"
"Champions," McGonagall interrupted. "The Ball will start after we have eaten. You've been placed up alongside the head table with the Ministry officials and the Headmasters and Headmistress. Any questions?"
A chorus of no's satisfied the woman in a tartan dress. Her eyes looked approvingly at all of them before she turned and opened the doors to the Great Hall. Giant ice sculptures lined the sides of the room, which seemed larger than normal without the long house tables in the middle. Harry followed Fleur towards the head table, taking one of the open seats towards the end. Something in her face told Harry that she wanted him to grab the seats adjacent to hers, while Davies was relegated to taking a seat from across them next to Viktor and Hermione. Harry quickly pulled out the chair for Katarina as soon as he spotted Viktor doing it for Hermione. He also ended up pulling out the chair for Fleur much to her enjoyment and Katarina's chagrin.
He gingerly sat between them, giving both a short smile as he picked up the menu in front of him, flipping it over as he tried to make out how it worked. It wasn't until Dumbledore called out 'Pork chops' that the people around him started to order their own food. In the back of his mind, Harry idly wondered whether the House elves were more ecstatic at the extra work or tired considering the complications of having to cook portions rather than the buffet they usually did.
"Steak," Katarina said. "Rare."
Harry decided to order the same with a large portion of roasted vegetables on the side so that he could share with Katarina. Of course he realized that she was a dragon, but her diet still lacked greens or anything besides meat. She had gotten slightly better at it, mostly due to Hermione's sensibilities. Harry had found himself craving meat since the ritual himself.
"How's your steak?" Harry asked.
"It's good," Katarina said with a smile on her lips.
"Here have some vegetables," Harry said, scooping some of his onto her plate.
"Do I have to?" Katarina whined.
"Yes," Harry said, squeezing her hand. "They're good for you."
Further down the table, Harry overheard Percy Weasley beginning to rant about cauldron thickness to anybody who would listen, making him send a grateful glance towards Fleur, who had inadvertently saved him from that boring fate. Unfortunately for Cedric, he was the one closest to the red-haired bureaucrat. Harry wasn't sure if he would be able to listen to the man without trying to set him on fire. On the other side of the table, Krum was describing Durmstrang to a very interested Hermione. That led to Fleur singing the praises of Beauxbatons to Harry and Katarina. Davies was nodding along and really, it was rather pathetic, come to think of it, that the boy couldn't even hit his own mouth with a fork as he listened to Fleur talk about anything French.
"That sounds wonderful," Harry interrupted Fleur's third rant about the superiority of her school. "Though you wouldn't have met so many new people if you had stayed at Beauxbatons this year."
"Oui." Fleur nodded. "Zat is truth."
"It would have been better if she didn't come," Katarina said icily.
"I wouldn't have met you either if there wasn't a tournament," Harry pointed out. "I'm glad the tournament happened."
"I too," Krum said. "It has been very…"
"Interesting?" Hermione suggested.
"Ja," Viktor said. "I hav come to learn many new things."
"What is Durmstrang like?" Harry asked. "Malfoy talked about his father wanting to send him there."
"The blond one?" Viktor asked.
Harry and Hermione couldn't help themselves from sniggering at Viktor's disgusted look. Harry nodded, indicating that Malfoy indeed was the blond one to Viktor.
"Ooh the little dragon," Katarina said excitedly. "What about him?"
"He vould not do vell at Durmstrang," Viktor scoffed. "He is too pathetic to survive. He vould be vat is the expression?"
"Chewed up?" Harry tried to keep his laughter under control. He turned to see even Fleur smirking at Viktor. "Do you know him, Fleur?"
"E believes 'imself to be ze gift for all females?" Fleur said hesitantly, tasting the words as they left her mouth. "E is not."
"Right," Harry began. "I-"
He was about to say more, but was interrupted by the sight of Dumbledore rising from his chair and clapping his hands together.
"If the champions would please escort their dates to the dance floor," Dumbledore said in his grandfatherly voice. "Then we'll get the festivities started."
Turning his head, Harry saw a band getting themselves ready by the side chamber where the champions had gone after their name had been picked out of the Goblet of Fire. Listening to the excited murmurings the band was probably rather famous in the wizarding world though he didn't really know anything at all about music. Harry pulled out Katarina's chair and was just about to help Fleur to her feet as well when he was shoved sideways by a rather irate looking Davies.
"Watch it, Potter," he growled. "She's my date."
"Sure." Harry shrugged. "We'll dance later."
Describing the expression on Fleur's face as Davies tried to manhandle her onto the dance floor filled him with equal amounts of pity and rage. Somehow the fire in his was boiling inside of him as he watched them. She looked unbelievably livid at his rough touch on her wrist. He was just about to do something when he felt a soft pinch on his own arm from Katarina.
"Don't," Katarina shook her head softly. "The Bird can take care of herself. Look."
Turning his head back, Harry was just in time to see Fleur almost break Davies's fingers as she pulled him towards the dancefloor. A small sigh of relief escaped his lips as he guided Katarina onto the dancefloor.
"Why do you care?" Katarina asked.
He was slightly surprised when he didn't hear any accusation in her question. She seemed genuinely curious at his reactions.
"She's our friend," Harry said quietly as he got into the correct dance position. His right hand on the small of her back and the left hand extended out in the right angle from his chest a small bend at the elbow as he gently lifted her right hand. "I want her to be able to enjoy the evening as well."
"I'm sure," Katarina said. "She makes me jealous."
"Why?" Harry asked.
"You're married to me," Katarina said as the music began playing, following Harry's lead around the dancefloor.
"Yes, I am," Harry said.
"She wants to mate with you," Katarina said matter-of-factly.
"No, she doesn't." Harry chuckled softly. "She sees me as a leetle boy or maybe as a little brother that needs help picking the right robes."
"Do you want to mate with her?" Katarina asked, so quietly he almost missed it.
"No!" Harry exclaimed. "I don't want to mate with her. I'm happy being with you. You, Katarina, are more than enough fire for me. I can feel the burning inside. You bring that out in me."
"Good," Katarina said, laying her head on his shoulder, a soft smile on her face. "Your eyes are looking really amazing tonight."
"Thank you?" Harry chuckled. "Your eyes are amazing as well. I could get lost in them."
Neither of them noticed the other couples joining them on the dance floor. Harry only had eyes for his draconic wife and she didn't have eyes for anyone but him. Her entire body was leaning up against him as they waltzed around the dancefloor. It wasn't until the music got interrupted by the lead singer of the band that both of them looked up.
"Good Evening Hogwarts!"
A chorus of cheers erupted around them.
"We are the Weird Sisters and we are here to make this the best Yule Ball this season," the lead singer continued. "So grab your date and let's get this party started!"
Harry was just about to suggest they should go for a couple of drinks when he felt the pairs of hands pushing him towards the centre of the dance floor.
"You dance with us now," Angelina said. "We've waited long enough for you two to get knocked out of your own little world."
"Damn straight," Katie giggled. "You owe us a dance, Harry Hotter!"
"Don't mind her," Alicia sighed. "Apparently Fred and George smuggled in a bottle of Firewhiskey. Katie is a lightweight."
"I'm not!" Katie pouted.
"Of course you're not," Angelina said. "Just remember that Harry is taken."
"He is indeed," Katarina said protectively. "Though I must admit I am interested in this Firewhiskey that you are talking about. I trust nothing will happen to my husband if I leave him with you three?"
"Go on, take a break," Angelina said with a smile. "Ask Fred about the Firewhiskey."
Trying to get away from the three chasers was a study of futility for the young man. He found himself surrounded by all three of them as they bounced up and down the dance floor. Katie was by far the most drunk, and kept bumping into him as they danced. Angelina was apparently enjoying his constant blushing and Alicia tried her best at keeping Katie in line, but ultimately failed when she found herself smooshed up against his muscular chest.
"Uhm, have you been working out?" Alicia asked after the fifth time that she had almost been pushed into headbutting Harry.
"Not more than usual," Harry said.
"You're incredibly ripped," Alicia said. "I mean… you've really changed from the small scrawny kid you were last year. Sorry… I mean… You've really begun to grow up, Harry."
"Thanks," Harry said. "You too. We all are in a way."
She didn't get to say more before Katie had muscled her way back in front of Harry again.
"I really like your hair," Katie slurred, trying to put her hands into it. "When did you turn into a Harry Hotter?"
"Katie, I think you need a glass of water," Harry said with exasperation. "I also need to make sure that Fred and George haven't gotten Katarina drunk."
"I want a slow dance, Hotter!" Katie called out behind him as he pushed his way through the crowd.
"Sure!" Harry called back.
He let out a sigh of relief as he escaped the large crowd of people around him. He looked around to find Katarina imperiously glaring at Fleur with a glass in her hand that obviously wasn't filled with the punch from the bowl alongside the wall. Fleur was icily staring back with a glass of wine in one hand and a three-quarter empty bottle of wine in the other. If he didn't know better he would have thought that Fleur had drunk all of it by herself. Stopping himself from groaning out loud, he made his way over to them.
"What is going on here?" Harry asked wearily.
"The bird wants her dance," Katarina said.
"And?" Harry asked, grabbing a glass of punch for himself. "Where is Davies?"
"Ze boy is asleep in a broom closet," Fleur said, flicking her hair over her shoulder.
"Asleep," Harry repeated. "Right, you know, I'm not going to ask more about that."
"Bonne," Fleur said. "So, can we dance?"
Harry looked at Katarina, who seemed to slowly deflate under his eyes.
"Fine, but as soon as the slow dances start," Katarina said. "And no… just keep your talons to yourself!"
"Of course," Fleur said. "I'm not trying to steal him from you."
"I'll be watching," Katarina said. "Now where is that bottle?"
"Are you alright?" Harry asked, leaning in close to Katarina. "Are you drunk?"
"No," Katarina shook her head slightly. "The alcohol is great, but I am not drunk. I am a dragon."
"If you need to get some air," Harry suggested.
"No," Katarina shook her head. "Just go dance with the Bird, so I can claim you for the rest of the night."
"As you wish, my lady," Harry said, leaning in and kissing her on her soft cheek. "I'll be all yours."
"Good, Husband," Katarina purred.
Harry finished off the rest of his goblet before extending his arm towards Fleur. The Weird Sisters were still playing some of their faster paced songs. Harry wasn't sure if he was a fan of the music. It was weird hearing songs about Hippogriffs. Fleur pulled them into the middle of the dance floor where they would be hidden from Katarina's eyes before she raised her arms behind her head and snaked them around his neck, pulling him flush against her body as she stood there grinding against him to the music.
"Ehm… Fleur?" Harry choked out the words. "What are you doing?"
"Dancing, 'Arry," Fleur said with a tinkling laughter in her voice. "Is zat for me?"
Harry flushed all over as he tried to keep his distance from Fleur's derriere. She kept trying to move back against him but quickly got the message that Harry wasn't all that interested in dancing that close with her.
"What do you want from me?" Harry asked, a hint of exasperation tinting his voice.
"Nothing," Fleur said quickly, her eyes not fully looking at him.
"Fleur," Harry whispered with a hint of a growl in his voice.
"Why?" she asked. "I just…"
"Just what?" Harry asked.
"Nothing," Fleur sighed. "Zank you for ze dance."
Fleur's hands felt like fire on his chest as they stood there, everything around them seemed to fade into the background as her ice blue eyes met his fiery greens. Her scent reached his nostrils making him lean closer to her. It was like he was kept under a trance, idly some part of his brain thought maybe this was what it was like being under her Allure. Everything seemed to have slowed down until he felt her surprisingly warm and wet lips on his cheek then she was gone. His surroundings sped up, his eyes followed the flickers of her silver hair as she weaved through the crowd of dancing people.
He felt a headache come over him. Katarina was going to feel smug about it at first, then she would feel threatened, then she would feel betrayed and saddened by his actions. He just didn't know what to do about it. In another life it might have been Fleur he asked to the ball. Well if he somehow had summoned up the guts to do it. He wasn't entirely sure he would ever have been confident enough in himself without having been unwittingly married to a dragon. He needed to catch some fresh air.
Leaning against the door to the gardens a few moments later, he found the cool air refreshing. It really helped him clear his mind. He was just about to begin his search for Katarina when she appeared in front of him..
"Hey," she said softly. "Where's the Bird?"
"Somewhere," Harry sighed. "You were right. I'm sorry. We danced, then we stopped, then she kissed me on the cheek… I think she ran away crying."
"Good," Katarina said, though her heart didn't seem to be in it. "I guess she tried to mate with you."
"Something like that." Harry stared off into the darkness. "I think the slow songs are about to be played."
"Husband," Katarina sighed. "I'm glad that you told her no. You're mine. She needs to understand."
"I just feel bad for her." Harry shook his head, reaching out with his hand towards her. "No need to let it ruin our evening together."
"Not too much, I hope," Katarina teased, trying to bring some levity back between them.
"I need something to drink," Harry said. "Then we can slow dance until you can't stand on your legs anymore, Mrs Potter."
"That sounds good, Husband," Katarina purred.
Katarina pulled him away from the door, she had seen the way Fleur had fled the Great Hall. She hadn't actually left them out of their sight. She had seen the way the bird had rubbed herself against Harry. She couldn't quite fault him for it. He had done the right thing, but the bird was just asking to get burned.
Swaying on the dancefloor with Katarina in his arms almost made him forget about Fleur's expression as he rebuked her. He could hardly believe the change he had seen in her since she had called him a leetle boy in October.
"You're still thinking about it," Katarina accused him from his shoulder, where she was resting her head with closed eyes.
"I am," Harry admitted. "She's changed so much since I first talked to her. She used to be so haughty and prideful around me."
"I'm not surprised at that," Katarina muttered. "Do we have to talk about her?"
"No." Harry shook his head. "We don't have to talk about her. I'm sorry. I should have been focusing on you."
"You are a worthy husband," Katarina said, opening her eyes to look straight into his. "I am glad that you seem to care for others around you. I did not expect that when our contract was first established. It was rather one-sided if you remember."
Wincing, Harry tried to pull away but found himself locked into a close embrace with Katarina. She might have turned into a humanoid form, but she was very much still a dragon with all of the strength that involved.
"I do not blame you, my husband," Katarina said. "I am happy with you. No matter how it came to be, I would not wish to change it for anything. The life of a dragon. It can be lonely. It is hard for us to have a connection with our own. The courting is more… animalistic, feral. There is no need for emotions. Strength and skills are the only things that matter to dragons. It has been nice getting to know how to be more human."
"Strength and skill?" Harry asked teasingly.
"Something you share with some of the strongest of us," Katarina said huskily. "Something I find very attractive."
"Good," Harry said, relaxing into her again. "I'm happy too. It wasn't at all what I expected out of my life, but honestly getting married to a dragon is not the craziest thing that has happened to me."
They descended back into silence. Harry found himself entranced by his draconic wife as she closed her eyes again and rested her head on his shoulder. They barely moved on the dance floor anymore. Their whole movement was sent down into the ground. It was so intimate that even the smallest of movements was felt by the other. Her scent has long since filled his nostrils. Lavender, forest, the smell of grass after it had rained, the wind and something more, something tantalizing and dangerous. Like the echo of fire burning inside her body was giving off a scent to intoxicate him. He didn't know how long they had been dancing for but suddenly the music stopped. He barely noticed the lead singer of the Weird Sisters saying good night and thanking them for a wonderful evening.
"Do you wish to accompany me on a nighttime stroll?" Katarina asked, her eyes still closed.
"I do," Harry said, more formally than he had intended. "My lady."
The soft giggles coming from the humanoid dragon almost send his mind reeling. There was something distinctly absurd about dancing with a dragon, knowing that if she got angry she could transform into a two-ton fire breathing lizard. They quietly made their way out into the gardens, avoiding the eyes of the professors around them. Harry was pretty sure that they were meant to return to their common rooms, but he really didn't want to end the night.
Sneaking out into the gardens, Harry was soon hit in the face by a cold wind, making him shiver as he huddled closer to Katarina. She didn't seem phased in the slightest as they huddled closer together. They found their way into a clearing between blue roses and ice sculptures away from the usual path that others had taken that night.
"Thank you, husband of mine," Katarina whispered. "This has been an amazing night. There is only one thing that the chasers have told me about that we are missing."
"Oh and what is that?" Harry asked, bemused at her mood.
"A midnight kiss," Katarina said, blushing to her roots. "Angelina, Alicia and Katie said that it was important. I do not see the need for the exchange of mouthly fluids but I have often been wrong when it comes to human interaction before. Do you wish to kiss me, husband?"
"Uhm… I.. uh… do you…?" Harry stammered, his face even redder than Katarina's at this point.
Seeing him faltering at the last hurdle, Katarina did the only reasonable thing and pulled his head down towards hers, locking her lips with his. Harry froze as he felt the softness of her everything. His brain couldn't fully comprehend what had happened to him as they pulled away from each other.
"I can see the appeal of a kiss," Katarina muttered, her face still red. "It sends a wonderful tingle into my reproduction centres."
"Right, uhm…" Harry said.
"Do you want to continue?" Katarina whispered slightly unsure of herself.
"Yes," Harry's hormone filled brain exclaimed before he could think about his answer.
The sound of her relieved laughter completely relaxed Harry as he pulled her head back towards him, kissing her as if he was a man drowning in the desert and she was the oasis of life that he could quench his thirst from. Time seemed to slow down and speed up, the snow around them seemed to get taken by an invisible gust of air throwing it gently around them as if their small space of privacy was part of a shaken snow globe. Fat snowflakes descended around them in a perfect slice of heaven. It seemed like an eternity but equally as soon when they released each other's lips. Green eyes met orange.
"Wow," Harry whispered. "That was…"
"Like gliding on the wind or catching a satisfying prey," Katarina murmured. "I am glad that I met you, Harry Potter."
"I am happy that I did a ritual with you, Katarina Potter."
They just stood there, forgetting about everything around them until they heard the grating voice of Filch shouting at them about detentions or getting them hung up from their big toes if they didn't return to their dormitories immediately.
Laughing they almost sprinted up the staircases, stealing kisses as they went. They managed to end up in three separate broom closets on their way back to the Gryffindor Tower before they finally arrived in the common room. Angelina, Alicia and Katie were sitting around with their own bottle of Butterbeer, obviously waiting for Katarina to return. Harry barely made it through the portrait hole before the girls shoved him towards the boy's side of the common room and grabbed Katarina by her arms, whispering conspiratorially.
Harry was just about to say goodnight, when Katarina pulled herself away one last time and flung herself through the air into his arms, kissing him as if her life depended on it before finally releasing him with a whispered goodnight before she bolted up the stairs to the girl's dormitories, leaving three shell-shocked chasers to chase her down for more details.
Waking up the next morning, Harry felt something had fundamentally changed in his life. He felt older than he had the night before. He idly listened to the others telling him about their night, but all he could think about was seeing Katarina again. He'd barely made it into the common room before he felt her arms around his neck, her orange eyes looking up at him with mischief in them.
"Hey," he whispered. "Sleep well?"
"Missed you," she whispered back.
"Can I kiss you?" Harry asked.
"Hmm." Katarina tapped her finger against her chin. "I don't know, can you?"
Instead of answering, Harry just pulled her close, kissing her softly on her lips. Somewhere someone wolf-whistled as they lost themselves in each other. It wasn't until someone coughed loudly next to their heads, that they stopped.
"Right," Angelina said with a smirk on her lips. "Seems like you two had a good evening."
"Yeah," Katarina giggled sheepishly. "You were right. Exchanging mouth fluids is a rather fun thing to do."
"Breakfast?" Harry asked before anyone else could comment on Katarina's definition of kissing.
"I could eat a basilisk." Katarina nodded. "I'm famished."
"I don't think I could eat quite that much," Harry said with a smile. "You lot coming?"
"No," Angelina said. "I'm waiting for the twins. They were about as drunk as Katie by the end of the evening. Alicia is helping her get ready. She's feeling a bit sick."
"And the whole Harry…?" Harry asked.
"She's very embarrassed about that," Angelina said, chuckling softly. "Though she's also annoyed that she didn't get a chance to slow dance with you."
"Another female who wants to mate with you?" Katarina asked.
"I don't think so," Harry laughed. "I'm sure Katie was just drunk."
"As long as she understands that I'm first," Katarina whispered.
"What was that?" Harry asked.
Shaking her head, Katarina reached for his hand intertwining their fingers as she pulled him towards the portrait hole in the wall. They fell into a companionable silence as they walked down the stairs. Katarina was clinging to his right arm as they walked together.
"So," she started. "This kissing thing?"
Blushing, Harry decided to keep his eyes firmly on the path that they were walking down. He wasn't going to say he wasn't enjoying the kissing, but did she really have to be that blunt about it?
"Husband?"
"I like it," Harry said, trying to keep his voice from cracking like a prepubescent kid. "I really like it."
"Good," Katarina purred in that sibilant way that only she could make sexy and get him all riled up. "I like it too."
"When we people aren't looking," Harry said, backing away from her perfect lips. "It's not proper."
"Ugh," Katarina groaned. "Another human thing?"
"Yes," Harry smiled. "It is a human thing. Public displays of affection make other people uncomfortable."
"Why should we care?" she asked.
Harry just rolled his eyes and pulled her into the Great Hall towards the Gryffindor table, where they found Fleur sitting alone by herself. Katarina pulled them to a stop a few feet from her place. Looking over his shoulder at her questioningly, he saw the beginning of her draconic transformation. Her eyes had gone slitted and her hands and neck had become scaled, her hair rising like a cat getting ready to look bigger in a fight. Turning around, Harry watched Fleur look at them with a sad expression on her face, a small sigh on her lips as she raised her hands up in a sign of surrender.
"Come on." Harry pulled her hand. "She's not there to fight."
"I'm keeping an eye on her," Katarina said.
"If you think it's necessary," Harry sighed.
They barely managed to sit before Fleur began apologizing for her behaviour the night before. Harry kept an eye on his wife as they listened to her reasoning for flirting with Harry the night before.
"I understand," Katarina said at last, stopping Fleur's rather panicked apology.
"You do?" Harry asked, slightly surprised.
"Yes," Katarina said, nodding. "You are an impressive mate. It would look bad on me if I didn't have to keep other females away from you. Had we been in the reserve I would likely have had to kill at least three usurpers for my position."
"Uhm," Harry said. "I don't think it would be good if you killed anybody."
"I can't?" Katarina asked, turning to a rather pale looking Fleur.
"No," Harry said. "So friends? No more flirting?"
Both of them replied with a short look at each other before they nodded towards him. Smiling, Harry began digging into the food he had gathered on his plan. He had given up on making sure that Katarina ate balanced food the morning after the ball.
Soon, the three of them found themselves surrounded by their friends all around them. Stories from the night before were swapped between them. The low murmur of conversation wasn't interrupted until the owls arrived bringing letters and newspapers to the different tables.
Looking up, Harry spotted Hedwig's white feathers as she descended down in front of him.
"Hey girl," Harry cooed at his first friend. "How are you doing? Got something for me?"
He gingerly untied the letter from around her talon, thinking hard about who would be writing to him. Sirius was out of the question. He wouldn't have used Hedwig, too conspicuous for a man on the run. He supposed it might be Professor Lupin, but they had never had anything resembling a relationship where the man would be writing to him and the Dursleys wouldn't be caught dead writing him a letter at all. Turning it around in his hand he spotted the Gringotts seal on it.
"Right," Harry said. "I completely forgot about that."
"What is it?" Katarina asked.
"Remember how we talked about increasing our hoard?" Harry said.
"Yes," Katarina said, her eyes turning reptilian again. "Is it from the child thieves?"
Quickly reading the letter, Harry found a listing of prices the goblins would buy the basilisk parts for. It was much higher than he had expected them to offer. He tried to show Katarina the estimated amount but the numbers on the parchment didn't seem to translate into gold for her. Shaking his head, he instead handed it over to Fleur. She had been the one to offer her help with the goblins during the Christmas holidays.
"Sacre bleu," Fleur gasped. "This is an incroyable amount of galleons."
"Is it a good offer?" Harry asked.
"Oui and non," Fleur sighed. "I suspect you can 'ave a better offer. Ze goblins always try to buy cheap and sell expensive."
"So I should ask for a better price on principle?" Harry asked again.
"Probably," Fleur shrugged her delicate shoulders.
"Huh," Harry said. "That's a little dishonourable."
"Non," Fleur said quickly. "Ze goblins have a different code of 'onour. Zeir 'onour is according to ze letter. Zey will not cheat you on ze agreement but zey will underbid you if you aren't smart enough."
"Thieving little vermin," Katarina growled.
"But they are still our best option for selling it wholesale," Harry sighed. "When do you want to go?"
"I can go at any time," Katarina said. "I guess she's coming as well?"
"Yes," Harry said, sending his best smile towards her. "She knows how to deal with the goblins."
"I know how to deal with them," Katarina huffed. "Just burn them to ash."
"Not the kind of dealing with we're looking for," Harry chided gently. "I think I'm -"
"THAT BITCH!"
Harry looked up to find Hermione trying to light her copy of the Daily Prophet in her hands. Everybody around them looked at her as if she had grown another head. Instead of saying anything, she just shoved the frontpage over in front of him.
Yule Ball Hotbed for Bestiality
By Rita Skeeter, Special Correspondence
Dear Readers
As we all know Hogwarts is host to the infamous Tri-Wizard Tournament.
However what my dear readers doesn't know is that our own Harry Potter,
Boy-who-lived, fourth champion of the tournament, has apparently been accompanied by a beast. That's right, our very own Boy-Who-Lived, went to the school festivities with a beast on his arm. Katarina Analily is a dragon turned human but that shouldn't take away from the fact that it is no more than a beast. To make it even worse, Mr Potter has been seen in the company of Beauxbatons half breed Champion, that's right readers, Fluer Delando is what is known as a Veela and she was seen cavorting with our very own hero.
….
Harry couldn't read any further, the fire had returned to his veins. He wanted to rip the throat out of Skeeter. Nobody seemed willing to get close to him or try to read the paper for fear of getting in the crossfire. It wasn't until he felt a set of hands on his shoulders that he finally began to breathe regularly again. Looking over his shoulder, he saw both Katarina and Fleur looking at him, their eyes filled with worry.
"What does it say?" Katarina asked.
"It calls you both animals," Harry growled.
"So?" Fleur asked. "Zat is what zey 'ave called me for months."
"It's not right!" Hermione exclaimed.
"Non," Fleur shrugged. "But it is what I 'ave come to know."
"What is that supposed to mean?" Harry hissed.
"Zey treat all Veela like beasts," Fleur said. "Even in France we are treated like second class citizens because we are different."
"I'm finished eating," Harry said abruptly. He could already hear some of the Slytherins moving over towards the Gryffindor table with snide remarks being spoken out loudly so they could hear them. "I'm not sure if I can hold my temper."
"Then let us leave, Husband," Katarina said. "You will need to uncover the clue of the false egg."
Nodding his head, Harry rose from the bench he was sitting on just in time to almost headbutt Malfoy as he appeared behind him. From the looks of the situation, Crabbe and Goyle had muscled Katarina and Fleur away from him, so the blond boy could get close enough to him.
"Like the article, Scarhead?" Malfoy sneered. "I know I shouldn't keep getting disappointed with you but you have ultimately reached a new low cavorting with… beasts."
Harry was just about to open his mouth when he saw Crabbe getting thrown down the aisle between the two tables. Goyle was the next one to go as he went the opposite direction. He hadn't even been able to make a sound before Malfoy found himself sandwiched between a clawed and scaled hand ready to shred him to pieces and a thin wand held by a slightly downy hand. It was almost impressive the way Malfoy managed to both flush and pale at the same time, settling on an odd Vernonish purple as he tried to hold up his bravado. Internally, Harry found himself counting down until Snape would arrive and it didn't take long until his favourite Potions professor's drawling voice rung out through the Great Hall.
"What is going on here?" Snape asked.
Instead of an answer, Snape found himself almost strangled by another draconic claw lifting him up a couple of inches from the floor.
"I think what my wife is trying to say," Harry said slowly. "Is that she is rather… riled up alongside Miss Delacour. I believe Mr Malfoy came here provoking two rather formidable women by calling them beasts."
"Miss Katarina!" McGonagall shouted.
"What?!" Katarina growled. "I do not understand why we need to stay around these filthy humans. They make me want to burn them." Her hand squeezing just a slight bit tighter around Snape's neck.
Happening faster than Harry's mind could process, he found himself firing a large dragon-shaped flame towards the first person who had tried to free Snape from Katarina's grasp. It bellowed and roared, drawing a circle around them, where no one could enter. In the centre, Malfoy and Snape found themselves unable to resist the three fiery people who all looked like they were ready to kill if the wrong word was said.
"I think it would be best if Malfoy didn't come to provoke us any longer, Professor Snape," Harry said. "Next time I will not stop her. Let them go."
Katarina unceremoniously dropped the man on the floor where he wheezed and gasped for breath. Harry gave him one last scathing glare before he extended his arms towards the two women next to him. Feeling their hands on his elbows, he walked directly towards the flaming wall where it split open for him before closing behind him.
"Mr. Potter!" McGonagall shouted from the other side. "Release this!"
"No," Harry said so coldly that everyone around him felt a shiver down their spine. "It will disappear when we have left."
"Detention!" Snape roared from his spot within the flames.
"You cannot give detention to a champion," Fleur said, her voice as icy as Harry's had been. "I do not zink zat you wish to make zis an international incident. Zat leetle boy offended ze daughter of ze French Minister of Magic."
Leaving a stunned Great Hall behind, Harry led both Katarina and Fleur up into an unused part of the castle. He didn't want anyone to find him, so that excluded all of the travelled areas around the castle.
"Husband, slow down," Katarina said.
Sheepishly, Harry slowed down to a stop unsure where he had managed to lead them. Finding a nearby window sill where they could all three squeeze together if they didn't have a problem sitting quite closely together.
"What happened down there?" Harry asked.
"You called out to me with your magic asking me to defend you," Katarina said. "I do not know why she did anything."
"It was like," Fleur tasted the words slowly. "Like zere was zis fire inside of me, begging to be released. I do not understand it."
Harry wasn't sure what the look on Katarina's face meant but he had seldom seen her so thoughtful. It was almost… calculating the way she was observing her self-proclaimed nemesis.
"Interesting," she breathed out. "Where are we?"
"Honestly?" Harry chuckled. "I don't know. I don't seem to remember this part of the castle."
"We are lost?" Fleur asked.
"Probably," Harry said. "Though it's not that big of a problem. Everything leads to the central staircase. We can find our way down from there."
"Good," Fleur said. "You 'ave not found out ze clue?"
"I've tried almost everything, Katarina suggested I should do something with water next," Harry said. "I guess, you've found out?"
"Oui," Fleur said. "My friends found out quickly for me."
"Isn't that, I don't know, like cheating?" Harry asked.
"Non," Fleur said. "It is being smart."
"Then I must have been stupid," Harry laughed. "I thought it would be cheating if I didn't find out the clue myself. Am I on the right track?"
"I do not understand," Fleur said.
"Does the clue have something to do with water?" Katarina asked bluntly.
"Oui," Fleur nodded. "It 'as something to do with ze lake, I zink."
"In February?!" Harry groaned. "That's it. Wizards are idiots."
"Oui, men are most stupid," Fleur laughed. "Escort me to ze carriage?"
"I can do that," Harry said.
"Fine, we'll escort you, Princess," Katarina huffed, though the usual venom wasn't there.
Katarina grabbed his right arm, while Fleur grabbed his left. They had barely made it down the corridor before Harry had to ask.
"So you're the daughter of the French Minister of Magic?" Harry asked.
"Oui," Fleur said. "I do not often speak of it. Papa's job… people treat me different when zey learn."
"People treat me differently when they find out I'm the Boy-Who-Lived," Harry shrugged.
"I'm a dragon," Katarina said. "I hope people treat me differently. I am so far above these puny humans we are not on the same level. They are flightless naked monkeys. I'm the conqueror of the skies!"
Their group made it almost to the front doors of the castle before they were accosted by a group of professors. Snape still looked slightly singed at the edges. Professor McGonagall looked like she had been forced to eat something unsavoury while Professor Dumbledore kept his usual smile on his face even if his eyes didn't twinkle in the slightest.
"Mr Potter, Miss Delacour, Miss Katarina," he said. "A moment of your time."
"No," Katarina said. "These fleshbags have forgotten their place. I am a dragon! I am the queen of my kind and they treat me with disdain. I have killed for lesser slights against my personage. They are only alive because of the grace of my husband."
"I'm afraid, you can't go around killing people," Professor Dumbledore said tersely.
"You forget that you are nothing," Katarina growled. "Shall we put it to the test? You three against me? I would be more than happy to fight for superiority."
"If you don't conform to the rules," Professor Dumbledore said.
"Then we will be leaving Hogwarts," Harry said.
"Mr Potter!" Professor McGonagall exclaimed. "You cannot be serious."
"Deadly," Harry said, the fire making its way throughout his body. "Why should I stay?"
"Hogwarts is the best -" she began.
"Don't finish that sentence, Professor," Harry said. "Do I need to go over the times I've almost died here?"
"Just as arrogant as his -," Snape sneered.
"Don't tickle a sleeping dragon," Harry said.
"What are you talking about?" Snape drawled.
"The school motto," Harry said. "Don't tickle a sleeping dragon."
"They aren't so much tickling me as they are irking me," Katarina said. "They should heed their own warning."
"Is zis 'ow ze teachers behave around you?" Fleur asked. "I will speak with my father. I am sure 'e will be 'appy to extend an invitation to our country."
"There is no need for that, Miss Delacour," Dumbledore said quickly. "We won't be taking any more of your time."
"Bien," Fleur sniffed. "If you will excuse us."
They had barely made their way through the doors before they heard Snape exclaim behind them.
"That ungrateful little," he began.
"Enough, Severus," Professor Dumbledore sighed. "Mr Potter is right. It isn't wise to tickle a sleeping dragon. Miss Katarina is still very much that, a dragon."
"So we're just going to let them get away with it?!" Snape shouted.
"Severus!" Professor McGonagall exclaimed. "It was obvious that Mr Malfoy sought them out on the opposite side of the Great Hall. I've long since thought that he has been the instigator -"
They couldn't hear more of the conversation as they had made their way a fair bit down the road towards the Beauxbatons carriage.
"I meant it," Fleur said.
"What?" Harry asked.
"You would be welcome in our 'ome," Fleur said. "Papa would be more than 'appy to 'ave you."
"Thank you," Harry said. "But I don't think it is needed. When do you have time to go to Gringotts?"
"Tomorrow is fine," Fleur said. "We can take ze floo from 'Ogsmeade."
"Sure," Harry said. "I'm not sure I'm allowed to leave."
"It is ze 'olidays," Fleur said. "And you are a champion. You 'ave permission to leave in preparation for ze tournament."
"I didn't know that," Harry said.
"Bâtards," Fleur cursed. "Do you know anything about zis tournament?"
"Not really," Harry said. "Only what Hermione has been able to tell me."
"Zey did not give you ze rulebook?" Fleur asked.
"I didn't know there was one," Harry said, his face flushed red.
"Come," Fleur said. "I 'ave read mine."
Half an hour and a quick tour of the inside of the Beauxbatons carriage, Harry found himself sitting next to a large bathtub in the Prefect's bathroom. He had gotten the password from Alicia, who sent both him and Katarina out of the common room with a small smirk on her lips. Harry still wasn't sure how he hadn't fainted from the blush adorning his face.
"I don't understand why I have to wear this," Katarina said from a nearby stall. "It doesn't even cover that much of the fleshy parts."
Harry decided to turn on the taps instead of thinking about which fleshy parts her swimwear did cover. He himself had brought his new pair of swim trunks. Between three chasers, one French Veela and a dragon wife his wardrobe had been more than updated. Dudley's clothes had long since been offered up as kindling between Katarina and Fleur when their emotions had run high. He still felt that some of his better fitted clothes were too small on him. It felt weird having t-shirts that actually clung to his skin.
He decisively tried to ignore the rustling of a curtain being drawn away, focusing instead on getting the right temperature for the water. Dragons did not like getting wet but when they did bathe they preferred if the water was almost boiling, being cold-blooded in principle. The fact that they were a creature of fire negated most of their more lizardy tendencies.
"How do I look?" Katarina asked.
Turning his head, Harry lost his balance at the sight of her, making him fall head first into the small pool of a tub on the floor. He was surprised to find that he didn't get burned by the hot water. Spluttering he broke the surface, his eyes fixed on the divine form of his wife. The deep forest green bikini would have been modest for most non-magical people but for a fourteen-year-old, who until this year hadn't really thought all that much about the female body it was almost enough to give him a heart attack. His trunks were already starting to feel rather constricting.
"Husband? Are you alright?" Katarina asked nervously.
"Yeah," Harry said. "You look amazing."
"Do these flimsy pieces of cloth make you want to mate with me?" Katarina asked with a blush reaching all the way down to her chest.
"Uhm," Harry said unintelligently. "I guess?"
"Good," Katarina said. "I'm glad that this fleshy body makes you go into heat."
"Right, the egg, need to," Harry said floundering with his words.
"Yes, I suppose we do," Katarina said. "That is why we are here after all. Let us see if the Bird spoke the truth."
Gulping, Harry opened up the egg only for it to shriek loudly. The sound rang against the walls echoing throughout the room. He didn't even think before he slammed his hands against his ears, dropping the egg into the water.
As soon as the golden egg broke the surface, the shrieking changed into a melodic song, bubbling up against the surface muddled as the water squished around them.
"I should have thought of that," Harry said. "I guess we should listen to it under water?"
"Move over, then," Katarina said, sliding in next to him.
Harry decided not to comment on the size of the tub, seeing as it likely would only reward him with an irate wife if he did so. He instead tried to keep his cool as she leaned up against him, pressing her chest against his side.
"On three?" Katarina asked.
"Sure, one, two, three," Harry counted.
As soon as his head broke the water, he heard an unearthly song filling the water.
Come seek us where our voices sound,
We cannot sing above the ground,
And while you're searching ponder this;
We've taken what you'll sorely miss,
An hour long you'll have to look,
And to recover what we took,
But past an hour, the prospect's black,
Too late, it's gone, it won't come back.
Breaking the surface, Harry looked towards Katarina only to find the same hesitation and dread marring her face. It could only be summed up in one word.
"Fuck."