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/Beta on this story.

This story is a Horcrux free zone.

If you don't like the story, don't read it.

Where the Wild Roses Grow 19

The Peninsula Paris, Paris, France

8 August 1995

"You want me to do, what?" Narcissa hissed at Lily as they sat sharing tea in Narcissa's room.

Lily put the cup down and stared passively at her lover. "I want you to go with Skeeter and investigate Dumbledore. I need someone I can trust to keep an eye on the bitch."

"How do you know if you can trust me?"

A dark smile played on Lily's lips. "If I thought you were a threat to Harry, you'd be dead by now."

A small shudder ran down Narcissa's spine. Lily could be the most pleasant person you'd ever meet, but if you crossed her you'd be safer seeking shelter with Voldemort. "I see."

"Please Narcissa, I need someone to keep an eye on her. I don't trust that bitch, but she can sniff out a scandal better than anyone we know. Besides, she's known to have animosity towards Harry, so if she starts asking questions about Dumbledore and it makes it back to him, it won't look like we have something to do with it."

"Won't having me along trigger some sort of alarm with Dumbledore?"

Lily shrugged. "Why should it? He might know we were lovers once, but we haven't been in contact for almost twenty years. Why would the mother of Harry Potter's schoolyard bully help him out?"

"Point taken."

"So…?" Lily pressed.

Narcissa smirked reaching over to pat Lily's hand. "I could be convinced…"

"You're incorrigible..." Lily replied leaning forward with a grin.

Chateau Delacour, Neuilly-sur-Seine, France

Harry threw the pamphlet down and sighed, leaning back in his chair. On the table in front of Harry, Fleur, and Hermione were pamphlets for magical schools from almost every continent. Harry lent his head back and closed his eyes, he had a headache from staring at the glossy brochures that were enticing him to come to their school. When word slipped out that Harry Potter wasn't returning to Hogwarts for the upcoming school year, the Bureau de la Justice Magique had been inundated with owls with propositions from schools that wanted him to attend or private tutors who wanted to work with him. The mail had become so overwhelming that Apolline had assigned two full-time Aurors to sort the mail.

Harry felt soft hands thread their way through his hair and began massaging his scalp. Harry opened his eyes to find a pair of sparkling dark blue eyes staring back at him. Harry smiled up at her. "That feels amazing."

"Thank you 'Arry, I could feel your frustration over the link, and I know my mother did this for my father when he was alive."

"Your father was a lucky man. He had your Mum and his two beautiful daughters; I hope I am so blessed one day." Harry mused absently. When he realized what he said he blushed but continued smiling. "If that's ok with the two of you of course."

Hermione nodded vigorously. "I would love to have your babies Harry, just not for at least another ten years."

Harry reached out and scooped Hermione's hand into his. "Sounds like a plan." He looked up at Fleur again. "What about you, flower?"

Fleur blushed, she liked it when he used her pet name. It wasn't much of a pet name, just her name in English, but it made her feel warm inside. "Veela struggle to have children. It was a rare blessing when my mother fell pregnant with Gabrielle, I would be happy if we had one child. A beautiful little girl."

"With my mum's genes and yours there is no doubt she will be stunning; all our children will be beautiful and smart because of the two of you."

"I'm officially going to vomit…" Tonks commented from the door.

"As opposed to unofficially vomiting?" Hermione asked incuriously, annoyed their sweet moment had been ruined by Harry's Auror bodyguard. Another of Apolline's guards had accompanied Lily on her visit to Narcissa.

Tonks shrugged. "I'm on the clock."

"I think our children will be smart and beautiful because of all three of us 'Arry, you don't give yourself enough credit," Fleur opined.

Hermione nodded in agreement. "That's right, and you can't argue, I've seen your homework Harry, I know how smart you are, no matter how much you try to hide it."

"Why would you try to hide it?" Tonks asked, approaching the table.

"It doesn't matter anymore…" Harry replied quietly as Fleur wrapped Harry in a hug.

Hermione frowned but nodded again. "I suppose not. But you need to talk about it with someone, eventually. Maybe Sirius's mind healer can recommend someone."

"Do you think it would help?" Harry asked.

"I do," Hermione replied.

"As do I," Fleur added.

Harry nodded as Fleur returned to massaging his scalp. "I'll think about it."

"Harry, we love you and we want you to be well, physically and mentally. We will always be here to help you if you let us," Hermione added as she played with his fingers.

"It's like nausea, you can feel it bubbling up from your stomach, and then the dry heaves start when you three are sickly sweet with each other," Tonks interjected sarcastically.

Fleur rolled her eyes and leaned down to kiss Harry on the head. "Ignore her Cherie, she's just upset her boyfriend is away, so she has no one to play house with."

Tonks's eyes widened to a comical degree. "Don't say play house, a shudder just went down my Dad's back and he doesn't know why!"

"Speaking of your dad, what does he do for a living, does he work at St Mungo's like your Mum?" Harry asked.

Tonks shook her head. "Nah, he's a solicitor, both muggle and magical. He's the busiest he's ever been right now, he just took on the two biggest clients in the wizarding world."

"Potter and Black?" Hermione inquired, to which Tonks nodded. Hermione glanced over at Harry who looked confused but content as Fleur continued massaging his scalp. "Harry the Potter's and Blacks are the two oldest and richest families in the wizarding world, the Malfoy's were well off but it's a drop in the ocean compared to the land and money those two families have."

"And what book did you read that in?" Harry asked with an amused expression.

"Nature's Nobility: A Wizarding Genealogy," Hermione promptly recited.

"Is that why Dumbledore is so interested in me? For my family's money?"

Hermione glanced from Tonks to Fleur and then shrugged. "Maybe, I don't know how he'd get to it unless you gave him permission."

"He was 'Arry's guardian while Sirius was in Azkaban," Fleur offered.

"But that wouldn't allow him to make unilateral decisions about the Potter family gold. He would have received a stipend, but nothing more," Tonks explained joining them at the table. When Hermione raised a surprised eyebrow, Tonks explained. "Mum is still a daughter of the Black family, as my mother it was her duty to educate me in pureblood politics. She knew I'd have to deal with it someday."

"Then why… Ginny." Harry began but paused when the other three stared at him. "She's obsessed with me, they drugged me into being obsessed with her and blindly obedient to Dumbledore. Tonks, what would happen if I married Ginny and then died?"

"If Ginny had a bun in the oven, she'd become regent over House Potter, much in the same way your Mum serves as regent until you come of age. She'd have unilateral control over the Potter accounts."

"Could that be it though? It seems overly complicated as a scheme to get some money. Also, Dumbledore is old, I don't think he'd have a lot of time to spend that money if his plan succeeded," Hermione said.

"You've said it yourself, love, wizards aren't blessed with a great deal of common sense. Maybe Skeeter and Narcissa will find another reason," Harry replied.

Fleur picked up one of the pamphlets and handed it to Harry. "Have you decided on a school yet 'Arry?"

"No, maybe, I don't know. Beauxbatons seems like the obvious choice, but there are so many options. Hogwarts doesn't tell you any of this when they give the 'you're a wizard Harry' spiel."

"Usually it's a bit more structured, then Hagrid showing up to collect you," Hermione explained with disdain.

Harry nodded. "We should at least take the tour Madame Maxime offered. At least then we know what our options are in France."

"Are you considering Durmstrung?" Tonks asked.

Harry shook his head this time. "No, despite what I said to Molly Weasley I would never step foot in that school. I'm sure they're not all like Krum…" Harry added when he saw the look on Hermione's face. "That experience has put me off them completely. Also given that they have a Death Eater as a headmaster I think going near that place would be a terrible idea."

"I agree," Hermione tacked on.

"Madame Maxime has scheduled our meeting for tomorrow."

"Cool, it'll be fun to see where you went to school, Fleur, you've seen Hogwarts, so turn about is fair play," Harry replied with a grin.

"Maybe if we have time we can visit my dorm room, too," Fleur teased with a wink and a kiss making Harry turn tomato red.

Hermione pouted theatrically. "Just what are you thinking about Potter?"

"Nothing!" Harry responded in a high-pitched voice. "I'll be in my room."

Once Harry had fled the room the three women burst out laughing. Tonks shook her head. "That was a bit mean."

Fleur grinned evilly. "Oui, but it was very funny. I'll make it up to him later."

"By rubbing one out?" Tonks asked with a smirk.

"No! No, she will not." Hermione declared firmly blushing brightly.

"Spoilsport…" Tonks lamented.

Emma glanced up from her spot spooning with Apolline as they read together on the latter's bed. She could hear laughter from further down the corridor and it made her smile. "The girls are having fun, at Harry's expense I would guess."

"Arry is a sweet boy, he doesn't deserve all that teasing," Apolline commented.

"The girls will help him find his confidence, and when he does he'll tease them right back. Right now he's too timid – he's had all his self-esteem beaten out of him. I wish I could have gone with Lily to give that woman a piece of my mind. Maybe I'll look her up when I go back to England."

Apolline wiggled free of Emma and rolled over to face her lover. "When do you plan to return to England?"

"In a few days I guess, my vacation has gone on a bit longer than I'd planned. This was supposed to be a brief visit so Hermione could visit Harry, but it's turned into something more."

Apolline ran her fingers down Emma's face an intense look in her eyes. "Emma, you must realise this isn't a holiday dalliance for me. I feel deeply for you, I don't want you to go back to England. Stay here with me."

Emma blushed as her heartbeat increased. "F-for how long?"

"As long as you want, I won't presume to know what's in your heart, but I can feel the passion you have for me. We Veela can tell these things about people, it doesn't matter if they're magical or not."

"I want to be clear; you're asking me to move to France and live here permanently?" Emma asked tentatively.

"Oui," Apolline confirmed.

"I…I'm not saying no, but I need to talk to Hermione about it. I can't ask her to do this without at least discussing it first. I feel like her answer is going to depend on what Harry's plans are."

Apolline scooped up Emma's hand and kissed it. "There is no rush, mon aime, you may take as long as you need to decide."

Out in the corridor, Harry stopped, resting a hand against the wall he let out a breath. He was falling in love with Fleur, but he was still adapting to her teasing. Harry chuckled to himself, before he'd never have allowed himself to think of her in that light, it would have felt like cheating on Hermione. But now, with Hermione's consent and the soulbond, he could admit how much he liked Fleur. It went past the obvious physical traits – she was smart and funny, she supported him and made him feel good about himself. The only other person who had ever done that was Hermione. Very few people knew about the beautiful person Hermione was under the brainy bookworm exterior and few people realized how smart Fleur was, they only saw a hot blonde.

Harry heard the door behind him open and Fleur and Hermione entering the corridor. Hermione grabbed him by the face and gave him a toe-curling kiss, Fleur followed up with the same a moment later. Harry blushed. "W-what was that for?"

"We heard you over the link, Arry, we love you too," Fleur explained.

Harry's blush deepened. "I didn't realize I was broadcasting my thoughts."

"A downside perhaps of being always linked to the ones we love most in the world," Fleur said.

"Is there a way to shield our thoughts from each other…" Harry winced when he realized how that would have sounded. "I-I mean, not that I…"

Hermione smiled and gently stroked Harry's face, placing a finger over his lips. "It's okay Harry, we understand. I'm sure Fleur would like some privacy with her thoughts sometimes too."

"Oui, that would be nice, particularly when I'm alone at night. At least sometimes," Fleur added with a lustful smile.

Hermione groaned. "Fleur, you're going to kill our boyfriend!"

Fleur giggled, Harry liked the musical lilt and by the way Hermione's cheeks had turned pink she liked it too.

"I'm sorry mon Cherie, but it's fun to tease you both. I will have Grandmere send over some books on occlumency for us to study." Fleur rolled her eyes when Hermione's eyes lit up with excitement. "Oui, Oui, Hermione, there will be many books for you to read."

"Did someone say books?" The excited voice of Lily Potter asked as she entered the corridor. Tonks grinned as she noted her ruffled appearance and mussed up hair but chose not to comment.

"Fleur said her grandmother was going to send over some books about occlumency. We want to learn how to keep each other out of our heads." Harry explained.

Lily nodded. "That is a good idea, and not just for this. Occlumency is a useful skill for keeping your thoughts organized and protecting your mind against attacks. I can work with all three of you to strengthen your shields once you've read those books and had some time to practice your meditation techniques. This will also help if you want to study to be an animagus."

Harry's eyes lit up this time. "I can do that?"

"If you want to. It won't be easy, but Sirius will be on hand to offer advice. Though telling when he's being serious and when he's not, is almost impossible."

"I thought he was always Sirius?" Harry asked, trying and failing to hide his grin.

"No desert for Harry tonightl," Hermione proclaimed.

"Oui," Fleur added.

"Hey!" Harry protested.

Lily chuckled and shook her head. "Okay, enough you two. I need to borrow Harry for a few hours."

"We'll survive without him, I suppose," Hermione replied theatrically.

"Do I get a say in this?" Harry asked sarcastically.

"Don't you want to spend time with your dear old Mum?" Lily asked feigning hurt feelings.

Harry rolled his eyes. "You're not old Mum and I would love to spend time with you."

Lily grinned kissing Harry on the head. "You're teaching him, well girls. Keep up the good work."

"I get no credit…" Harry complained as Lily hooked an arm with his and marched them out the door, with Tonks in tow.

Hermione spun around once they were gone, her eyes shining with excitement. "So, Fleur, you said something about books?"

Harry, Lily, and Tonks took a car, a Peugeot 605 provided by Apolline, from the Delacour Chateau to Lily's apartment in Montmartre in Paris's 18th arrondissement. Lily let herself, Harry, and Tonks into the apartment while the driver stayed with the car and waited for them to return. Harry didn't comment but he was almost sure Lily's entire apartment could fit into two rooms of the Dursley's house. Entering the apartment, they stepped immediately into the living/dining area with a kitchenette behind, to the right was a door to Lily's room and ensuite.

"I've never been keen on the way this apartment is laid out, to use the bathroom you have to go through my bedroom. It's not conducive to having people over."

"I'd be worried about wandering hands stealing my panties, you wouldn't know anything about that, would you, Harry?" Tonks asked staring intently at Harry.

Harry stared back, grinning. "I have Hermione and Fleur as girlfriends, I don't need the panties of an old Auror to be satisfied."

Tonks's jaw dropped comically open as she tried to formulate a response. "Y-you mouthy little punk! Come here! It's time for a noogie!"

Harry laughed as Tonks grabbed him in a headlock and rubbed her knuckles across his scalp. He didn't complain, accepting his punishment for unfairly calling Tonks old. Their fun was interrupted by a knock at the door. Tonks immediately switched from teasing big sister to Auror, as she waved Lily away from the door and drew her wand, keeping it behind her back as she answered. In front of her was a frail-looking old lady who if Tonks didn't know better looked a hundred years old. "Good afternoon."

"Hello dear, is Verity home?" The woman asked in perfect but accented English.

Tonks was puzzled for a few seconds until she felt a tap on the shoulder. Looking around she found Lily standing beside her. "It's okay Tonks, it's my landlady."

Tonks's wand disappeared into the wand holster, and she stepped aside for Lily, but hovered near the door, just in case. "Marie, I'm so sorry I haven't been home for the past week. I've been busy at my new job."

The old woman smiled when she laid eyes on Lily, Tonks got a distinct grandmothering vibe from her.

"That's quite alright dear, I'm glad you're safe. I hate to bring this up, seeing as you just got home. But there is the matter of rent."

Lily smiled and nodded retrieving a large wad of Francs from her purse. "I didn't forget."

Marie's eyes widened. "This is far too much! The rent was only late a few days."

"I know. But this is me giving you, my notice. I plan on moving out soon, my new job has arranged accommodation for me elsewhere in Paris and I wanted to make sure you had time to find the right person to rent the apartment. So that's why I put together six months' rent for you. It's also a thank you for being so kind to a lonely young woman when I first came here."

Marie gave Lily a kind smile and patted her hand. "You're very welcome, you're a lovely young woman and you've been a wonderful tenant. I hope they treat you well at your new job."

Lily glanced back into the apartment and smiled. "I'm blessed to have found the job I have. I'll have my stuff out before the end of the week."

"Oh, take your time dear, I don't plan to house another tenant here for a little while." Marie paused a beat before speaking again. "My son just came back to Paris after a year of studying abroad. Perhaps you'd like to come over for one last dinner?"

Lily blushed and heard Tonks's chuckle behind her. "That's very sweet of you Marie, but I'm seeing someone, and she's the jealous type."

"Oh, I've met a few of those in my time, they can be fun and dangerous. I hope you find the proper balance."

Lily nodded and returned Marie's grin as she bid farewell to the older woman. Once she'd closed the door Lily turned two her son and his bodyguard. "I just need a few things and then we can go."

Harry and Tonks nodded as Lily walked to her desk and Harry walked to the window. Harry people watched for a few minutes before hearing someone fighting back tears. Harry glanced back and spotted Tonks indicating to his Mum. Harry nodded and walked over as Tonks retreated into the bedroom to give them some privacy. Harry walked up behind Lily and wrapped his arms around her. "Mum, what's wrong?"

"I-it's nothing, I'm fine," Lily responded, even as Harry felt her tears run down her cheeks into his hair. He was almost the same height as her but not quite. Harry reached forward and scooped the picture out of her hand. It was of his Mum and Dad in happier times. "Oh."

"I lost him ten years ago, but it feels like yesterday. James promised to bring me along when we went hunting down Peter… the next thing I remember is being under Dumbledore's control in his lab… I woke up today and looked over at the other side of the bed to say something to James and he wasn't there. I miss him so much…"

Harry spun his mum around, dropping the picture down on the desk and wrapped her in a proper hug. "I know, I miss him too. I never believed Petunia and Vernon when they talked about you and Dad. I wanted to believe you were good people who loved me."

"We loved you so much, you were your Dad's whole world, and he'd be very proud of the person you've become. I know I am."

Harry blushed and looked away. "Thank you."

"Harry, you never have to thank me for telling you how much I love you or how proud I am of you," Lily explained, pushing back his fringe to kiss him on the forehead. As she pulled away she ran her thumb over the rough skin of his scar. "We should do something about that."

"Dumbledore said…" Harry paused as Lily raised an eyebrow. "Forget I said that."

"You're not the boy-who-lived, you're a very naughty Potter," Lily responded in a high-pitched caricature voice.

Harry rolled his eyes and laughed, he remembered seeing Life of Brian once on the TV through the slats of his cupboard. Vernon had ranted about it being blasphemous, but Harry had thought it was bloody hilarious.

"Does that mean Fleur gets to give him a spanking?" Tonks asked with a grin.

"I'll give you a spanking…" Harry muttered under his breath.

"Don't let Hermione and Fleur hear you say that," Lily reminded him pointedly.

Harry blushed again. "Yes, Mum."

Chateau Delacour, Neuilly-sur-Seine, France

Emma smiled watching her daughter make out with the beautiful French girl that was her bond mate. Emma was supportive if they didn't go too far, at least not until Harry and Hermione were a little older. She couldn't admonish her daughter without looking like a hypocrite – she had her Veela that she would happily make out with at the drop of a hat. Right now, though she needed to talk to Hermione.

Hermione looked up and blushed as Emma cleared her throat. "Oh, hi Mum!"

"Hello dear, can we talk for a minute, it's important."

Hermione nodded and Fleur gracefully rose from her seat giving a bit of sway to her hips to keep Hermione's attention as she left the room. Emma shook her head and grinned. "Like mother, like daughter."

"Mum, is everything okay?" Hermione asked, sounding concerned.

"Everything is perfect, I have a beautiful girlfriend and my daughter is the happiest I've ever seen her. But that's part of the problem."

Hermione blinked in confusion. "I don't understand."

"My life is back in England… my old, our old life is back in England." Emma looked down at the bed, picking some lint off the sheets. "I guess what I'm asking is if you have any connection to that life anymore?"

"I'm not sure, our home in Crawley is where I grew up. It's the house you and Dad bought together, but apart from that…" Hermione shook her head. "Harry and Fleur are here, if the tour goes well tomorrow, I'll be studying at Beauxbaton for the next three years. I want to go to university after that, but I'm not tied to studying in England. Lily said it's up to Harry to decide how he uses his money once he comes of age and inherits House Potter. So, I don't have to worry about where I want to study… so no, I guess I don't have any ties to Crawley anymore, apart from you."

Emma nodded and smiled. "That's what I thought."

"Mum, what's this all about?"

"My vacation days are almost up, I have to make a decision soon about whether to return to Crawley. Apolline… Apolline asked me to stay, no not just stay, move in. She doesn't want this to be a holiday romance, she's interested in something more… permanent."

"That's great… right?" Hermione asked after a pause.

"It is, but it leaves me in the awkward position of asking what I want out of my life. Do I want to go back to Crawley and keep being a lonely, widowed dentist? Or…" Emma waved her hand in the vague direction of Apolline's room. "It's a big decision and a lot would change. I need to know what you want before I decide."

"Mum, I want you to be happy. I know you loved Dad, and it's been tough for you to find someone else that measures up to him…" Hermione paused. "Whatever you're thinking please don't verbalise it." Hermione quickly added as Emma grinned. "Everyone has turned into complete pervs around here… anyway, I hope he'd want you to be happy too. And if you're happy with Apolline that's enough for me. My bond with Harry and Fleur means we're stuck with each other. Not to make that sound bad, it's not, it's wonderful. I have two brilliant people with who I will spend the rest of my life. My future is in France with Harry and Fleur, I want you to be here with us."

"Then I'll call my substitute and start arranging to sell the practice," Emma replied, she wrapped her arms around Hermione and rested her head on her daughter's shoulder. "Thank you for being an awesome daughter."

"Thank you for being an amazing Mum. I love you."

"I love you too."

As Emma entered the corridor, she spotted Apolline watching her from the door to her office. She walked up to the slightly older woman and pulled her into a passionate kiss. Breaking away she grinned. "Make space in your closet for my stuff, ok?"

"Oui, cherie," Apolline replied breathlessly.

It was pitch black in Harry's room when he sat bolt upright in bed, he pulled his knees up to his chest and cradled his sweating face in his hands. He took long steady breaths to calm himself, but a knock at the door made him jump. "'Arry, it's Fleur, are you ok?"

"I…" Harry began but faltered, he wanted to deal with this on his own. He didn't want to use Fleur and Hermione as a crutch for the rest of his life. "I'm fine Fleur, thank you."

Fleur was silent on the other side as someone stomped up the corridor. "Harry James Potter, open this door right now!" Hermione demanded angrily; the tone of her voice nearly made Harry flinch.

Harry sighed and got off the bed, he knew better than to defy Hermione, she would simply camp outside his door until he had to go out for something and then he would get a right royal telling off. Harry unlocked the door and opened it a crack before stepping back as Hermione stormed the room, grabbing his hand and leading him back to the bed with Fleur gliding in after her to join them.

"Hermione…" Harry whined but stopped when Hermione shoved her finger in his face.

"No, you're not allowed to say you're fine when you're not. You can't lie to us Harry; we can feel it in our hearts. You're hurting and we want to help you."

"Oui."

"I don't… I feel like all you do is help me. I'm never there for you, I never get to support you."

"That's not true, your inner strength helps us, we can feel your love and support for us, and we draw inspiration from it. Our souls are always connected." Fleur replied.

"Harry, what happened?" Hermione asked gently.

Harry let out a breath and ran his fingers through his hair. "I had a nightmare; it's been recurring since you freed me from the doppelgänger's control. The memory of Vernon grabbing Fleur by the throat plays out, but this time I can't stop him, I cast magic, I attack him physically, but nothing loosens his grip. Fleur's face changes from Fleur to Hermione to Mum, all of you beg me to help but I can't. Until… until he chokes you to death. The first night after we reunited, I woke up crying, the second night I asked for some dreamless sleep potion…"

"'Arry, have you been taking dreamless sleep potion since you came here from the hospital?"

Harry reluctantly nodded and only a look from Fleur stayed Hermione from launching into an angry rant. "Arry, dreamless sleep potion is addictive, it can have terrible consequences if taken for too long."

"I know, the doctor told me when he first gave me a dose, but it kept the nightmares away…"

"We will figure out a better solution, together," Hermione added resting her hand on Harry's.

"Oui," Fleur agreed pulling the covers over them.

Hermione blushed. "F-Fleur, what are you doing?!"

Fleur grinned. "Finding a better solution, mon aime. 'Arry is having nightmares so we will stay with him tonight to chase them away."

"Our Mum's will freak!" Hermione hissed.

"Why should they? We're not doing anything; we're simply sleeping in the same bed." Fleur replied.

"Um, w-what if I get grabby in my sleep?" Harry asked, he was mortified to bring up the subject of his morning erection, so decided to leave that until later.

"I don't see a problem," Fleur replied with a smirk.

Hermione rolled her eyes as she snuggled into Harry's side. "You're such a perv sometimes Fleur."

"Oui, but you like me this way," Fleur replied doing the same on Harry's other side.

Hermione's blush intensified. "T-that's beside the point…"

Harry groaned as he woke up, the morning light was shining into his eyes through the window of his room. One of his arms was trapped beneath him while the other… the other was pressed against something soft and pillowy.

"'Arry, you beast," Fleur whispered breathily as she rested her palm against the back of his hand.

Harry rolled his eyes under his eyelids. "I warned you this would happen."

"Oui, you did, but you didn't warn me about your, big friend."

Harry squeaked but Fleur refused to let go of his hand. "Non, I don't want this feeling to go away just yet. It will be a couple of years yet before I can experience the full pleasure of my 'Arry. I need to take advantage when I can. And your hand feels wonderful against my breast."

"I-is Hermione awake?" Harry asked tentatively.

"Oui, I am, and I'm wondering why you chose to grope her?" Hermione asked petulantly, pouting on Harry's other side, peaking over his body at them.

"I… I was asleep, I can't control what my hands do while I'm asleep…" Harry offered, trying not to wilt under Hermione's glare.

"Fine…" Hermione announced rolling over and pouting.

Fleur finally let go of Harry's hand and he gave her a brief smile and rolled over onto his other side so he could spoon with Hermione. She tried to wiggle away briefly but Harry just pulled her back into him and pulled her hair back to kiss her on the cheek. "Are you jealous I grope Fleur and not you?"

"No… maybe…" Hermione mumbled as Harry peppered her with kisses.

"Would you like me to fondle your boob, Hermione?" Harry asked teasingly.

Hermione blushed bright red. "O-only over my pyjamas, pervert."

Harry reached down and cupped Hermione's breast for a few seconds before letting go and wrapping his arm around her. "You're beautiful Hermione, never forget that."

"T-thank you, Harry."

"Breakfast will be served soon; we should retire to our rooms to shower and change," Fleur advised.

"You can use mine?" Harry offered with a grin.

"In your dreams, Potter." Hermione scoffed as she and Fleur got off the bed.

"Only my better ones," Harry replied with a grin, making both girls blush.

As they entered the corridor the two girls found Lily, Emma, and Apolline waiting for them. Emma crossed her arms, staring at them. "Is there something we should know?"

"Arry has been having nightmares, he's been using dreamless sleep potion to suppress them since he left the hospital. He ran out last night and we could feel his stress through the link. We stayed in bed with him to keep the nightmares at bay."

"Did anything happen?" Lily asked.

"No, we slept in the same bed, nothing more," Hermione replied, leaving out the part about Harry fondling them through their clothes.

"Okay. As long as that's all that happened," Apolline said sternly.

Hermione and Fleur walked away to their respective rooms leaving the three mothers in the corridor. Lily looked down at the floor as her hands curled into fists. "I'm going to murder that dickless wonder, because of him my son thinks it's better to take drugs than let the people who love him help."

"I'll help you, but right now you need to focus on Harry and helping him get better. Has Sirius's therapist recommended someone yet?" Emma asked.

Lily nodded. "Yes, we're meeting with him today after the tour. Hopefully, Harry will feel comfortable enough to share what he's feeling."

Lily walked back to her room, leaving Apolline and Emma alone in the corridor. "How bad is dreamless sleep potion addiction?" Emma asked.

"It is a drug of dependence, though I doubt our daughters would ever leave him it would put a great strain on their relationship and Arry's health. The consequences could be irreversible if we don't intervene now."

"I'm glad he's going to see someone, it certainly helped me after Dan died. Hopefully, it can help Harry too."

A half an hour later Harry entered the dining room to find six pairs of eyes on him. As he took his customary seat between Fleur and Hermione, Lily walked over and kissed him on the head, ruffling his hair. "Are you okay?"

Harry glanced between Hermione and Fleur, frowning. "You told them…"

"We weren't going to keep it from them 'Arry, your mum loves and cares about you. No one here is going to let you go through this alone," Fleur explained.

"It's nothing, I'm fine," Harry protested.

"Waking up crying because of a nightmare isn't fine Harry, you need help and support. Asking for help isn't weak, it's a sign of strength," Hermione added.

"I…" Harry began as Lily wrapped her arms around him. She poured her love and affection into the embrace, and it brought back vague memories of being held by his parents when he was a baby. Fleur and Hermione eventually joined them holding Harry for a few minutes before letting go. "Okay, I'll try."

"Thank you, Harry," Lily said, brushing his hair out of his face.

"Missus Potter, I've tried for years to get his hair to behave itself, nothing works," Hermione pointed out sounding amused but exasperated.

"Oh, I know, I struggled mightily with James's hair, call it a mother's prerogative."

Emma leaned over the table to take a few locks of Hermione's hair in her hand. "Speaking of hair, are you doing something different Hermione? Your hair is so soft today, is this magic?"

"Maybe, but not anything I've done…" Hermione replied gently stroking her hair.

"Your complexion is so clear too, it's almost like you've been getting skin tips from Fleur." Tonks observed.

Hermione raised an eyebrow and shared a glance with Fleur. "Maybe I have…"

"I know that look, you're thinking. It's very attractive," Harry commented with a grin, causing Hermione to blush.

"Shut up you…" Hermione replied swatting Harry on the arm. "So, after Harry and Fleur formed their bond Harry noticed the scars from his… relatives… were gone. We thought it was because of the potion that regrew his arm. But what if it wasn't, what if it was because of the bond?"

Apolline cocked her head to one side in thought. "We can't discount the possibility, however, I will have to check with Maman, even if she doesn't know the answer, she has direct access to the knowledge of the enclave. It may take a few days, but we will get the answers you need."

"As long as it's not hurting Hermione, I don't think it's a bad thing. Either way, she'll always be beautiful to me," Harry replied with a smile directed at Hermione, who rolled her eyes at him.

"Even I think that was sickly sweet, Harry," Hermione commented.

"It made you smile, so it was worth it," Harry responded.

A quiet cough drew eyes towards the front of the room where an Auror was waiting. "Ma'am, a Miss Skeeter is at the front gate demanding to see Heir Potter."

Apolline threw a look at Lily. "I didn't tell her where we were staying."

"It's Rita Skeeter, she's good at ferreting out information." Tonks explained.

"I thought that was Malfoy…" Harry muttered, which earned a snort of a laugh and a jab in the side from Hermione.

"Did she say what she wanted to see him about?" Apolline asked.

"Oui, Miss Skeeter was waving around today's edition of the Daily Prophet, from what I was able to determine there is a front-page story concerning the Potter family." The Auror explained.

Apolline frowned but eventually nodded. "Send her in but keep her under careful watch from now on."

"Oui, Ma'am."

A few minutes later Rita stormed into the room and slammed a copy of the Daily Prophet down in front of Harry. This caused both Apolline's Aurors and Tonks to raise their wands until Lily and Apolline signalled them to stand down.

"When do I start tearing that old fuck apart?" Rita demanded.

Marked for Darkness?

Is the Boy-Who-Lived dabbling in the outlawed art of necromancy?

In a Daily Prophet exclusive Albus Dumbledore, headmaster of Hogwarts, Order of Merlin First Class, and slayer of Grindelwald revealed his suspicions that Harry Potter may have undertaken a necromancy ritual to revive his late mother Lily Potter.

In her final article for this paper former Daily Prophet writer, Rita Skeeter erroneously reported the slanderous allegation that headmaster Dumbledore attacked the Potter family on Halloween night, 1981. In a sit-down interview with the esteemed headmaster of Hogwarts, who recently vacated his position as Chief Warlock and Supreme Mugwump to focus on his role as headmaster, explained his suspicions to the Prophet.

"Lily and James were dear friends of mine, to espouse the notion that I would attack them for personal gain is nonsense. Either Miss Skeeter has been drawn into young Harry's cult of personality, or she was paid off. The trauma of that fateful night in nineteen eighty-one has never left young Harry, and in his desire for a family, I believe he has dabbled in the darkest of arts. I think his current girlfriend Miss Hermione Granger may have had a hand in this endeavour."

Hermione Granger is a former schoolmate of Mister Potter described as a brilliant and ambitious muggle-born witch with a voracious thirst for knowledge. When the Daily Prophet enquired Hogwarts librarian Madam Pince confirmed to the paper that Miss Granger spent what could be described as a worrying amount of time in the restricted section of the Hogwarts library. As our readers are aware only the most dangerous books are kept in the restricted section, was Miss Granger researching necromancy to impress our troubled hero?

"I often worried about the amount of time young Harry and Miss Granger spent together, they spent time together to the exclusion of nearly all other students. I believe Ronald Weasley was a friend of theirs until recently, but young Harry put aside their friendship in favour of Miss Granger."

When reached for comment Mister Weasley, a talented Quidditch keeper who will soon start his fifth year at Hogwarts, with dreams of playing professionally after he graduates had this to say. "Everything was fine between Harry and me at first, but then that miserable bint got in the way. Harry was alright until she stuck her nose in and started talking rubbish about Professor Dumbledore."

When asked what steps he was taking to rescue our tormented hero from the clutches of those who were seeking to use him for evil headmaster Dumbledore replied. "I am in the unfortunate situation of having recently vacated my positions at both the Ministry of Magic and the International Confederation of Wizards. I can do no more than any of you regarding young Harry's plight. I implore every right-thinking wizard and witch across Great Britain to write to the ministry and demand young Harry be brought home so he can once more benefit from my tutelage and be brought back to the correct path."

We join headmaster Dumbledore in his demand that Mister Potter be brought home, he has strayed onto a dark path and dabbled in foul magic to revive his late mother. Is this a prelude to Harry Potter becoming the next You-Know-Who? Only by bringing Harry Potter back to the halls of Hogwarts can this terrible future be prevented.

Harry let out a long breath and handed over the paper to Hermione, who read the article out loud for the benefit of the rest of the room. While that was happening Apolline received a note from one of her Aurors. "It's from the Minister, she would like Lily to submit herself to a medical exam…"

Harry slammed his hands down on the table and stood, staring daggers at Apolline. "She's not buying that bullshit!"

Fleur rested her hands on Harry's shoulders gently easing him back into his seat as Apolline gave him a cool stare. "Non, of course not, but questions will be asked, and we can't be seen ducking the subject. No one with an ounce of logic in their heads would give this rag a second thought. But as is well known, most wizards and witches aren't logical. The minister is looking out for all of us by requesting this of you."

Lily reached out and patted Harry's hand. "I don't mind Harry."

"Okay…" Harry replied reluctantly, he gave a sheepish glance in Apolline's direction. "Sorry…"

"It's okay Arry, but please remember I am on your side. I would not let Lily do this if I thought there was a chance she could be hurt."

"Right, sure…" Harry replied looking down at his plate, wanting more than anything for the ground to swallow him.

Lily leaned in and kissed Harry on the forehead. "Thank you for looking out for me Harry, it makes me feel warm and fuzzy inside."

Harry gave his Mum a bright smile as he hugged her. "Always."

"I should have punched Weasley, even just once would have been satisfying," Hermione commented absently.

To Be Continued…

I've been trying to get these out at least once a month but there's been a lot of RL stuff getting in the way. It's mostly just a lot of stress that hasn't helped my muse. I would like to get another chapter out before mid-August but I can't make any promises. As for the other thing I'm working on, I'd say another two chapters and it'll be ready for editing and then posting. And that Persona 5 AU Sae/Akira story that I've had sitting for ages… Oh well, just keep plugging away, I guess. Be well and get vaccinated.

Thanks to everyone who reviewed.