Disclaimer: What's the probability that I own even a sliver of the wonderful franchise that is Harry Potter? Zero, right? I thought so too. Damn. On with the story...
"Crucio." The infallible torture curse sailed through the air towards her as Fleur closed her eyes and waited for the pain surely about to envelop her, but to her great surprise was shoved aside by someone forcibly slamming into her, forcing both of them out of the spell's trajectory and shouting out incantations at a rapid pace, "Expelliarmus!" "Stupefy!" It seemed that the dual spells had done their trick as the unmistakable heavy sound of a body hitting the ground made itself heard. Fleur peeked her eyes open curiously, certain that it was a teacher who had noticed the travesty and had come to her aid, but found herself startled to be looking into the jade eyes of the 'lettle boy', Harry Potter.
Correction-he certainly wasn't little, and she really regretted the fact that she had judged him so scornfully during their first (or was it second?) encounter. He had proved his capabilities strongly enough when he outflew a dragon-a dragon, for Merlin's sake, and what was more that he had saved her little sister from a horrible fate (she still didn't like to think how close to death her sister had been) during the Second Task of the Triwizard Tournament, and now he had just taken on an opponent way out of his league to save her and he had-won?
"Hey, are you alright? He didn't manage to do anything to you, did he?" The concerned voice of the teenager spoke up.
She shook her head gratefully, "I'm fine...thanks to you."
"That's good", Harry grinned before turning serious, "So would you happen to know anything about why our little Bulgarian friend was just about to hit you with one of the nastiest curses in the history of wizardkind?"
She shook her head helplessly, "I don't know-he just came out of nowhere and started attacking me-I was totally caught off-guard. This was just so unexpected."
"Right." Harry scrunched his eyebrows, "There's obviously something more here than meets the eye-I found Cedric unconscious and tied up a while back, and it seems dear Victor was about to do you the same favour-but why? Isn't this a bit extreme to win, even for Durmstrung, if that was his motive at all?"
"Maybe someone was making him do it?" Fleur suggested.
"That's certainly probable-so if someone has rigged this task..."
"Has rigged?"
"Correction noted. If someone did rig this task, which is the most likely explanation although without any explicable reason, I think it would be better if we stick together while exploring this maze-think of this as an informal team-up. So what do you think?"
The gorgeous veela could see the potential in his plan and nodded, "I think that is a very good idea."
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"What?" Fleur asked Harry irritably as he had noticed the boy steal looks at her for the last half an hour. He had proved himself to be an invaluable ally while tackling the challenges of the maze, but now that they could feel themselves close to the end, courtesy of a handy 'Point-Me' charm, she certainly did not need a lovesick idiot by her side. Pity, initially she had thought that the boy could resist her Veela charm, but he was clearly affected-what else could it be?
"Nothing-it's just that I noticed that you have been talking in perfect English the entire time we have been in the maze."
She huffed, "we are in a situation where a misstep could be the death of both of us, and that's the only thing you can think of?"
"Hey, life and death situations are just normal for me-just ask Hermione if you don't believe me. So, getting to know that you are not quite so snobbish under that mask is certainly the more remarkable point here. After all, I know you are an amazing painter, and according to Gabby, you sing lullabies pretty well, and now this? That gives a whole new perspective to you. I am honoured to know you, ma'am."
Fleur was surprised-she knew Gabrielle had been spending quite some time with Harry after he had saved her, but it surprised her that they actually talked about her...other facets. Most people couldn't even hold a conversation with her or about her, without picturing her naked. However, she was not going to let him get one over her, and spoke up. "You know nothing." Her tone was droll, purposefully trying to spite him, "I am just a snob who knows perfect English and wants to showcase her superiority to her companion who doesn't even have an inkling of the French language."
Harry raised his eyebrows, "Wow, so you actually have a sense of humour-who knew?"
"I thought you would." She smirked.
"I do now." He smirked back, before pausing, "Oh, wow, would you look at that. We are at journey's end."
Sure enough, the glistening and glittering Triwizard Cup stood in front of them, ready to be embraced by the Champion. "So what do you say? On the count of three?" Harry offered.
She was startled, "What?"
"I thought it was pretty obvious-on the count of three, we take hold of the Cup together, and we both win."
"What? No. It's your victory, Harry-I wouldn't even be standing here if not for you. Go take it." She encouragingly stated.
Harry shook his head, "Just listen to me-I am not interested in winning, never was. Cedric was the real Hogwarts champion, and he was put out of the way for some yet unknown reasons-it would just not feel right for me to win the Trophy for Hogwarts, especially after what the school has offered me this year..." For a second his tone hardened, and Fleur felt herself shiver slightly, "Plus isn't this supposed to be an event fostering international co-operation? What better way to co-operate than to win the Trophy together?"
Fleur was clearly still hesitating, so Harry further cajoled her, "think how happy Gabby will be when her big sister wins the bright silver cup-and don't think I am being excessively noble. I just want to see the look on the faces of the assorted guests when we do this-I know an old dog who would be very proud of me for doing this." He crackled up.
The last statement was weird, even for his standard, but Fleur figured it was better not to ask. "Fine, but I would still feel better if you got something more out of it." She frowned.
"Well...now that you suggest that...when this is over, why don't we sit down together to have a nice day and talk-know more about each other?" Suddenly, his voice had turned a bit shy, the confidence slightly evaporating. Fleur found it inordinately cute-and him too, to be honest. "Harry Potter-are you asking me out on a date?" She teased.
"Well-that is-", he fumbled, but Fleur put him out of his misery, "A date it is." She agreed with a dazzling smile, he was certainly a step up...or make that ten from the kind of people she was usually forced to hang around with.
"Right. Cool, so, ready?"
Fleur nodded. "One, two, three". Suddenly there was a tug in their navel, and both the teens found themselves whisked away to locations unknown.
A/N: Not sure if I would continue this, but I needed to write something after returning to this fandom after such a long time. So what do you think might happen next?