I don't own anything related to Harry Potter or Wizarding World, except my OC. Reviews are appreciated.
Please be aware that this is my very first work and I've tried to make it presentable enough. Hope this works.
"I'm in trouble," whispered Harry.
He couldn't talk loudly, because of the ever-watching Madam Pince, who always kicked students from the library for being noisy. Her "noise level threshold" was always an undefined number and could range from a whisper to normal chatter.
"Care to elaborate?"
The sound of the voice came from the person Harry planned to talk with - his best friend, ironically, a Slytherin, who was rewriting his essay on Runes. Harry knew that to any outsider, sitting with a Slytherin student was some foolish bravery and that could lead to spending at least one night at the hospital wing. However, Harry was sure that everyone knew about his friendship with Alessandro Renera, who was simply known as Alex to those he considered friends.
Their friendship started during their first year at Hogwarts. At the time, Professor Snape, the Potions Master, has paired up every student in his class for one of the assignments. He believed that placing Harry with a Slytherin student would do more damage than good. But Alex didn't do any harm, and despite his cold attitude he provided him with great help for the class. Alex was also not a 'fanboy' which Harry instantly liked. His humor was sarcastic and dry, sometimes outright silly. He was also a half-blood, which placed him at odds with most of his house for some time. As well as other things like his assumed betrothal to Daphne Greengrass, and with him also being a Black family heir via maternal line; being an invalid with Soviet-made bionic prosthesis, which replaced his left arm down from elbow, and very strong hatred of all Death Eater-like and their 'spawn'.
Despite them being great friends, they had very different preferences.
For example, Harry loved Quidditch while Alex hated it. Harry excelled in Transfigurations and DADA while Alex was one of the best in Potions and Runes. They were both introverted at first, but during their adventures, which included Daphne and Harry's housemate, Hermione Granger, they became more lively and outgoing. Harry overcame his brooding and Alex promised not to harm anyone that dared to call him an 'invalid'. Daphne also sometimes acted as a security measure for some of Alex's idiotic and completely crazy ideas and words, and, although Harry saw the girl's frustration, he knew that she was highly amused by his antics.
But, despite his difficult attitude, Alex proved to be a trustworthy person, who, unlike typical Slytherins, always supported Harry, Daphne and some of his other friends. And in this situation that Harry found himself in, he knew Alex would help or atleast lend him an ear.
"The Yule Ball is up. Professor McGonagall said that I've got to open the dance."
The sound of a feather scratching on parchment stopped.
"So?"
"I can't dance! And besides that, I don't even have a date to the ball!" Harry tried to put as much conviction to the heated whisper as he could. Alex finally tore his eyes from the parchment and looked up to his friend. Harry cursed mentally – Alex's unnatural purple eyes were always cold and calculating.
"I don't see a problem with it. A lot of girls would go with you, as long as you'll treat them right." Alex placed the feather into the inkpot. "They'd love to 'bag' the Boy-Who-Lived as a date."
"That's the thing. I don't want to go with those people." Harry muttered, as a heavy sigh escaped from his lips. "I want to go with someone who sees me as me, Harry…"
"A Gryffindor Fourth Year student, amazing seeker, Basilisk slayer, Dementor hunter?" Alex smirked, clearly enjoying making Harry squirm. "Savior of ladies and like, the true follower of justice, et cetera. I get what you mean." He waved his hand dismissively. Harry wanted to retort, but was beaten by the other occupant of the table.
"Be quiet, please. I'm almost done."
"Yes, Daphne." Boys said in unison, causing Daphne Greengrass to groan and look piercingly at them. They decided to talk even quieter, so they won't evoke the famous 'Ice Queen wrath' upon themselves.
"Who are you taking to the ball, Mr. Girl Specialist?" Harry wasn't new to sarcasm, being around Alex for long. The answer was quick.
"Daphne, of course." Alex looked at Harry like he had grown a second head. "Right, honey?" He then smiled at the confused girl, who didn't catch their conversation and mouthed 'What?'.
Harry quietly laughed a little. But that didn't ease his troubles one bit, and Alex felt that. He saw that his friend had started to clam up and quietly snapped his metallic fingers in front of Harry's face, demanding his attention.
"What if I point you to the dancing teacher and you'll take it from there?" Alex's eyes were showing his mirth. And some craziness, a typical Black blood trait.
Harry tensed, but braced himself. 'Gryffindors charge forward'.
"Alright. Who?"
"See for yourself." Alex nodded in the direction of the library's entrance. Harry followed his gaze, and his heart skipped a beat. A vision of pure beauty and perfection was walking towards them.
"Bonjour, Sandro, Daphne, 'Arry." She said with a pleasant purr. Daphne finally tore her gaze away from her essay and smiled.
"Hello, Fleur."
"How ya doin'?" Alex nearly dodged Daphne's pointed elbow to his ribs for being a wiseass. Daphne silently threatened to castrate him for the umpteenth time this year. "Sorry. May I inquire about the state and condition of this fine lady?"
Fleur laughed a little.
"I'm fine, merci. But I sense an unease here. Something's wrong?"
Alex wanted to open his mouth to answer, but Daphne finally managed to hit him with a tactically placed elbow. This 'sucker punch' completely destroyed Renera's plans.
"Morgana's fucking balls, that hurts, Daph!"
That exclamation drew Madam Pince's attention to them, and the foursome was kicked out of the library in no time. Harry was chuckling, Daphne was silently fuming and Alex was still clutching his ribs painfully. He couldn't believe that Daphne would stoop so low for that. Fleur silently mused on whether the dynamic between the three of them is always like that.
She remembered the time when she met them at the Quidditch World Cup. She was visiting her cousin from Eastern Europe solely, not for the enjoyment of the stupid game. She hated heights and high speeds which made Quidditch games what they were. Even high-altitude seats were overwhelming for her. However, as mentioned beforehand, this was where she met them.
Harry Potter, The-Boy-Who-Lived, in the company of a recently exonerated godfather, infamous Sirius Black, and three youngsters, who were later introduced as Alessandro Renera, Sirius's nephew, Daphne Greengrass, Renera's beloved, and Tracey Davis, Daphne's best friend and quidditch's avid fan.
She instantly took a liking to them and for some reason she felt something haunting in all of them. Something that set them apart from the general crowd. The icing on the cake was the fact that Harry was immune to her Allure. He always looked into her bright, heaven blue eyes and smiled. Alex, she later learned, was in love, so the Allure didn't work for him. Fleur had a hunch that the Black blood had something to do with their immunity, but she could only guess, as Renera would only smile, which never hit his cold purple eyes, and say nothing.
In Daphne, Fleur has found a kindred soul. Loneliness and people's prejudice drove them closer. Daphne was the heir to the vast Greengrass fortune. She was never given a leeway in her life, because of that and because of that, she was being molded into the perfect Ice Queen to protect herself and further alienate everyone from her. Only a very few people knew the real Daphne, the person behind her wonderful looks and icy, sometimes bitchy attitude. And those were the people she would forever treasure.
And Tracey was a bubble of happiness and carefreeness. She didn't care about blood status, race or anything like that. Fleur found out that Tracey's devil-may-care attitude was always contagious, and Tracey loved lifting everyone's spirits and making anyone happy. Like her wonderful little sister, Gabrielle.
These four friends also saved her when the Death Eater's attacked the camps shortly after the World Cup ended. Fleur witnessed as Harry and Alex stood together, fighting brutally and deadly, mercilessly dispatching all attackers, while Daphne and Tracey completely focused on defense. In Alex's eyes, she then learned, all Death Eaters had only the right to die, law be damned. This event further cemented her relationship with them. Seeing as they all worked as one, protecting her and some others that were around her. This event also told her that they would also put their lives in front of others in the face of danger.
"Why so moody?" Harry's words brought her away from musings. She noted the wordplay, referring to Professor Moody, but didn't call him out on it.
"Moi… I was just caught up in memories, that's all." Her smile was bright, with no signs of lies. But then she remembered her earlier question. "You didn't tell me. What is bothering you?"
"Runes assignment." Came from Daphne.
"My aching ribs." That was Alex.
"I can't dance." Harry felt deflated. But then Fleur made one tiny step closer and took his arm in hers.
"I will teach you, if you'd like."
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That was wrong. He was starting to lose his self-confidence waiting for Fleur. A little traitorous part of his mind, nurtured by the Dursleys, told him that Fleur doesn't give a damn about him. That she already had a date. And that even Alex was in the list of possible suitors, despite him going with Daphne.
'Well, he is better looking, despite his prosthetic.'
His misery ended when the door slowly opened, revealing the figure of heavily-breathing Fleur. She looked as though she was running here. She was running to him…
"Merde! Pardonne-moi, Arry! J'étais détenu par Madame Maxime!"
He didn't understand a word she said. He always had Daphne or Alex to help him overcome language barriers. But from the look of it she was apologizing to him for being late.
"It's okay, Fleur. I just got here." A lie to make her feel easier, but that didn't help much, from what he could tell. Fleur was still looking ashamed of herself. But she put that feeling away, so it didn't deter them from the lessons.
"Okay… I take it you're ready." He nodded.
She then proceeded to take her coat off, leaving her in a warm sweater, tight jeans and model boots. A vision of perfection, as always. Then she slowly came to him, never taking her eyes away from his. His saturated green eyes that startlingly resembled the color of a Killing curse. "Do you know how to hold a woman in your arms?"
Harry was slightly confused, and Fleur took mercy on him. She gently took his right arm and slowly placed it on her waist. "You have to hold your woman as the most precious being in the world. Not too strong, but firm. Not too weak, but gentle. You have to feel the emotion, 'Arry…"
He nodded, throwing off all the confusion. "And the left arm has to hold yours, right?" He accented his words with actions, holding her right arm with his left. The girl in his arms smiled and even drew closer.
"That's right, 'Arry… And now, un, deux, trois…" They began to move easily in time with her voice. It could be considered as a beginner's dance, but Fleur was satisfied with the results. Harry tried not to step on her toes, for which she was glad.
The lesson continued, and by the time it was over, the pair was really exhausted. They didn't care about the time that had gone by - they only cared about the happiness and the level of intimacy from the dance. They didn't even talk, since their eyes and the dance itself spoke more than enough.
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"I didn't get the chance."
Alex immediately stopped and looked at Harry, hairbrows crooked, as he muttered those words. Sometimes, he couldn't believe how selfless bravery and a certain level of heroism can be mixed in with complete cluelessness.
"I just don't get you." Alex quietly growled. "You get to dance with a beautiful woman, who positively throws herself at you, and you didn't even ask? How do your gears even work, Potter?"
Harry understood why his friend was frustrated. Alex alongside Daphne and Tracey had literally tried to beat the confidence and self respect into his head. They wanted to get rid of damage inflicted by the Dursleys, so that it wouldn't hinder Harry's happiness. And now, it seems that their efforts still weren't enough. Sometimes, Alex had enough of acting like an older brother to Harry.
"I was enthralled, alright? She is wonderful, and I didn't want to scare her away. But what if I do? What if she already has another date?"
The imminent explosion of Mt. Renera was halted by the touch of Daphne's gentle hand. She decided to step in.
"I understand you." She accented those words, as Harry looked at her incredulously. "Really, I do. Well, not much like you, I guess. But sometimes I knew I didn't understand Alex. I thought that some actions would drive him away from me."
"More like the other way around," muttered Alex, before his mouth was shushed by Daphne's hand. Her icy blue eyes looked at her friend with conviction.
"You deserve happiness, Harry. You deserve it way more than any of us do. I know that Fleur is a wonderful person, and you two click together perfectly. Don't let her slip away. She is interested in you. Accept it and return her feelings. And don't," Her stare turned into a violent icy one, "do you hear me? Don't EVER think that you don't deserve it. If I hear even one whiff of that, I'll have Alex on your tail."
"Woof." Alex yawned. "You'd think that you're off the hook, but…" His attention was brought by the crowd before them. He quickly analyzed the situation and instantly his look became menacing. "Not him again."
Fleur Delacour was tired. Tired of waiting. Tired of stares. And, most importantly, tired of "leetle boys", as she called them - boys, who wanted to be her date to the Yule Ball. Unfortunately, each and single of them were entranced by her Allure, thus doing stupid things and embarassing her in front of everyone. But this time she felt like she had hit the lowest point of it all.
"Allow me to be your date to the Ball, m'lady. I promise to be the best possible suitor for you."
The speaker was someone she knew somewhat. The captain of the Ravenclaw Quidditch team who was a good looking boy, she had to accept that, but arrogant enough to think that he and only he deserved her. With his clique standing right next to him, grinning at their leader's evident success. And, on top of it, her friend Tracey was clutching his other arm much to his dismay, trying to pull him out from the crowd. He was her cousin, Fleur recalled. Robert or something…
"I don't think we'll be a perfect couple on the Ball." Fleur replied with dignity. The boy wanted to reply, but was cut off by Tracey.
"Roger, knock it off! You're embarrassing us!"
Right, Roger. Not Robert. Roger looked at Tracey with something akin to disgust. He jerked his arm, almost throwing Tracey away from him.
"I never asked for your opinion, bastard being." He growled at Tracey.
That set off a chain of events. Tracey lost her footing and fell on top of Daphne, who just got to the 'crime scene'. Fleur almost pulled her wand to curse this 'insect' for hurting her friend, but was beaten by a loud voice.
"What the hell is going on here?"
Her other friends, Harry and Alex, made it here and helped Tracey and Daphne up. Harry was angry, whereas Alex's emotions were difficult to process. He could be calm just as well as wanting to rip Roger apart. More like the latter, from what she knew.
"Ah, the cheater and his snake lapdog. Run along bastards, I've got some business to take care of." Roger spat at them.
"As much as I'd like to, Davies, I can't." Harry looked at Fleur. "Are you okay, Fleur?"
Her answer was deafened by Roger's laughter. For one second, people standing close to him thought that Roger Davies was a madman. Atleast, provoking Potter and Renera was a daring move and some would say, a stupid one too.
"She is okay. Because she'll be accompanying me to the Yule Ball. There is no match better than me." He said proudly. His clique cheered, boosting Roger's confidence. Alex's eyes almost flashed in annoyance.
"You'd think that you're the chosen one, Davies." He smiled. His friends recognised this smile as a hunter's grin at his prey. "You believe that Earth rotates around you. That these people here," he slightly gestured at the crowd with his prosthetic, "should kneel before you and worship. You're so rotten, I just don't know how your family even holds onto you."
Roger didn't recognise Alex's smile for what it was, believing that a fourth-year couldn't hope to match him, a sixth-year. And what could this invalid whelp possibly do to him? And how dare he say such things to him!?
While his attention was centered on Alex, Harry managed to sneak through the crowd, getting close to Fleur, so that he would protect her in the fight. He was already convinced that a fight would break out, since Alex was involved. Harry however would always use diplomacy before the first strike. He managed to take hold of Fleur's arm. She flinched slightly, her arm was already on the way to her wand, when she realized who was holding her. She smiled slightly at him, quickly realizing that he had come to help her. Not that she needed much help anyway, in her opinion.
"And what can a Slytherin say about worshiping? Or you forgot about You-Know-Who?" Mockingly answered Roger, as his focus set onto Alex instead of Fleur.
"Roger, please, stop it!" Said Tracey angrily, which didn't reach Roger's mind. He was losing his patience over Alex's cold smile.
"I didn't forget about Riddle. Or any of his worshippers being a Slytherin. One was, ironically, a Gryffindor, you know?" Alex was losing it too. Even Daphne saw rising madness in her boyfriend's eyes. Their history with Roger Davies was always complicated, and they tried to minimize all contact with him for their own sake.
"Yeah, and why does the great Harry Potter let an invalid protect him?" His words have found support in his clique, Harry's haters and anyone who thought that Roger was better. He turned to his friends, sharing a grin, and in doing so he missed the look from Alex which promised a lot of pain for a very long time.
The red button was already pressed, and Harry started to move to unconsciously protect Fleur from possible spellfire, just like Daphne and Tracey moved to hold Alex with panicking eyes. The girls got to restrain him, but it was very difficult to hold him in one place. Alex hated being called an invalid. And this time he couldn't just let it slide.
"Funny that you mentioned Riddle." Alex barked, trying to fight away from the girls' grasp. "Just like him, just like you. Both. Are. Stupid. Mudbloods."
The answer was a complete silence. Even the zooming Professor McGonagall, who witnessed the exchange from far away, couldn't stop what was coming. Roger, who was turned away from Alex, looked back at him with a mad look in his eyes. But even with all his Quidditch reaction, he couldn't stop or evade a metal fist. Alex managed to break away from Daphne and Tracey, and land a perfect left straight right onto Roger's nose, which was crushed into a bloody pulp as a result. The impact threw Davies into his clique, knocking him out almost instantly.
Fleur couldn't believe her eyes. She knew about Alex's past, his psychological trauma, which festered from the death of his father and a loss of an arm, but she didn't know how much. But she shouldn't be that surprised given what he did to DEs at the Cup.
"Mister Renera! Detention with me for an entire week on the assault of another student!" McGonagall's exclamation brought everyone back from petrification. Fleur was still holding Harry's hand, similarly Daphne held Alex's. Daphne was ready to reply to the Transfiguration Mistress or berate Alex, but his quiet and calm answer threw her from the loop.
"Understood, Professor. When should I report?"
"Nine o'clock tonight. And be happy that I didn't ban you from the Yule Ball!"
"Professor McGonagall, that wasn't…" Daphne started to cover for Alex, but he slightly tightened a hold on her arm and shaked his head.
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After that incident Roger tried to make another move on Fleur, which resulted in him taking another trip to the Hospital Wing, this time in courtesy of Harry. Some of Roger's friends tried to vindicate him by attacking Alex, but Alex, feeling unamused, too dispatched them off in a similar way.
As a result of these incidents, Harry and Fleur got closer together. Fleur was thankful to her new friends for helping her out, but she wasn't happy about how Daphne was almost stripped of her Yule Ball happiness because of Alex, although she couldn't bring herself to fault him here. Nevertheless, their dancing lessons continued.
"I should've stopped him."
Fleur moved away for a bit from Harry. They were engaged in a very slow and intimate dance, which let Fleur relax and enjoy herself. And she did enjoy it, but to the point where she couldn't understand what she enjoyed the most - the dance or Harry's embrace.
"What do you mean?" She tilted her head inquisitively.
"Alex." Harry's look betrayed his thoughts. He was torn, feeling guilty for his friend. "I should've stopped him. Or Roger. Either way, Alex didn't deserve to hear that."
Fleur slightly touched his cheek with her lips. She wanted to help him overcome these dark thoughts and emotions, to share the burden. And she knew that Alex was probably fine. He was impulsive, even destructive, but after the tempest of emotions he always calms down to the point where he gets impartial about anything.
"He is going to be okay, mon chéri. And he knows that you care about him."
"Yeah." Harry was still out of it. "He tried to help me to get over myself and find a date to the Ball."
"Did you find one?" Her voice betrayed her mirth. It had finally come to this. If he wasn't going to ask her, then she'd make the move.
"Yes, I suppose. She's beautiful, compassionate, strong, loyal, and kind," Harry smiled and looked piercingly in her eyes, "I'm holding her right now in my arms. Fleur Delacour, would you do me an honor by accepting to be my date to the Ball?"
Her musical laughter filled an empty classroom. Harry was dense, somewhat, in her opinion, but not that dense. After all, he was the only person Fleur would accept as a date. With a very bright possible future. Him or Alex, and Alex was off the market, so to speak.
"I would be delighted to be your date to the ball." She answered happily. "Took you long enough, mon amour."
All possible answers that could go out of him were cut off, as Fleur kissed him. The kiss was sweet and full of love. It showed all the emotions held by a beautiful Veela in his arms. She moaned into the kiss, as he tightened his embrace. But, sadly for them, the kiss didn't last long, as the need for a breather kicked in. Fleur giggled slightly, seeing the remains of her lipstick on Harry's lips.
"Are you happy, 'Arry?" She almost purred teasingly. Harry nodded, somewhat in shock.
"I am, ma amur."
That set Fleur off, and she laughed loudly, trying to hide her blushing face in his chest. Harry didn't protest. She knew that he wasn't going to.
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"It's about time."
Harry turned over to see Alex and Daphne, both dressed up for the Ball, slowly coming over to him. Daphne looked gorgeous in a white and blue dress, which hugged her body nicely and accented her eyes. Her long hair was tied to a bun, which was exotic, but, nevertheless, very beautiful. She wore a minimum amount of makeup, which was little because of her natural beauty - only a touch of lipstick. She wore a swan pendant on her neck, which was gifted to her by Alex in their second year.
Alex was dressed in a simple muggle tux. Harry almost laughed as Alex tried to make the collar more loose. This was the first time wearing a bowtie for Alex and from the looks of it, he didn't like it one bit. He was also wearing an expensive watch on his metal arm, which wasn't gloved. Harry never saw Alex covering his prosthetic, even now, where it'd probably be demanded.
"Yeah. You were right, after all." Harry smiled at the pair of friends. "You look very beautiful, Daph. If it wasn't for Alex, I'd have taken you as my other girlfriend."
"Thank you, Harry." Daphne laughed at his friend's joke. "You look dashing yourself. Although, I believe you've grown a big head. Besides, you wouldn't be able to keep up with both blue-eyed blondes."
"And their bouncer." Alex smirked. He slapped Harry on his shoulder. "Knew you had it in you. Just needed to hit you, a couple thousand times, before you'd get your head out of your arse."
"Mind your language, honey." Daphne said in a soft, sweet voice. She then turned to Harry. "I sincerely hope that your evening will be perfect. And that you two will never separate. If anything, you've got our blessing."
"Thanks, mom." Harry let out a small laugh. "Anyway, I really appreciate what you did. I'm in your debt."
"There's no debt between friends, cousins even." Alex suddenly got serious. "You just have to hold the girl and enjoy the Ball with her. The rest is up to you both."
Harry wanted to process Alex's words, but he couldn't as the vision of pure perfection caught his eye. Fleur was dressed in a white dress, starkly resembling the bride only without the veil. Her hair, like Daphne's, was pulled back into a perfect bun, leaving only a few loose curls in front, framing her angelic face. Small earrings were adorning her beautiful ears, complete with sapphires, that accented her eyes.
Despite her proud gait and stance, the girl blushed slightly as she caught Harry's eye. She liked the way he looked at her, not as a Veela, but as the most beautiful woman in the world.
"Hi, everyone." She said happily and somewhat shyly.
"Hey… You look gorgeous." Harry said breathlessly. 'I'm the luckiest man in the world.' he thought.
Fleur giggled as she took Harry's arm. WIth him she felt loved and secure. Even though she knew that those feelings were new for Harry and herself, she also knew that they would make those steps together.
"You both look perfect." At that moment, everyone could swear that the grin on Alex's face finally reached his eyes."All those weeks, dancing around each other, paid off."
"Hey, I'm not the one who can't help with more than just words." Harry replied with the same jab.
"Guys, be serious." Fleur tried to stop this exchange of jabs, but from the groan of frustration coming from Daphne she realized that she did something terrible. She witnessed as Harry's grin matched Alex's and they opened their mouths to reply synchronically:
"Fleur, I can't be Sirius. Sirius is my godfather."
"Fleur, I can't be Sirius. Sirius is my uncle."
Fleur joined Daphne in misery as their boys bumped fists as a joke well done. She was happy for such friendship, although she felt like they were running late. Her worries were confirmed in the words of Professor McGonagall.
"Mr. Potter and Ms. Delacour, are you ready?"
"We are, Professor." Harry took Fleur's arm and confidently smiled. Fleur just nodded, anticipating the dance with him.
"Then follow me. Mr. Renera and Ms. Greengrass, you have to go into the Great Hall now." The stern professor couldn't help but smile in sight of the two couples.
"Will do, Professor." Daphne nodded and took Alex's arm. "See you two in a bit!" said the Slytherin couple as they headed towards the great hall.
Fleur and Harry followed professor McGonagall to the Hall's entrance, where other champions and their dates stood. Cedric Diggory, the official Hogwarts Champion, was accompanied by Cho Chang, his girlfriend. Victor Krum, the Durmstrang Champion, was accompanied by…
"Hermione?" Harry was flabbergasted. Of course, he knew that Hermione was pretty, but this was something else. Hermione was wearing a pink dress, complete with a crafted diadem. Her hair was done in a wavy ponytail.
"Hello, Harry, Fleur!" She happily replied. "You both look wonderful!"
"Thank you, 'Ermione! You look very lovely too!" Fleur chirped, holding Harry's arm tightly. Hermione noticed this, and her smile became wider.
"So, you and Harry…?"
"Are a couple, oui." Fleur was oozing happiness. Harry looked at her incredulously, which only enhanced her smile. "You don't agree, mon amour?"
"I do, how could I not?"
This answer was timed perfectly, as the doors of the Great Hall opened. The Champions straightened and entered the Hall into thunderous applause. Nervousness started to creep back into Harry, since it's one thing to dance with Fleur alone and completely another to dance with her in front of the three schools. Fleur, was able to sense his unease and affectionately rubbed her thumb along the back of his palm, calming his nerves down.
"Everything will be fine, mon amour. Je t'aime." Her whispered words went past him, since he didn't understand French, but he managed to feel her affection and feelings for him. He slightly squeezed her arm, feeling more confident.
The Champions stopped in the middle of the Hall, and waited for the music to begin. As soon as the first few notes of the song started, Harry lost all fear and uncertainty, as he held Fleur in his arms, circling in a wonderful dance. Only the two of them existed in this world and nothing else mattered as their eyes remained locking onto each other. He saw only love and affection from a beautiful person, as her heaven-blue eyes looked at his, never leaving contact. That's it, he felt. This is what he needed. He didn't need a fleeting relationship, which he doubted Fleur wanted either. She'd fry him to toast.
If they last together for as long as they live, it'd be perfect.
"Fleur?" His whispered words barely managed to be recognised amidst the music.
"Oui, mon amour?" came Fleur's reply as her head remained against his chest.
'Don't muck this up Harry. Gryffindor's charge ahead,' said a voice in Harry's head.
"Please be mine. For as long as we live."
Her eyes betrayed her hidden mirth as they were getting close to the climax of the dance.
"Is that a proposal? Are you sure, mon chéri?"
Her purring voice was driving him crazy. She was teasing him, for Merlin's sake. Alex would die of laughter when he finds out about this. IF he finds out, that is.
"Yes. Please, be my girlfriend. We'll marry after…" Her delicate finger silenced his mouth.
"We'll marry when we're ready. Not a moment too soon nor a moment too late. Took you long enough, mon amour…" And then their lips met.
They didn't care that they were being watched, or the thunderous applause that they were receiving. Nor did they care about the coming future which would be dark and difficult. They will face it together.
"So, that would mean…" Harry stammered as their kiss ended.
"Oui. I'm now your girlfriend." Fleur giggled. "Now shush, the next dance is about to start."
Okay, finally it's done! I have to admit that this is my very first attempt at English fiction, so I hope everyone liked it (at least, somewhat). Huge credit goes to Hydra's Creed, who took it upon himself to make finishing touches to my work and approved it; Fenwild, Lib, DarknessEnthroned, The Mad Darth Hufflepuff, Palkey and Kellar21 - who helped with advices, corrections and some small, but important things, and, of course, general support of Flowerpot and Haphne servers on Discord!