'Thoughts'

"French"

Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter.

Author's Note: Special thanks to doenerkint, author of Hiding and Masking who Beta'd this chapter. If you're interested in the Harry/Fleur pairing, check out the Flowerpot discord server for more at discord . gg / flowerpot (Just remove the spaces.). Likely just the Epilogue left, I have to, or I'd go on forever and turn it into a slice of life fic.


A Meeting in a Crowd


PART FOUR


"Are you ready Harry?" asked George as they stood outside the Burrow. The sound of commotion, so reminiscent of the Weasley home, emanated from the building. Harry felt and heard his heart hammering in his chest as his nerves made a forceful return.

"Wait," he murmured as he paused in his step. "You go ahead first; I just need a moment."

Fleur stepped in close to him, she placed one hand on his side while the other rubbed up and down his arm in a comforting motion. "Are you alright?"

He nodded appreciatively. "Ye—yeah, just need a moment to…to-"

"Take your time, my love, "she squeezed his biceps, reassuring him that there was nothing to be afraid of. "We can wait."

Harry smiled gently at her and placed a kiss on her temple. He looked her in the eye before glancing at George and Victoire who waited patiently. "You three go on ahead. I'll be right behind you."

Fleur frowned slightly before placing a soft kiss on his lips. "Are you sure?"

"I am."

"I'm sure." He repeated with more vigour, this time to George, who nodded his acceptance.

Fleur stepped back; her hand slid down his arm to give his a squeeze. "Don't be long."

"I won't."

She took her daughter's hand; the little girl gave him a worried glance, Victoire was very perceptive for her age. He smiled to show that he was okay and made a small shooing motion. The pair followed George into the Burrow where they were greeted by exclamations loud enough that Harry could have been in the room. Harry heard Molly's excited yell of 'Victoire!' over everyone.

He smiled with nostalgia as he imagined the Weasley matriarch immediately grabbing the little girl in a bone breaking hug.

With a deep breath to calm his nerves, he stepped forward.


Harry pushed open the door to the Burrow, he found it packed to the brim, as it usually was on a Sunday at lunch. His breath caught at the sight of everyone. Molly, who had the beginnings of grey hairs was fawning over Victoire while the rest of the adults crowded Fleur. Arthur, whose face had a look of peace Harry couldn't remember seeing, stood beside his wife as Hermione let go of Fleur. Harry's breath caught as she stepped back, revealing the visible swell of pregnancy.

A gasp sounded out, loud enough to be heard over the noisy room. Harry followed the sound to find Ginny's wide eyes fixed on him.

The chatter in the room stopped as the others startled at Ginny's exclamation, they followed her gaze and found him standing in the doorway.

"Ha- Harry?" he heard Ginny say.

He felt his heart in his throat. Every moment felt like it was stretching on forever as the room stared at him, unsure of how to respond to his sudden appearance.

The stillness was broken by Ron, who stormed towards him. Harry froze, unsure of how to react to the hostility.

"You fucking halfwit!" shouted Ron as he raised his fist. Harry flinched as he awaited the blow he believed he deserved.

But it never came.

"You're back then."

Harry failed to meet his eyes.

"Ye–N– Sort of… It's complicated…and a long story."

"Care to share it?"

He let out a breath he was holding and nodded his agreement.

That served to spur Hermione into action. Harry felt his neck and shoulder get wet as tears flowed from her eyes. The awkward hug, encumbered by her pregnancy left Harry's emotions warring.

"Yo- You came back," she hiccupped.

Harry nodded, his own voice failing him as he fumbled with his attempt at returning the hug.

"To- took y- y- you long enough."

"I'm sorry…"

He felt her shake her head against him. He separated and Harry took in their faces. Ron had lost a bit of that baby fat which always seemed to be there and Hermione even with red eyes and tears wetting her face, was as beautiful as he remembered. But where, in the past, seeing her would fill his heart with longing. It didn't anymore, and he could safely say he'd moved on. He still loved her, he always would, but not in the way used to.

"You're pregnant," he commented.

"Glad to see your eyes haven't deteriorated since you've been away…"

Fleur watched the interaction and felt her heart swell with relief. She knew Harry loved her, but as much as she tried to convince herself. There was still fear that seeing Hermione again would rekindle what Harry had once felt for the girl.

But seeing the look in his eyes, she knew her fears had proven unnecessary.

Harry looked over his friends' shoulders and found that there wasn't a dry eye in the room. But amongst them all, he sought Mrs. Weasley and found her rubbing at her eyes. He immediately moved and to the woman's surprise and joy. For the first time since she'd come to see the boy as one of her own, initiated a hug with her of his own accord.

He felt Arthur take a hold of his shoulder and give it a squeeze. "Welcome home, Harry," said the man and Harry teared up, he couldn't describe how much he wanted to hear those words. He slowly let go of Mrs. Weasley who began taking in his appearance. The Weasley mother spoke up and despite how healthy he'd become, her words had him chuckling.

"You haven't been eating enough."

Before anyone else was able to welcome Harry, Victoire surprised them when she ran over to him. The little girl was worried, she wasn't learned enough in life to recognize the difference between tears of joy and those of sadness. All she grasped was that Harry was crying.

Harry looked down fondly at Victoire who demanded he carry her. While the room was clearly confused, none moreso than Molly and Arthur who were the closest and were able to witness the interaction. Fleur instead watched on warmly as Victoire wiped the tears from his cheeks. He tried to explain to the little girl that he was happy and not sad. He eyed Fleur, silently summoning her to help explain and she obliged.

"Arry is not sad?" Victoire asked her mother.

Fleur shook her head, "Non, he is happy my sweet."

As the three of them so often did in these weeks, they fell into their own little world during these brief moments when Fleur would be trying to teach her daughter something. Even now that was the case.

Once Victoire understood and stopped fussing over Harry, he put her down again and kissed Fleur on the corner of her mouth, eliciting another round of gasps. Remembering where they were, he turned to face Mrs. Weasley who gaped openly at the sudden intimacy.

"I might have some explaining to do. We probably ought to sit down for this."

"You think!?" exclaimed Ron from behind.

They moved to take a seat in the living room, where Harry noticed a strange woman sitting. Moments later, Percy dropped himself beside her, their gazes telling of who she was.

"Are the two of you together?" asked Arthur as they sat down, Fleur beside Harry, sitting close enough to make their comfort in each other's presence clear. Victoire was preoccupied by George who was more than happy to entertain her.

Harry met the beautiful blue eyes of the woman he'd come to love. He took her hand in his, she squeezed it gently.

"We are," said Harry as a smile formed on his face. One which Fleur mirrored, the love in their eyes clear to everyone who watched them.

Harry could see the curiosity burning on everyone's faces. He was surprised that the first response he got was from Mrs. Weasley.

"Oh, that's lovely dears," she said and upon seeing Fleur's surprise, continued. "I hoped for your sake and Bill's that you'd resolve your issues and come out stronger. Sadly, that wasn't the case," she glanced at Harry and smiled. "But you found someone who makes you happy, and that it happened to be Harry makes you every bit a part of this family as you were before."

Fleur's throat closed up. Despite their differences when first introduced, she and the Weasleys had grown close after her marriage to Bill. Molly had warmed up to her considerably and had been a voice of comfort during her troubles with Bill.

"How exactly did it happen though?" asked Hermione curiously.

"It's a bit of a long story."

"Doesn't matter, how about you start from the beginning?" asked Ron. The other Weasleys nodded or voiced their agreement.

Victoire noticed the way everyone was sitting in preparation for Harry to speak. Not wanting to be left out, she rejoined them by climbing onto the couch so that her mother could translate. Fleur shuffled a bit to the side so that she could sit between them.

Harry delved into the story of his past few years, starting with the first place he'd departed to, Argentina. A lot of what he recanted, he'd already told Fleur, but of course there were details he'd left out the last time.


"Wait, so these chupa-whatsits attack cows? Not people?" asked Ron.

"Mhm, goats too, and they're crazy fast and damn sneaky, they were able to somehow get through the basic ward scheme I set up without triggering it."

"Hagrid spoke about them once, Ron. They gave the South American ministries a headache when containing them," informed Hermione.

"It took us two damn weeks to trap the thing, and by then some poor farmer only had half his cows left…"

Ron grimaced before smirking knowingly. "That's a shame, but I know you didn't leave him to suffer, did ya?"

Fleur laughed in response to that, causing Harry to blush, since he'd already told her the rest.

"He probably bought all the dead cows…" said Hermione, mirroring Ron's smirk.

"I meant to ask," said Percy, changing the topic. "How did you travel here? You couldn't have come through the Ministry, not with how quiet your arrival was."

"We travelled the muggle way."

"The Tunnel?" asked Hermione, to which Harry nodded.

"Still bad with magical travel?" teased Ron.

Harry scowled. "It's not my fault they're crap…"

George faced Fleur and leaned forward. "Did he ever tell you how he ended up in Knockturn Alley his first time using the floo?"

Fleur giggled as Harry groaned. "Non, 'e did not."

"I was bloody terrified. I just saw Ron get swallowed by a great big blaze of green fire," defended Harry sheepishly. It wasn't his fault nobody ever gave him the how-to manual.

"Harry here mispronounced Diagon Alley," teased George. "Got tossed out—Where was it again?"

"Borgin & Burkes," answered Harry. "I don't even know how that happened… I think I said something like Dioganally—"

"—You know," said Harry, turning things back on the older man. "You guys weren't exactly combing the lands trying to find me…"

He faced his girlfriend and gestured with his thumb towards George and the others. "No, they decided to just carry on with their shopping… If Hagrid hadn't found me by chance, I'd have probably been eaten by a hag."

He smirked. "They claimed to have been looking everywhere for me, but when I found them— they were at the bookshop with Mrs. Weasley fawning over Gilderoy Lockhart…"

Fleur gave George a look of disappointment. The redhead squirmed in his seat, looking properly chastised. Even for a grown man, Fleur could glare you into a puddle.

Harry hid his laugh; he'd been on the receiving end of that look once so far. Fleur didn't like his suggestion of heavy cream in one of her dishes, apparently, it's sacrilege.

Before anyone could respond, Mrs. Weasley recommended they move to the table for lunch. With a plate of food in front of him, Harry continued his story. Fleur had seated Victoire between them, and Harry noticed her struggle to cut the roast beef. Before Fleur could help though, he'd smiled at Victoire and asked for her knife and fork, cutting it into bite sized pieces.

The others watched him do so, none more intently than Mrs. Weasley who couldn't help but think Harry had stepped into the role of father like a fish to water. She'd always known he'd be a good parent figure; he was much too caring to be anything but, and if the way Fleur looked at him when he helped her daughter were an indication. She was deeply in love.

Mrs. Weasley truly understood then, why Fleur and her son never worked out. Her Bill was many things, brave and kind and strong, but cut out for fatherhood, he was not. During those months when her son had been gone with the Goblins, she'd seen the effect it had on the beautiful young woman sitting across the table. She'd also seen the way they were before it all. In love yes, and happy, but more in the way only the young can be. Harry and Fleur though, she saw the kind of love that weathered decades. Perhaps someday her son will grow up and find a woman who brought out what he saw in the pair in front of her.

Hermione watched them and saw a contentness in Harry's eyes that she'd never seen before. There was always something troubling him, whether it be his insecurities in their early years, a holdover from his time with the Dursleys. Or the stresses their lives at Hogwarts had incurred, whether it be the chamber incident, the possibility of a serial killer after you, to the tournament and then Voldemort and the ministry. There was always something weighing heavily upon him. The closest she could remember seeing him this relaxed was when she'd seen him flying, outside of training and outside of a quidditch match.

Ginny compared the man in front of her to the boy she'd once crushed on and even dated for a time. He'd grown into a very handsome man but watching him now, she knew she'd never have been what he needed. She couldn't see herself setting down, or even with kids anytime soon. Even his world travels, though exciting, it wasn't what she would have chosen to do. She enjoyed socialising, being on the quidditch circuit and the thrill of flying in front of crowds.

Ron would count the day amongst his best. His best friend couldn't have chosen a better day to come back into their lives. He'd been torn up recently, he was going to have a baby and to not have Harry around hurt. He had moments he regretted, times when he wasn't the friend he should have been, times when he was a prat. But Harry was more of a brother to him than his own ever were, and he wanted him back.

And of all the ways he could have come back.

Ron wanted to laugh. Only Harry could disappear for years, travel the world, get chased by more things that wanted to eat you than even Hagrid would have been comfortable with, and then to top it off, show up with Fleur bloody Delacour. Bill was going to have kittens. Serves him right. It was bloody brilliant.

"So he took you out to a seaside market before lunch at a café?" asked Hermione.

"Oui, 'e was very sweet too."

"What are your plans going forward?" asked Mr. Weasley of Harry, he looked between him and Fleur. "I assume you'll be staying in France?"

"That's right, I'll be visiting England often, but—" He smiled at Fleur "—I've already gotten a place for myself not too far from hers."

"You'll have to learn French then," teased Hermione.

"I've already started."

Fleur startled, and so did Victoire who gaped at him, despite his disastrous pronunciation. He'd not mentioned his efforts into learning their language, and it meant the world to Fleur. Her face brightened as her lips spread into a huge smile and despite the audience, she leaned over to kiss him.


Harry sat outside on the porch with his two oldest friends. Fleur had stayed inside to give the three of them some privacy. She knew Harry needed time with them on his own. The afternoon had already begun to get a bit of that evening chill despite the time of year, which made the mug of hot coffee in his hands all the better.

"Why did you leave?" asked Hermione. He could hear the hurt in her voice and saw the burning need for an answer in Ron's eyes. They'd held back from asking earlier, not wanting to bring it up in front of everyone.

Harry sighed as he looked to the ground, guilt aching in his chest, he looked up and met their eyes. "Do you want the truth?"

Ron and Hermione glanced at one another before facing him again. "Please," said Hermione.

"It's funny—" he chuckled sadly "—I sat right here when I made the decision to go."

He took a deep breath. "It was a couple of things really, the whole bit with Andromeda and Teddy, the struggle to go anywhere, but… I guess in the end…" He trailed off, faced Hermione and paused, unsure whether he should say it or not.

'They deserve to know…'

"It's because I was in love with you."

Hermione raised a hand to her mouth in shock as Ron's eyes widened. He continued before either could respond.

"I couldn't come between the two of you… I loved you both too much. I- I tried to ignore it, I really did."

"That's why you were so distant…" said Hermione as realization set in, while Ron struggled with the revelation.

Harry nodded with a forlorn expression. "I needed to get away…"

"It took me a long time to move on…"

"I'm sorry Harry," whispered Hermione, unsure of what to say. "I.."

"-Don't," He cut her off, waving away her apology. "There's nothing to say..."

A smile formed on his face as he turned his head slightly, bringing the Burrow into his sight. His thoughts on the stunning woman sitting inside. "I'd say things worked out in the end."

Hermione smiled, she was glad that he'd found someone who made him happy, she felt an odd mixture of emotions, happiness at the thought of him loving her, but sadness knowing that he'd moved on. It all came together to form something akin to the gentle ache of melancholy or nostalgia.

"Bloody hell…" Ron had finally caught up.

Both Harry and Hermione burst out laughing at the Ron-ness of it.

Harry wiped tears from his eyes, whether they were from laughter or sadness or perhaps both, he couldn't say. "Don't ever change Ron."

The sun had begun to set when Fleur found Harry sitting on his own. Ron had gone in with Hermione to help her after a bout of nausea.

She didn't say anything, instead took a seat beside him. He opened an arm for her to lean against him, which she did along with a sigh of comfort as Harry placed a lingering kiss at the top of her head.

"Je t'aime," said Harry softly, his breath tickling her skin.

She snuggled herself closer, breathing him in. "I love you too, my 'Arry."


Harry sighed at the cover of the Daily Prophet as they walked by a storefront on their way to the Hogwarts gate. They were planning on seeing Hagrid and hopefully Professor McGonagall as well if she were available.

Harry Potter spotted in Diagon!

Has our hero finally come back and who was the woman and child with him?

He knew this would happen, but it mattered little, they wouldn't be visiting any other public places before returning to France anyway. Hogsmeade itself was thankfully quiet, there were of course the occasional few who recognized him and waved, as well as some who he'd stopped to greet, such as Madam Rosmerta.

The three of them left the outskirts of the town and began making their way up to the castle.

"Ermione mentioned something else at 'Ogwart's we needed to see?"

"She didn't specify," he shrugged. "Just said we'd know it when we saw it.

"Hmm."

Victoire interrupted when she frowned and said something to her mother.

"Do you want me to carry you?" she asked her daughter who shook her head and pointed to Harry.

"You want Harry to carry you?"

She nodded, breaking Fleur's heart into thousands of little pieces.

"What's the matter?" asked Harry, he'd heard his name and of course had seen Victoire point at him. He really wished his French would improve faster.

"Er feet 'urt," she directed a pout towards her daughter, "I asked if she wanted me to carry 'er and she said non."

"She wants me to?" asked Harry smugly.

Fleur's glare was all the answer he needed. "Come Victoire—" he scooped her up, "—you prefer it when I carry you, hmm?"

"Why are we walking again?" asked Fleur with a huff.

"It's a really nice day. Besides, we're almost there, and stop being jealous. It's unbecoming." He walked ahead, leaving her behind.

Harry could feel Fleur's glare burning a hole in the back of his skull.

"You're lucky I love you!" she yelled out as she caught up.

He laughed in response and pulled her closer. "Come here—" He kissed her.

"Mmm, that's cheating."

"Who said I have to play fair?" He quipped.

She slipped a hand through his arm and held onto him as they walked the rest of the way. They walked the rest of the way, even being so lucky as to stumble upon a lone thestral. While the pair of them could of course see the gentle and misunderstood beast. Victoire thankfully, could not. The little girl though had squealed joyfully when they guided her hand to pet the invisible mare.

"Ow do we get in?" asked Fleur as they neared the wrought iron gates of Hogwarts.

"Someone will be here to open in a minute."

And as Harry said it, moments later they caught sight of the small form of the charm's professor.

"Professor Flitwick!" exclaimed Harry.

"Monsieur Flitwick," greeted Fleur as well.

"Mr. Potter! And Ms. Delacour?! Of all the people to come knocking on the gate, I can honestly say, I didn't expect it to be the two of you." He flicked his wand, the great iron gate slowly opened. "Come in! Come in!"

"Not that I'm disappointed that it's you, Professor, but isn't Hagrid the one who usually opens the gate?"

"He is usually, yes, but unfortunately you missed him by a few days. He was invited to join Professor Kettleburn on a trip to a dragon sanctuary. It's only myself and a few other members of the staff present in the castle."

"Professor McGonagall?"

He shook his head. "Visiting her family for the holidays."

As they neared the entrance to the castle, Harry and Fleur stopped in their tracks, right before the great doors of Hogwarts was a monument. It was nothing fancy, just a large black stone wall with a half curve.

Professor Flitwick stopped and watched them approach the epitaph.

The couple read the inscription surrounded by the names, both familiar and unfamiliar. Yet they felt a great sense of gratitude, regardless...

In Honour of the Fallen who gave their Lives in the Defence of their Friends.

To all who enter these halls,

May we never forget them

Lest such a tragedy be repeated

Harry was focused on the words when Fleur traced one of the names surrounding the epitaph with her fingers as she read.

"Lavender Brown…" The beautiful Gryffindor who you could always hear gossiping with Parvati in the common room.

Harry had tears in his eyes as he began to trace more names.

"Colin Creevey" The excited face with a camera in hand.

"Fred Weasley" The smirking Weasley twin whose dream was cut off too early.

"Nymphadora Tonks," read Fleur, her voice tinged with grief.

The playful face with the spiky hair whose cheerful nature could brighten the hearts of even the gloomiest of people

"Remus Lupin" The gentle man who taught him the meaning of bravery.

Victoire leaned forward to trace a name.

"…Daphne Greengrass?" read Harry with confusion.

"Snuck away to join the fighting she did, her and that best friend of hers…" said Professor Flitwick mournfully before he smiled at the name of his student. "Saved over a dozen lives before she was killed."

"I… I didn't know."

"Not many did, her actions were lost in the aftermath, until someone came forward and told us how she died."

"It is…" began Fleur as she felt something beneath the stone.

"Beautiful?" finished the Professor knowingly.

Harry wondered what it was she had noticed. He touched the stone again and reached out with his senses. 'It's enchanted.'

"Would you believe students made it?"

Harry and Fleur gaped.

"The biggest collaboration amongst students I've ever seen in all my years at Hogwarts. The staff were surprised when a group of students from every house came up to the staff table to ask permission to create a monument. The youngest of them was a first year when the battle occurred." He glanced at the monument. "She was among the students Miss Greengrass had saved."

Professor Flitwick smiled proudly. "They contacted everyone they could to learn as much as possible of the people whose names they etched into the stone. Professor McGonagall even gave them access to the pensieve in her office."

"It's brilliant."


"It's a shame that you weren't able to meet them," said Hermione as they sat on couches at the Burrow. It was late and everyone had gone home except for Ron and Hermione, the former having gone to the restroom. His parents had already retired for the evening, not being as young as they once were.

Meanwhile Fleur had taken Victoire upstairs to put her to sleep, the little girl had gotten Ginny's old room while Harry and Fleur took Charlies. Arthur and Molly had inquired about where they were staying and upon learning it was at a hotel, had all but demanded they come stay at the Burrow instead.

"Mhm, but we will be visiting again soon," said Harry as he sipped on a cup of coffee. "Next time won't be by train either so we'll see them then. I also plan to apply to have the border-crossing restriction on my apparition license lifted. I could move back and forth in an instant then."

"That'll be perfect. You think it will be approved?"

"For England easily, it means I'll be back more, so I can't imagine it would be too difficult. France might need a bit of convincing, it's a bit more to ask for than permission to reside."

Hermione paused. "There's no chance you'll be staying in England is there?"

He shook his head. "Afraid not, no."

"Don't be. It's just, try and come visit before the twentieth if you can please."

"What's the occasion?"

Hermione put a hand on her stomach. "The baby's due around then. It will mean a lot to us to have you around. You and Fleur, of course."

"We'll be here." He smiled.

He sipped his coffee. "Have you decided on names?"

Hermione brightened. "We have. Rose if it's a girl, and Hugo for a boy."

"I like it."

"We thought of Fred for a boy, but Ron wanted to leave the name for George."

Harry glanced at the staircase which led to the room where Fleur and Victoire were. His own thoughts going to family.

Hermione watched him do so with a thoughtful expression on her face.

"You really love her."

"No matter where I went, or what I was doing out there." He glanced towards the door which led outside. "There was always something missing." He sighed. "I'd go from place to place, sometimes trying to find it, other times just running away from the feeling."

"I haven't felt that way for a single second since meeting Fleur." He smiled gently. "She makes me happier than I've ever been."

"So, yeah—"He met Hermione's eyes and she saw the truth in them. "I do love her."

Fleur walked down the stairs just in time to hear his words.

Harry looked up as his girlfriend entered the room. He noticed her eyes were wet and immediately grew worried. "Love, what's wrong?"

Her response was to kiss him furiously. Harry grabbed a hold of her as she half sat on him, he ran a hand up to nape of her neck as she melded her body against his and let out a moan when he deepened the kiss.

Eventually the need to breathe had them separate. "Silencing charms tonight…" she whispered in his ear. He almost threw caution to the wind and carried her upstairs right then before he remembered they weren't alone in the room.

He glanced passed Fleur and stifled his laugh by burying his face in Fleur's nape.

His girlfriend looked behind her and mirrored Hermione in redness. "Désolé, 'Ermione," she laughed.

Ron walked in at that moment. "What's going on? What did I miss?"

Hermione stood and waddled towards him as fast her pregnant form would allow. "Uhm, nothing. We were just going." She stammered as she grabbed his hand and pulled him towards the front door.

"We'll see you in the morning I guess!" called Ron out over his shoulder as the door shut behind him.


"Thanks for seeing us off," said Harry.

"Glad to, and don't forget the date" replied Ron as they began boarding the train. "Hermione will have our heads if you don't show." The woman in question had stayed in bed, even with magical methods, bouts of nausea could be rough.

"We won't forget! You know where to send the mail now as well!"

"Oui, and I am zhere to remind 'im, Ronald."

"Baii! " waved Victoire, now fully on the train.

"Bye," laughed Ron as he returned her wave.

Once at their seats, with the train on the move, Fleur turned to Harry. "It was good we came."

Harry relaxed into his seat with a comfortable sigh. He felt the weight of his fears and worries which plagued him for years fall away as the love of his life snuggled into his side, and the little girl who he slowly was becoming a father to sneakily peaked at the Pigmy puff hiding in her bag.

Even though he was once again 'Leaving England', this time he did it with a light heart and the promise to return soon.


END PART FOUR