Thanks Seaver for beta reading and everything!
Thanks for reviewing!
coolone007: Well actually… it will be Harry Fleur in the final end.
But not all the way there.
keebler-elmo: Yeah, but since both Harry and Selena wants a true family
very much… Dumbledore also has his ulterior reasons, as usual.
the munchkinator: Well thanks I see it as a necessary pain in every
serious relationship to be able to take a few steps back if things are not
working out. Thanks.
Wytil: Mmm the plot isn't over yet and I have hinted a reason for Harry
to have some problems. Most of Harry's private troubles will be dealt with in
the sequel.
icygaze: Thanks… quite turn around for a Malfoy isn't it? But then again
she was a Gryffindor on her own and with the Harry and Tonks as her closest
friends, much can happen.
BferBear: Interesting theory, at least as good as the one I let Hermione
have. It is good to know how well you follow the story, thanks! Good guess about
Harry being a distant relative… that could be a logical explanation.
¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤
Chapter 35 End of Term
Had Harry not been Ron and Hermione's best friend, the end of term would much
more enjoyable or at least as enjoyable the end of terms can be with all the
exams. The more homework and final preparations the teachers made them do the
more Hermione made him and Ron do. The more Ron complained and patronize
Hermione the more he baited her even more into forcing them to do school work.
Had it been any previous year Harry and Ron would have put up a united front
against her but this year Ron was not able too, Hermione had ways of making Ron
do things against his will.
This left Harry alone to defend his saner study habits. Unfortunately, Fleur
agreed with Hermione. Harry soon gave in and found himself spending all his free
times together with his best friends studying. It wasn't too bad studying with
his best friends Ron always cracked a joke and managed to keep the humour up and
Hermione knew loads of stuff that made their work much easier.
However there was also a down side with studying with Ron and Hermione. Whenever
Ron got bored enough he would start flirting with Hermione and much too often
for Harry's liking Hermione flirted back.
Vertex noticed Harry's change of study habits and usually met him in the library
after lunch. Even though Vertex couldn't read he was deeply fascinated by books,
perhaps because Harry paid so much attention to them. The odd thing was that
Vertex seemed to like old enchanted books much better then new cheap books.
Hermione noticed this as well and explained that Vertex is a phoenix and that
phoenixes senses magic and therefore he liked the old enchanted books because
they were so full of it. Some of the reasons are because the books were
enchanted to begin with and partly because they had absorbed magic from their
surroundings for years.
Vertex became a very popular bird in Hogwarts. Especially the girls in Harry's
year became very found of him. Vertex had enjoyed the attention at first and his
thirst of meeting new people had been unlimited. In the beginning of the term,
when he still enjoyed attention, he had showed off every morning as a post owl.
Even though he rarely had any messages to deliver he liked to hold out his leg
and pretend. Then it seemed to have gotten too much and Vertex had settled down
in Gryffindor common room.
One memorable incident had been when Vertex somehow managed to get a snitch out
from Madam Hooch's office, which he had chased, around Hogwarts, wrecking havoc.
Seamus and Dean came up with the theory that Weasley's were good at Quidditch
because of their hair colour since Vertex was mostly red and obviously was a
natural seeker.
Even though Vertex liked Harry best of all the students nobody suspected that
Vertex was partly his, everyone thought Fleur had forged him.
Neville agreed to help Harry and Fleur to grow herbs and Professor Sprout had
donated a corner of Greenhouse two for them to use. With some growth and
engorgement charms, they were soon self-providing. The conditions did not allow
them to grow the fine type Hagrid ordered from Egypt but Vertex didn't complain
even though he often visited Hagrid for his meals.
Ever since the second year's mandrakes became mature the Sixth Year's practised
human transfiguration. It was lucky they had plenty of mandrakes because several
students got so horribly miss transfigured that not even McGonagall had been
able to return them to their original shape.
Fortunately Harry, Ron and Hermione managed to keep their switching spells clean
enough not to send anyone to the hospital wing. Harry was secretly thankful for
Neville not taking transfiguration he couldn't imagine what he could have done,
or rather what he could accidentally have done.
The exams was not as demanding as the OWLs had been the previous year or maybe
Harry was just better prepared for them this year. Defence against the dark arts
was easy, they were each given a mirror with a curse that they would have to
break the tricky part was that they were not allowed to shatter the glass.
Transfiguration and Charms were trickier. In Transfiguration, they had to
transfigure a classmate to a cat and back. Points were given depending on how
natural the cat had been and how fast the transfiguration had been made. The
charms exam was divided into one practical part and one theoretical. It was
pretty straightforward the more spells you could perform and knew the better.
The care of Magical creature's exam was hard. Madam Maxime lent Hagrid a few of
her giant horses again and they had to prove that they knew how to take care of
them.
All of the exams together was nothing compared to the Potion exam it was a
complete and utter nightmare. Snape had them brewing memory concoctions and they
were not only difficult to brew but the smoke was poisonous and would force
anyone who happened to inhale it, relive a random memory.
There were lid charms to use to make sure that no smoke escaped but it was very
hard to maintain a good lid since the magic in the potion kept dissolving it.
Whenever somebody's lid let a little cloud of smoke escape the brewer would
freeze and relive a memory. Mandy Brocklehurst, a Ravenclaw, was forced to
relive a horrible memory and she burst out into tears but managed to pull
herself together before Snape could threw her out.
Harry was petrified if he had to relive a memory and it was one of his not so
pleasant memories there was no way he could be able to finish his potion and if
he couldn't finish this potion he would fail his exam. Perhaps the fear of the
lid leaking made him pay extra close attention and finish the potion with out
any leaks at all one of the few who did. Crabb and Goyle didn't manage to keep
the lid charms at all but that didn't matter since they had not been able to
brew the potion right in the first place and did not create any poisonous smoke.
All in all Harry was happy with how the exams had gone, he had never studied
this much in advance and now that it was all over he was happy he had. Most of
the students who were done with their exams were laying flat on the ground in a
shadow of a tree near the lake. Hermione had been quiet ever since they left the
castle and Harry couldn't figure out why.
"All right just let it out Hermione," Ron said, he obviously knew what was up
with her.
"Are you sure?" Hermione asked.
"Positive, it's worse when you are not talking at all," Ron said Harry was now
utterly bewildered he had no idea of what was going on.
"All right," Hermione said, "How did it go? Do you think you got good grades? I
think I did best in charms, that is of the subject you are taking… otherwise I
think Arithmancy I am not too sure about Hagrid's test but I suppose I am not
just a horse person and Hagrid knows that hopefully he will go on my essays… So
how did you do?"
"Fine I suppose," Harry said, "But potions were scary"
"Tell me about it," Ron agreed.
"You weren't there. Remember?" Harry asked.
"No but do you honestly think that Hermione's boyfriend won't pass a potions
exam?" Ron asked.
"I'm sorry mate I had no idea… do you want to talk about it?" Harry asked
tragically.
"N-no it's okay I am fine," Ron said and pretended to burst out in noisy tears.
"Honestly," Hermione said but couldn't help smiling.
"Oh it's all so awful!" Ron sobbed noisily.
"Will you keep it down, people are starting to stare at us and we are prefects!"
Hermione hissed.
Ron sobbed even louder at these words and rolled around on the ground,
thoroughly annoying Hermione.
"Behave yourself," Hermione hissed.
"How can you be so heartless?" Ron wailed. Harry had to admit it Ron did have a
certain gift for dealing with all the built up tension from the exams.
"If you don't start acting your age I am leaving," Hermione said firmly.
"There is only one thing that ever can make me happy again," Ron said stopping
his huge fake sobs for a moment.
"I'll just go visit Hagrid," Harry said quickly and left he didn't want to know
what possible Ron wanted even though he already did.
"And what may that be?" He heard Hermione's voice reply before he ran out of
earshot.
"Where's the fire?" Hagrid asked when Harry came running across the lawn. Hagrid
was sitting on a bench next to his hut sculpting something with a knife.
Harry turned around and pointed towards Ron and Hermione they were silhouetted
against the glittering water far away. Ron and Hermione were kissing
passionately, he was leaning down over her and she had tilted her head upwards,
their arms were wrapped around each other.
Hagrid chuckled and continued carving with his knife, "They'll get married in
five years."
Harry didn't reply even though it was likely Ron and Hermione would get married
as soon as they left Hogwarts. It saddened him somewhat that probably as soon as
they left Hogwarts it would be Ron and Hermione; he feared they would drift away
from him. Hopefully when that day came he would have somebody to take his mind
of it.
"Exams where all right?" Hagrid asked.
"Hope so," Harry replied, "What are you making?"
Hagrid held out a little whistle that appeared to be made by some kind of bone,
"What do you think?"
"Nice," Harry said.
"It's a gift for Selena thought she might like it so she remembers Hogwarts over
the summer," Hagrid explained.
"She'll love it," Harry said and marvelled at how natural loving Hagrid actually
was especially as he was half-giant and didn't have the genetic odds on his side.
Then he supposed that Hagrid's father must have been the same. After all, it
takes a whole lot of love for anyone to fall for a giantess, even if it happened
to be a relatively small giantess.
"You have grown a lot this last year… Ron and Hermione too," Hagrid said with a
glance towards the kissing couple.
Harry didn't reply but Hagrid didn't seem to expect an answer.
"Guardian, that something eh?" Hagrid said.
"Definitely," Harry agreed, "We finally worked out were she is staying by the
way. We figured Grimmauld place was not a good place for a twelve year old so
she will be staying with Tonks and her mother Andromeda."
"Andromeda is a good choice, got the same background as Selena," Hagrid
commented.
"So what are you doing this summer Hagrid?" Harry asked.
"Oh I got to return the Albraxans to Olympe then I expect Dumbledore to have
work for me hasn't told me anything yet," Hagrid said and continued carving on
the whistle.
"Any news from the giants?" Harry asked after a moment.
"Not much they still don't like us much but can't seem to organize themselves
enough to join the death eaters so they are pretty neutral at the moment,"
Hagrid said as held up the whistle in the air and inspected it carefully.
"Hand me the umbrella will you?" Hagrid asked gesturing towards his pink
umbrella that was leaning towards his hut.
"I suppose you won't mind turning your back for a moment, do you?" Hagrid asked
when Harry handed it too him.
"Hmm let's see now," Hagrid muttered behind him, "Argentum Mutare… that's it…
Prohibere Scabere… that would do it… all right you can turn back now."
The once bony grey whistle was now shining silver and Hagrid held it proudly in
the sunlight, "Figured silver would be nice."
"But Hagrid what about the ministry won't they know you have done magic?" Harry
asked.
"Oh no they are far to busy with death eaters and all I recon besides they
already snapped my wand and expelled me not much more they can do is there?"
Hagrid said smugly and inserted a leather string through a hoop in the whistle.
"Hey wait a minute isn't that anti scratch charm OWL level?" Harry asked.
"Well I practised a bit on my own," Hagrid said proudly, "And Dumbledore or
McGonagall always helps if there's… I wasn't supposed to tell you that."
"Don't worry Hagrid I won't tell anyone," Harry promised.
"Think Vertex got time for a delivery?" Hagrid asked picking out a quill and
some parchment from one of his pockets of his coat that was hanging beside him.
Harry focused on his Phoenix how he looked and acted and tried to picture the
bird in his minds eye.
A few minutes later Vertex came soaring down form the Owlery, his newly grown
plumage made him glorious when sighted. Majestic, distinct red feathers had
replaced the fluffy feathers; his golden tail feathers had grown and Vertex was
capable of carrying Harry without any troubles at all now.
"Hello Vertex," Hagrid called, "There are some herbs for you on the table
inside."
Vertex gave a whistle and soared strait into Hagrid's hut through the open door
a few seconds later Vertex joined them outside with a green herb in his beak.
"Up for a delivery?" Hagrid asked, "Got a little gift for Selena."
Vertex loved having an important task so he straitened up with all the dignity
he had learned from the owl in the owlery and held out his leg for Hagrid.
"That's a good boy," Hagrid said as he attached the whistle and note he had just
written. Before Vertex disappeared in a flash he flew up to Harry's shoulder and
kissed him.
Hagrid chuckled.
Harry didn't see Hagrid again until the end of term feast a few days later. The
great hall was decorated in Red and Golden colours, Gryffindor had won the house
cup for the sixth year running.
"As an old broken record I have a few words to say this year as well before we
dig in to our wonderful feast. This year has been hard for all of us in one way
or another some of us has lost relatives or friends…"
At this point Fleur gave up watching over the sea of students and fixed her gaze
on her hands
"…I want all of you to know that Hogwarts is open all summer, day as night to
those of you in need no matter who you are. Now, onto more cheerful matters.
Before I announce the house points this year I have the great pleasure of
awarding Mr Harry Potter with a special award for extra services to the school
as a thank you for teaching the Gryffindors how to duel. I would also like to
apologize to all future detention takers who has to polish yet another trophy in
the trophy room," Dumbledore said.
"Not fair!" Tonks exclaimed and the entire great hall burst out laughing.
When the laughter had subsided and Dumbledore had stopped chuckling, he
continued his speech, "Now to the house points on fourth place Ravenclaw with
382 points"
There was week applause from the Ravenclaw table and some supportive applause
from the Gryffindor and the Hufflepuff table. Ravenclaw had not been in fourth
place in decades they didn't function as usual with the war going on.
"Third place Slytherin with 423 points"
There were some scattered applause from the Slytherin table and some of the
staff table joined in; Snape did not however.
"This year Hufflepuff have done better then in many, many years. 468 points,
Congratulations to second place Hufflepuff," Dumbledore said and load cheers
erupted from the Hufflepuff table they were obviously very pleased with their
result.
"And finally Gryffindor with 481 points wins the house cup for the sixth year in
a row," Now it was Gryffindors turn to cheer and they were joined good-heartedly
by Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw.
"Now before I accidentally repeat my self… Dig in!"
The tables filled with food almost as quickly as Ron started to pile it on his
plate.
It was sad as usual to leave Hogwarts the following day. Harry was in a gloomy
mood all the way down to the Hogsmeade train station. Sad thoughts such as,
"Next time I make this trip I won't be coming back," whirled through his head.
"Come on Harry," Fleur said grabbing his hand. The carriage had stopped and
Harry was the only one who had not even risen from his seat. Reluctantly Harry
let himself be pulled out of the carriage and on to the platform.
"Look there's Malfoy," Ron said glancing over the platform. Draco Malfoy was
entertaining a large group Slytherins at the front of the train. For once Harry
couldn't tell at a distance of who he was making fun of.
"Let's sit in the back of the train so we won't bump in to him by accident,"
Harry said because Ron looked like he wanted to bump into Malfoy badly one last
time before the holyday.
They got the very last compartment of the train. Selena said an early goodbye to
her first year friends in case they wouldn't see each other at the platform and
joined Harry, Ron, Hermione, Fleur and Tonks in the last compartment. Selena and
Tonks sat opposite each other near the window. Ron and Hermione took the
occasion of a long train ride to huddle close together. Harry and Fleur sat next
to each other without touching.
"Just never fly a broom indoors she will go absolutely mad, honestly you would
think it was the end of the world just because that vase got in the way," Tonks
warned Selena about her mother, "I mean it's not like it was hard to repair. But
I was underage then so the ministry sent owls of course, that may be why she was
so mad. Anyway just don't fly indoors when she is home at least."
"Right," Selena giggled, "No flying indoors when your mother is home."
"And no magic out of school unless it's a matter of life and death," Harry added.
"Right," Selena said.
"That's right all magic you is allowed is potions, but that's fun as well we
could sip some Veritaserum into Mr Egdeclose's tea he's our muggle neighbour
he's a pain in the…"
"But that's illegal!" Hermione exclaimed, "It's illegal to even brew Veritaserum
with out special permission from the ministry."
"Well, he wouldn't know would he?" Tonks replied innocently, "Besides I never
get any real edge to it so he'll just mutter about how nasty he was to his kids
forty years ago."
"You've done it before?" Hermione asked incredulously.
"Of course I have, you don't expect me to just do nothing for an entire summer
do you?" Tonks asked.
"But you could have poisoned him," Fleur said.
"No I couldn't. Not badly anyway he wouldn't have notice if I did mind you. Half
his tea is whiskey," Tonks said, "Besides you should talk about your problems or
they will never go away."
"Fine but don't come to me when he's dead and the ministry is banging on your
door," Hermione replied.
"We won't," Selena promised happily.
"Harry, are you going to stand for this? You are her legal Guardian!" Hermione
said turning to him.
"Well," Harry said thinking quickly, "If you just mutter about things it's not
really Veritaserum the definitions are very clear."
"If she added enough moonpowder and daffodil blades it would be Veritaserum,"
Hermione retorted.
"How do you know that?" Ron burst out.
"I read," Hermione said loudly, "The lack of moonpowder and daffodil blades are
one of the most common reasons Veritaserum loses its potential!"
"So I should just add more of those?" Tonks asked.
"Yes!" Hermione said, "Good luck! And have fun! Come on Ron it's time for a
patrol!"
"Why did she have to be so angry for?" Tonks asked sadly, when Ron and Hermione
had left the compartment.
"She doesn't want her friends to get in trouble" Harry said.
"But I won't cause her any trouble I will take the blame if anyone finds out"
Tonks said.
"That's not the way Hermione works," Harry said proudly, "She'll worry about you
and if anything would happen she would be the first to defend you… that is
unless she thinks you deserve your punishment."
"It's okay," Selena said, "We don't have to make real Veritaserum we could
settle for the mumbling serum that way we won't get into trouble even if someone
finds out and Hermione won't have to worry."
"All right," Tonks said regaining her happy mood, "So what will you do while we
make potions, Fleur?"
"No idea the only thing I know is that I am to follow Harry all the way to his
aunt and uncle's home," Fleur said.
"You are coming along in the car?" Harry said and couldn't hide a snicker, "How
are you going to do that?"
"I won't give them any choice," Fleur said and flared her veela charm.
"How do you do that?" Selena burst out.
"Oh, well it comes with that bird shape you saw a couple of weeks ago. It's
veela stuff," Fleur explained awkwardly.
"I know," Selena said, "I just thought you used it all the time I mean you are
always beautiful."
"Thanks," Fleur said.
"I suppose you have to be part veela to learn?" Selena asked sadly.
"Yes," Fleur replied, "But you can learn some of it, but you'll have to be a
little older and it's strictly girls business."
"Aw come on I want to know," Harry pleaded playfully.
"All right," Fleur said grinning wickedly and stood up. "First you have to
really know you are a female and that you have a female figure."
She pushed her chest out as much as she could without it being obvious, "Once
you know that you are pouting your breasts your hips will start swing naturally.
It's very important to be confident of your femininity or it will look forced
and then it's much more attractive to just be yourself instead. Hermione master
this to perfection, if you have noticed. She doesn't show her physical
femininity but no one would ever take her for a boy anyway because she really
knows she is a girl and proud of it. She could use some confidence in her body
but I'm sure Ron will give her that soon eno…"
"Right. That's enough," Harry interrupted irritably, "Couldn't you just have
said use lipstick or something?"
"Lipstick has nothing to do with it," Fleur said, "It's the way you move your
body and the way you talk."
"I would have settled with the lipstick explanation," Harry said.
"Oh poor Potter is prude," Tonks teased.
"I'm not I just don't want to think of Hermione that way," Harry said, "She
wouldn't like it."
"It's no big deal," Fleur said apologetically, "She won't mind us talking about
her and Ron everyone does anyway."
"Well I do she's Hermione," Harry said.
"Just so that you are aware of it Harry," Fleur said softly settling down next
to him again, "You are just as bad as Ron is around Ginny and you have to face
it Hermione is not a little girl anymore. She'll want to do stuff and she'll
need to talk to you about it she doesn't have many really close girlfriends."
"Hey," Tonks said, "I'm her friend."
"Yes of course but it's not sure you will be available," Fleur replied.
"You won't teach next year?" Harry said at the same time Selena said, "You won't
come back?"
"Err," Tonks said while she gathered her thoughts, "The aurors really need me
and my gift…"
"But why?" Selena asked, "You love Hogwarts!"
"Yeah but it's really not necessary with two defence against the dark arts
teachers," Tonks said.
"So you are staying?" Harry asked Fleur.
"Yes it seems so," She replied, "Unless the job really is cursed."
"No, that makes sense," Harry said, "You are a curse breaker."
"I never though of it that way," Fleur said.
"But can't you stay just one more year?" Selena pleaded with Tonks.
"No I am afraid not but maybe I can continue teaching the dueling club or
something so I won't have to be gone all the time. Besides if I am going to have
Harry as my disciple I can't just barge in there at the same time as he does and
say that I want to tutor the-boy-who-lived."
"If you rather want to teach at Hogwarts it won't be a big deal…"
"Shut up Harry you know as well as I do that this is the right thing to do,"
Tonks said.
"I don't mean to pry or anything but are you all right being an auror you didn't
seem to happy about it at Christmas," Harry asked carefully.
"No It's all right I was just worn down," Tonks said reassuringly, "Unlike
Gryffindors Hufflepuffs are faithful and loyal to their cause and doesn't give
up even if it means loads of work."
"Hey!" Selena said indignantly.
"It's true," Tonks said, "Ever heard of a Hufflepuff that gave up?"
"But that's only because your all to stupid to know any better," Selena teased.
"I suppose Gryffindors are so much better," Tonks teased back, "I heard a story
once about a boy who entered this chamber with a basilisk with out even telling
his head of house."
"I brought Lockhart," Harry defended himself.
"I though you said before you knew he was a fool from the beginning?" Tonks
retorted.
"Yeah," Fleur chipped in, "And he also told Harry that he didn't do anything in
his book even before they entered the chamber in fact Lockhart didn't even have
his wand."
"He was going to Obliviate us," Harry said.
"So why did you bring someone like that along? Wouldn't it have been better to
ask Minerva for help?" Fleur asked.
"We… th… We didn't have much time!" Harry exclaimed, "We just did it we didn't
think."
"Exactly!" Tonks said grinning victoriously, "Now who is stupid!"
"I pulled it off didn't I?" Harry said.
"That doesn't mean it wasn't stupid," Selena said.
"Fine gang up on me," Harry said.
"Oh come on admit it, it was stupid," Fleur said.
"All right it was stupid but it worked," Harry said, "And if I had waited
another moment Ginny could have died."
All three girls beamed at him for admitting he had been stupid.
"There are way too many girls in here," Harry said, "First that Hermione
discussion and now this."
"Don't you like us, Wingbeat?" Fleur asked teasingly.
"Well yes, but that doesn't change the fact that you are all girls."
"Would you rather want us to be boys?" Selena asked.
"No," Harry replied, "But can't we discus Quidditch or something sensible for a
change?"
"All right," Fleur nodded.
"It was a really great match against Slytherin," Tonks said.
"Yes that final dive was really fast." Fleur agreed.
"And Malfoy's crash," Selena added.
"Oh and Ron's hair and face," Tonks said enthusiastically, "I didn't think he
had that in him."
"He didn't Hermione poisoned him," Selena said eagerly, "He was going on and on
about the weather and every thing and he ordered Hermione down into the kitchens
to make sure the food was all right and she agreed and then she put something in
Ron's food."
"Ha!" Tonks exclaimed, "She got him around her little finger."
"As if she doesn't melt when he kisses her," Fleur said, "You can tell she goes
all wobbly."
"Oh I saw them in the common room the other night they woke me up because they
were arguing badly but then they just started kissing like mad," Selena said.
"It's what they do they argue and they kiss," Tonks stated.
Harry groaned inwardly he had not been able to say a word about Quidditch before
the topic had changed to Ron and Hermione. He excused himself and went to find
the food trolley. He needed some peace and a cold bottle of pumpkin juice. Ten
minutes later after a chat with Luna, Neville and Colin, he arrived back to the
compartment to find that the subject had not changed much.
"I don't know," Selena said hesitantly, "Oh your back Harry! Did you get me
anything?"
"Sure help yourself," Harry said and put a heavy bag full of pumpkin juice and
sweets on the little compartment table.
"You're not getting off that easily missy," Tonks said as Harry settled back in
his seat.
"Promise not to laugh," Selena said.
"I promise," Tonks said at once.
"Denis," Selena said blushing as red as ever.
"Denis Creevy?" Tonks asked at once.
"Yeah but he's a third year," Selena said sadly.
"Don't worry a bout that Harry's three years younger then I, and we never even
noticed," Fleur said comfortingly.
"So what's so special about him?" Tonks asked eagerly.
"I don't know," Selena said but she did know because she continued, "He's
handsome… well cute at least, he got good grades and he's witty and he stands up
for who he is."
"That is so great!" Tonks said, "I wish I would teach next year because then I
could have put you in detention together, something stupid like…"
"I know," Fleur said mischievously, "You could be forced to fill out Astronomy
charts some night in the astronomy tower."
"You can give that as a detention?" Tonks asked.
"Of course you can if I say I need an astronomy chart filled out for my personal
divination project," Fleur said, "You should be able to get a kiss out of that."
Selena blushed brick red again, "Um… you think he might like me back?"
"Why wouldn't he?" Asked Fleur.
"Well I don't know… I'm not the only girl who thinks he is cute you know,"
Selena said blushing madly, "Especially since he started that study circle."
"Don't worry about that," Tonks said reassuringly, "We'll think of something so
he'll notice you more then the rest."
"Since he is so young you might have to take the first step," Fleur said
seriously, "Boys tend to be a little thick at that age."
"You are the thickest most stubborn immature…" Hermione's shrieked outside the
door.
"Oh come on Hermione you know how Malfoy gets to me," Ron said defensively.
"If you hadn't done that we could have reported him but no! You just had to
spoil it all!" Hermione went on.
"All right it was wrong it was my fault. I am sorry," Ron said earnestly.
Hermione's voice couldn't be heard through the door and Harry supposed they were
using their mouths and tongues for other things than talking. A minute later Ron
and Hermione entered the compartment.
"So where have you been?" Tonks asked innocently, "That was a rather long patrol."
"Thank god you are here," Harry said at once so that Ron and Hermione wouldn't
have to answer, "They are killing me!"
"We're not," Tonks denied.
"Oh yes you are," Harry retorted, "Girl talk is lethal and should be considered
unforgivable as it is like a slow death by cruciatus."
"Hey we talked about Quidditch too," Tonks said.
"Girls can't talk about Quidditch," Ron said taking Harry's side.
"Girls can talk about Quidditch just as well as boys can!" Tonks exclaimed.
"Really I thought your comments were about the hair and face of one of the
players rather than the game," Harry said.
"Well that's another thing isn't it," Fleur said defensively, "We just found a
better subject."
"But we were supo… argh I give up!" Harry said exasperated, "Up for a game of
snapp, Ron?"
With Ron the girl talk was bearable and the worse part of it, the part about Ron
and Hermione was not discussed since they were there. All in all, the trip
progressed nicely. As they approached London settlements passed by their window
more and more often. The English country side really was quite beautiful Harry
thought as they slowly passed a field lined with old trees and a few hundreds
meters away stood an old barn.
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Only two chapters left...