Disclaimer- I don't own anything. The character all belong to J.K. Rowling.
A/N: Thank you, thank you, thank you. This is for Silver Ice, Cinema Lover, and Mark of CTown. I now know that at least three people have read this. I would have liked to update sooner but I just couldn't get started. Oh, and have you all forgotten about Viktor Krum? He is around too.
Chapter 7-Beauxbatons
Harry and Ginny returned to Hogwarts three days before the start of the second term. The two hadn't talked much since Christmas. However, Harry felt better just knowing that he could talk to Ginny.
When they returned Ron and Hermione were already back. They were waiting in the common room when Harry and Ginny arrived.
"How was your Christmas, mate?" Ron asked.
"It was wonderful, I love the chess set." Harry answered. "How was your holiday?"
"Bloody great! Fred and George offered me a job at their Hogsmeade store with Lee."
"What did you tell them?" Harry asked almost as ecstatic as Ron.
"I told them I'd think about it and give 'em my answer at the end of the year. Course I didn't tell mum. She'd have killed 'em."
"And your holiday Hermione?" Harry asked, glancing over at Ginny.
"I think that's our cue." Ginny interrupted. "C'mon Ron." She dragged him off to another part of the room.
"It was wonderful, Harry." Hermione answered, starting to blush. "Thank you so much for the bracelet, it is amazing."
"Hermione, I have another question for you." Harry continued softly. "Will you be my girlfriend?"
"Oh, Harry." Hermione said, grabbing him around the neck and giving him a soft peck on the lips. "Will you be my boyfriend?"
"Of course, I would be honored. Now will you answer my question?"
"Unconditionally yes." She leaned in and kissed him again. This time a little longer than the last but still trying not to attract attention.
They both slowly crept up to their rooms. They had no plans of letting anyone know what happened. However, Hermione had a strong suspicion that Ginny had been informed of Harry's intentions.
When Harry slipped into bed he felt a warm sensation cover his body and he heard Hermione talking. I Love you Harry James Potter. Goodnight.
Harry and Hermione continued to keep their relationship secret. Like Hermione had thought, Ginny knew about the whole thing. But that didn't bother her, she knew Ginny was their closest friend and supported them.
It had been a month and a half since he first asked her out and she wanted to talk to him. Hermione waited in the common room hoping he would come down out of his room. She didn't want to be too obvious so she didn't use her bracelet, which she had learned could wake him from even the deepest of sleep. Suddenly she heard a noise; it was Harry he was coming down to the common room.
"Harry, where are you going?" Hermione asked.
"I'm meeting someone by the lake." Harry answered.
"At this hour? Who is it?"
"I don't know. I got a letter yesterday saying to meet them at the lake tonight at 9."
"Should I go with you? Are you sure it is safe?"
"I'll be fine Herms."
"Okay, don't get yourself into trouble. We do have the match against Beauxbatons tomorrow." She softly kissed him on the lips.
Harry pulled back after a second. "I'll be back soon." Then leaned in and kissed her again. He slipped on his invisibility cloak and stepped out of Gryffindor tower.
Harry made his way down the stairs and to the Entrance Hall. He slowly opened the doors and crept outside. It was an unusually warm and cloudless February night. The Beauxbatons carriages, parked next to Hagrid's hut, sparkled in the moonlight. Slowly he approached the lake. Then he saw a figure standing at the waters edge. It was a girl. He couldn't make out who it was but she had hair to the middle of her back and it glistened gold in the moonlight. Harry took off his cloak when she was turned away from him.
"'arry is zat you?" The girl said.
Harry recognized the voice immediately, it was Gabrielle. "Yes it is." He answered. "Why did you want to meet me out here?"
"I need to tell you somezing."
"Why so late, it's after curfew." Harry returned. Maybe that is what she wants. She wants me to get caught so I can't play tomorrow.
"Don't be silly. I would never wish such a zing on you."
Harry was slightly confused for a moment then realized that she was reading his mind. He cleared his mind and started practicing Occlumency. Knowing it worked for much of the Christmas Holiday and not wanting this to turn into a mind reading session.
"'arry I brought you out 'ere because I need to tell you 'ow I feel." After a moment of silence she continued. "Since you saved me zee years ago I 'ave 'ad a crush on you. When you came to Beauxbatons and I met you again it became more than a crush. You are kind, intelligent, daring, and most of all you care about everyone around you. 'arry you are perfect."
He was listening to every word she said. The words were mesmerizing; he had never been told he was perfect before. He wasn't sure how to respond.. Then seemingly out of nowhere he found the words he needed.
"Gabrielle. I'm sorry. Thank you for those kind words, but I can't say that I feel the same. You are a beautiful girl. But I cannot say I'm attracted to you, I just don't know you that well. I'm sorry."
"I understand. But will you let me show you 'oo I am. I mean, please 'arry Potter."
"I can't. I have other things going it just won't work."
"Okay zen. See you on zee field tomorrow."
As she turned, Harry saw a tear roll off her cheek. He didn't want to make her cry but he couldn't lie to her. He didn't feel anything for her, how could he, they barely new each other. And getting to "know" her probably wouldn't go over too well with Hermione.
"Harry wake up, you're going to miss breakfast." Ron squawked while shaking Harry.
"Okay, okay I'm up." Harry answered while pushing Ron off of him. "Now let me get dressed."
"We'll save you a seat at breakfast. So hurry up."
Harry got dressed, put on his glasses, grabbed his broom, and left for breakfast. He wasn't all that hungry. The only thing he ate was a piece of toast and a small glass of pumpkin juice. He had the usual pre-game butterflies and then he also had last night running through his mind. He didn't mean to hurt her; he needed to tell her that.
Harry went to the Quidditch pitch hoping to run into Gabrielle on the way. She was nowhere to be seen so he took out the Snitch Hermione gave him and started to chase it about the pitch. After what seemed like only a few minutes Harry heard someone holler.
"Harry, come on the match starts in an hour." It was Ron, and apparently it had been a couple hours because the match wasn't until after lunch.
"Okay just a second. Accio Snitch." Harry called out. The scarlet and gold Snitch came softly flying into his hand and Harry descended to the locker room. Everyone else had changed and were quietly focusing on the game ahead. Harry changed into his Quidditch robes and found a corner where he could be alone. Krum came up to him and tapped him on the shoulder.
"Harry, their seeker is very good. She is better than anyone you haff played against. She is fast and she is small. It vill be difficult for you to out fly her. So you need to locate the Snitch first. The chasers vill try to score as many goals as possible but ultimately the game vill rest vith you."
Suddenly a chorus of boos could be hear coming from the field.
"Ah, Lee must have introduced Beauxbatons." Harry interrupted.
"Yes, now come on the game is about to begin." Krum announced to everyone. The team entered the pitch and the crowd immediately began cheering.
"Here they come," Lee began, "the world's best amateur Quidditch team from our very own Hogwarts."
Harry immediately began trying to identify the Beauxbatons seeker. Until the very moment before Madame Hooch started the game, he hadn't figured out who it was. Then he saw her, he stared for a moment letting it sink in. The Beauxbatons seeker was Gabrielle. He stared for a moment looking at her crystal blue eyes. She caught him and started to blush, then they were off.
"Wow look at the Beauxbatons seeker go. She's a beauty too. She is clearly out accelerating Potter."
Harry couldn't believe how much quicker Gabrielle rose than he did. Krum wasn't even that fast. It didn't bother him though, he knew the snitch wouldn't be out this early.
"Granger has the Quaffle and the Dursley twins are controlling both Bludgers beating them back and forth. Granger passes to Malfoy, he's charging fast. Looks like the Beauxbatons seeker is coming in to help stop the Hogwarts charge. Malfoy passes to Weasley, no it was a fake. He's all alone he shoots he scores! Hogwarts ten, Beauxbatons zero.
"Ooh, a juicy bit of info about the Beauxbatons seeker. She is none other than Gabrielle Delacour, the younger sister of Fleur Delacour who participated in the Tri-Wizard three years ago and is currently working at Gringotts Wizarding Bank.
"Now back to the action. A Beauxbatons chaser has the Quaffle and is trailing the other two chasers while his Beaters surround him. Mary Dursley launches a Bludger. Ooh that has to hurt."
Mary's Bludger had hit an unsuspecting Beauxbatons beater in the arm causing him to drop his club.
"Beauxbatons has split the Hogwarts defense. It is now Ron all alone He shoots to the right, no he still has the Quaffle. I don't think Ron will recover from that. They shoot, they .... Wow what a save. He stopped the Quaffle, I simply cannot believe it.
"Ron clears to Ginny. Weasley passes to Malfoy. Here comes a rocket of a Bludger at Malfoy. John Dursley zings the Bludger right for it. Direct hit he cleared the Bludger with a Bludger, what a play. Looks like Malfoy is cornered. He dips, swerves to no avail. They are not going to let him through. Malfoy slips the Quaffle to Granger. Granger zooms past the Beauxbatons defense. Their only hope now is a Bludger. Here one comes.
The Dursley twins are trying to return it. It clipped John. Now its headed for the Beauxbatons goal. She thinks it's the Quaffle, Granger Shoots its good. Hogwarts twenty, Beauxbatons zero."
Harry was getting bored now. There was no sign of the Snitch and Hogwarts had scored four more goals without a score from Beauxbatons. All that was irrelevant though, he needed to find the Snitch before Gabrielle did. Then he saw it, it was two hundred feet above the Beauxbatons goals but he was closer than Gabrielle. He took off for it.
"Looks like Potter has spotted the Snitch. Delacour is hot on his trail. She is gaining fast. She is almost up to him. He is swerving everywhere determined not to let her pass him. Delacour bumps potter. Ahhh..."
A silence swept over the crowd Harry turned his head to see Gabrielle falling through the air. He immediately turned his broom around dove towards the ground.
"Ginny," Hermione screamed. "The Snitch it's all yours." At this Ginny tore off after the Snitch.
Harry was speeding ever faster through the air. Slowly he was catching up. Gabrielle was only fifty feet from the ground. Forty, thirty, twenty, ten, five. He caught her, and immediately changed direction. Narrowly missing the ground. Then he heard the whistle and Lee's voice again filled the air.
"Weasley caught the Snitch. Hogwarts wins! Hogwarts wins!"
Harry slowed down and stopped his broom letting Gabrielle get off.
"'arry, twice you have saved me. Now I must show you my thanks." She leaned in and kissed him. He could feel the warm moistness of her lips touching his. It was unlike any kiss he experienced before. He suddenly snapped out of it and pulled away.
"Gabrielle, what are you doing?" Harry snapped. "I have a girlfriend." Then a strong feeling of hurt and anger consumed his heart. And he heard an angry voice. Had a Girlfriend! The feeling abrubtly ended followed with something hitting him in the back of the head.
He turned and looked at the ground. There lying in the grass was the bracelet he had given Hermione for Christmas. She had seen the whole thing.
A/N: Okay, now I would really like some reviews critiqueing my style. This chapter alone is longer than any piece of fiction I have written before. The entire thing is nearly twice as long as any other piece of writing I have done. About the length, how is it? Have any of the chapters drug on or been too short? I really would like to know.
Also, If you have any questions about why I have done something the way I have please ask. It will help me with writing the story and I will answer the question if it doesn't fortell any future parts of the story. I will be answering all the questions and giving some insight into how this story was supposed to take place when I finish.