2 Veela

"Where have you been all night?" Both Ron and Hermione asked almost as one, yet Harry could see that Ron was merely curious, while Hermione looked really worried.

"I stayed in the Beauxbatons carriage. It was more comfortable than here."

"Then why did you come back just now?" It was lunchtime already. Ron couldn't comprehend skipping a meal.

"I was really tired after dancing the whole evening." That, at least, was true.

Ron shrugged. Harry expected some arguments about him dating the French champion, but Ron seemed to be preoccupied with something else. "Well, let's get lunch. Are you coming?" he asked.

"Go ahead. I need to change and I'll join you in a few minutes," Harry assured him.

"I'll wait for you here," Hermione said before Ron could ask anything else.

"Well, I'll save you seats," Ron said and went out.

Harry hurried to his dorm room, not looking at Hermione. He had taken a shower with Fleur, and it turned into another sex session, but he managed to remove all signs of his nightly activity before getting dressed. He still wasn't sure what Hermione's reaction would be if she suspected anything and preferred to delay what he believed to become a confrontation for as long as possible.

Once he was wearing his regular clothes, he could no longer avoid his best friend. Hermione looked at him once as he came to the common room and then took his hand as they walked to the Great Hall.

"So, you've slept with her, didn't you?" she asked as they were walking.

Harry was almost shocked by the direct question. He barely managed not to stop walking, which would have stopped Hermione as well. "Yes, I spent the night in her bed," he admitted.

"And you did much more than just sleep, didn't you?" He heard some mischief in Hermione's voice.

"True," he admitted, not sure where that would lead.

"How was it? And no details, please."

He wasn't sure how to answer, yet she deserved a truthful reply. "I can't really say. I was mostly overwhelmed, acting on pure instincts only, but I think it was fabulous, although very different than what I thought it would be."

He wasn't ready for the next question. "Do you love her?"

This time he stopped walking, bringing Hermione to a halt as well. "I don't know, honestly. It was all physical. Besides, what do I know about love?"

She turned teary. "Oh, Harry, you have more love in you than most people. You should have known love all along." She stopped for a moment, gathering her thoughts. "Just tell me how you feel about her."

They resumed walking. "Well, once she started training me for the ball, I found out she was quite a warm and passionate person, and very strict, when she wanted to be. In a way, she's almost like you. I think that helped me to accept her friendship. She then started kissing me as well. It was nice and made me feel good, just as I feel when you hug me. I still don't know what to think about last night, though."

Hermione's next question surprised him even more. "How do you feel about me?"

He stopped walking again, a bit shocked, looking at her face with some concern. "Hermione! You know you are my best friend. You've always stuck by my side, even when others didn't. I can't imagine my life without you taking an important part in it."

Hermione was almost whispering now. "So, if I'm your best friend, what is Fleur to you?"

Harry frowned. He had never thought of the meaning of these two girls for him. "Well... she is probably a very close friend," he said hesitantly.

Hermione didn't talk any more. She just held his hand tighter. They passed near the Ravenclaw table on their way. Fleur was sitting there, and everybody around her seemed to be drooling fools with glassy eyes, yet neither Harry nor Hermione noticed.

\/\/\/

Harry found himself spending at least one night per week in Fleur's bed, usually during the weekend. He really enjoyed these nights, although he was usually a bit groggy the next day. Hermione only looked pensively at him at those times, saying nothing. His dorm mates tried to tease him a few times, but stopped after realizing that Harry only smiled, practically ignoring them.

Fleur also helped him in another way. "You should take the clue egg to the bath," she told him. Harry thought that doing it along with Fleur would be really nice. She seemed to understand his thoughts, as she added, "I'm sure Hermione would be glad to help you with that."

Harry didn't mention that suggestion when talking with his best friend, yet she offered to join him immediately. "We shall both be wearing swimsuits, of course," she added.

Being with Hermione in the Prefects' bathroom was a new and exciting experience. Harry was surprised to find out that Hermione had blossomed tremendously, much more than her dress at the ball suggested, becoming a very attractive young woman, whose almost nude company he enjoyed even more than he enjoyed being with Fleur. That realization confused Harry, but he had no time to dwell on it. He had to make a plan for the second task: find a way to survive underwater for an hour or more and be able to rescue a hostage, despite having no idea who that hostage might be.

Yet he could barely concentrate on the message in the egg. Hermione's bikini, although not very daring, had been bought more than a year earlier and was covering much less than it originally had, exposing much more of her than initially intended. Hermione seemed oblivious to that fact, but Harry was aware of it much more than he thought he should be.

"You're magnificent," he told her hoarsely.

Hermione just blushed. "Let's try and find a way for you to survive the task," she said, not looking at his face.

\/\/\/

"My family will come to watch the second task," Fleur told him a few days later. "They all want to meet you as well, after having heard how good a date you were at the ball."

Harry was not so sure about it. He thought that what happened since the ball should better be kept secret. He wasn't sure her parents would approve of this.

\/\/\/

The Delacour family reunion was happy and noisy. Harry's presence was totally ignored for a few minutes, until Fleur grabbed his hand and led him to her parents. "Mama, Papa, this is the famous Harry Potter who made such a wonderful date at the Yule Ball and has become my best friend since. Harry, these are my parents, Alain and Apolline Delacour."

Alain shook his hand warmly. "I'm glad to meet the man who has made my girl so happy."

Apolline ignored the protocol and simply hugged him tightly, reminding him of Hermione's hugs, only this woman was more mature and extremely attractive, making Harry's body react inappropriately, yet she only whispered, "I can feel what my daughter has found in you," making Harry blush deeper.

He was then introduced to Fleur's sister, Gabi, an extremely beautiful girl of eight years, who looked at him with admiration and blushed, reminding him of Ginny Weasley, the first time they met.

After some polite chat, Alain called Harry aside for a more serious talk. "Knowing my daughter, I think I may assume that you've been much closer since the ball."

It wasn't a question, but an answer was clearly expected.

"Yes, we've been quite close," Harry admitted.

"That probably means that you had sex, more than once, I believe."

Harry just nodded, too embarrassed for words. He was surprised that Alain didn't seem furious at all, only somewhat apprehensive.

"Do you know what this means?" Alain asked.

Harry shook his head, thinking of various scenarios, none of which he would have liked to take part in.

Alain walked to a nearby sofa and motioned Harry to sit at his side. "What has Fleur told you about her ancestry?"

Harry shrugged. "She's very proud to talk about you and her mother and delighted whenever her sister is mentioned. She's also said that her grandmother was a Veela."

"What does this mean about her?"

"That she's a quarter Veela?"

Alain sighed. "This is rarely mentioned, but you should know that the daughter of a Veela is a Veela as well. This means that my wife is a Veela and so are Fleur and Gabi."

Harry looked confused. "Why should this matter to me? Fleur is an adorable person, above all. She's also extremely beautiful and sexy, but I wouldn't have become her friend if it wasn't for her personality."

Alain smiled. "Harry, you're a rare breed." He turned serious again. "Despite being so sexy, a Veela is very selective about the man she lets deflower her, as that act creates a bond that is of utmost importance. If broken, the Veela can't live much longer."

"Is that a soul bond?"

Alain smiled sadly. "No, it is much more complicated than that. The man can go on with his life, not bothered by the bond at all. He can have relations with other women, can marry and have children with any woman, but the Veela needs to keep having sex with him regularly, even if she has other mates. Failing that for more than a few weeks may affect her health severely. Longer than that may lead to her death. That's why she needs to choose so carefully."

He looked at Harry attentively, noticing Harry's expressions change until he looked almost mortified. "Then Fleur has made a grave mistake choosing me," Harry finally said, his voice breaking with emotions.

"Why? Don't you like having sex with her? Do you think you'll have to stop this? Is there any other problem?" Alain was quite confused. He had come to like the young man, based on his daughter's letters, and he thought he was an experienced judge of character. What was it that made Harry so worried?

Harry tried to get his thoughts under control. "You see, I've been facing mortal perils at least once a year since returning to the magical world. I can't promise that I will even survive this tournament, but if I die, then, according to what you said, Fleur will die soon after me. I don't want her to die or to suffer due to being with me."

Alain had mixed feelings now. He was glad that Harry cared about Fleur and didn't just use her for his own pleasure, but hearing such a young boy talking about his own death as something that could happen soon was unsettling, especially considering what it meant for Fleur.

"I think you've just given me a challenge, to assure your survival for as long as possible, if only for Fleur's sake. I promise you, Lord Potter, that I and my family are going to do all that we can to that end."

Harry seemed to miss most of this. "Lord Potter? Why do you call me that name?"

Alain frowned again. "Don't you know? Being accepted as a champion in the tournament made you legally adult, and as the last in the line of Potter, you are also the head of the Ancient and Noble House of Potter, hence – Lord Potter. Your magical guardian should have informed you of that."

"Dumbledore never told me anything about this," Harry blurted.

Alain's frown deepened. "I think we should visit Gringotts first thing in the morning, to have you take control of all your assets and gain all your rights. You may then decide what you want to do next."

As it was a Hogsmeade weekend, Harry didn't need to ask for permission to leave school. He only told Ron and Hermione that he was going to be busy with Fleur's family. Hermione accepted it, smiling understandingly yet a bit sadly, Harry thought. Ron was not as understanding, but Hermione's glare shut him up.

Alain joined him at the gates. They walked a bit farther, until they were out of sight, and then Alain took Harry on a side-along apparition, landing on Gringotts stairs.

\/\/\/

Harry returned before dinner, looking a bit pensive. Hermione seemed to be worried by his attitude, yet Ron only asked, "Had fun?"

"Not particularly. Fleur's father wanted to introduce me to the family history and give me some financial background to better understand some things. It was quite boring."

"Why did you go with him, then?"

"I had no way to refuse politely and still stay on good terms with the family. At least he took me to a good restaurant for lunch, though."

Ron smiled. "So, you ate a French lunch?"

"No. He wanted to try an English restaurant, but it was also nice."

Hermione managed to talk with him later, when Ron dragged Seamus to a game of Chess. "You looked quite pensive when you returned. What happened to bring this mood?"

Harry shrugged. "It wasn't bad, really, but I've been presented with so much information that I'm not sure I can even remember everything. I certainly need some time before I can start to understand what it means for me."

"Care to elaborate?"

Harry sighed. "I don't think I remember most of it, but basically, I'm the only heir of the Potter line, which is quite rich, and I'm also heir to a few more lines. It looks like I own a few houses and shares in quite a few companies, giving me a nice income. Also, by forcing me into the tournament, the ministry has practically declared me an adult, so I can claim all my rights as an adult and gain some political power. There were many more details, of course, but I don't remember most of them. I'll tell you more if I manage to recall it."

Hermione thought for a moment. "I think you should refrain from using your new position or from even making it publicly known until you understand the ramifications much better, unless there's no other way at some point."

Harry smiled. "Alain gave me the same advice."

Hermione just nodded and held his hand tighter.