Back in the common room, Ron was waiting for Harry in the corner. Harry was just about to start telling him about what had happened when Hermione hurried in with several books under her arm.

She took a moment to locate them seated in the far corner, then headed over to them.

"What happened? What did they say?" she said anxiously.

"Nothing, basically," said Harry with a tincture of dissatisfaction. "There's nothing that can be done about it. Nothing to actually fix it, I mean. They can manage her symptoms with spells and magical herbs and maybe slow her potential death with a potion. But unless I get involved, she will die."

Hermione sighed but did not look surprised. "Yes, I've been at library since you went to Dumbledore's office and there's nothing I can see that can be done. In the incident back in the 19th century, they tried a number of things to undo it. Healers, experienced wizards, potions… nothing worked. She was from a rich family. But the poor girl just withered away."

Harry felt a gaping sensation in his chest. He didn't really know her but the thought of that girl dying was too much. "Well, I told them that I'm not going to let her die. I don't know what'll happen with my personal life but I'm not going to let her die."

"Oh Harry," said Hermione and she flung her books on the table and gave him a hug.

"Whoa, whoa, easy Hermione," said Ron.

"My friend Harry just took on a lifetime commitment in order to save the life of someone he barely knows. As his friend, I am allowed to give him an affectionate hug, Ronald," said Hermione firmly.

"Yeah, well, I mean, of course," Ron said sheepishly.

Hermione looked back at Harry. "What happens next?"

"I'm going out with Dumbledore to meet her properly tomorrow at lunch," Harry said.

"How… how far does this thing have to go?" Ron said somewhat embarrassedly. There was a brief pause as Harry and Hermione took in his meaning.

"Well, she won't die as long as I'm around her, but to actually stop the process of decay, I would have to bond with her."

"Wow," said Ron.

"Yeah, I mean for now I'm just going to hang out with her a lot. I still have to figure out how that will all work. But then… we'll see, I don't know. I mean I can tell what makes the most sense logically to resolve the situation but it's a huge step, you know… I'm not planning on anything like that. For now, at least."

"Yeah. That's crazy mate. Can't believe you ended up being put in this situation."

"Me either," said Harry. It felt like a relief to be able to talk about it with Harry and Hermione.

"I know it won't resolve it but I am doing some more research on these instances, Harry, to see if there's any useful information to help you," Hermione said.

"Thanks, Hermione."

"I saw one brief reference to one of these bonds that became a full, mutual bond. But it happened a long, long time ago, and our library didn't have the book that was referenced. The Ministry's library does, though, so I've owled them to put in a request for an interlibrary loan with them."

"Wow, really?" said Harry.

"Yes," said Hermione. "I'll let you know what I find when it gets here. They should floo it tomorrow."

The three kept talking for another hour until they started to get tired. As Harry went up the steps, he felt the stress of the day within him. But he also felt some degree of relief. With the decision now made, he felt that in some way the most difficult aspect was over.

As Harry climbed into bed, he thought of Gabrielle. Before he had felt it was somehow wrong to think of her. Now that he had chosen to interact with her, it seemed ok. He only remembered shards of what she even looked like. He could remember holding her in the water, though. He could remember having his arm around her. It had just been stress and focus then, trying to get to the surface. But now he could revisit the memory. He could remember how his arm felt when it was wrapped around her waist. It was a pleasant thought as he drifted to sleep.

The morning almost felt like a usual morning. He got up on time. He went to breakfast with Ron. Then he went to class.

As he and his fellow students were concluding their transfiguration projects and lunchtime approached, however, he did start to think about Gabrielle. Was this all really happening? And what had made her go to all these lengths to do such a dangerous charm? Somehow in all the thinking about the situation, he had never really thought of it from her perspective. Did she really care about him so strongly? What would her parents think about him?

It was on these thoughts that Harry dwelt as he walked towards the Great Hall

The Owl had come to the Delacours before Gabrielle woke. It was from Madame Maxime. The language was somewhat vague on the reasoning. But it said to expect Dumbledore at lunch time.

Gabrielle woke for the first time in days and felt relatively normal. He back ached slightly but it was more like when she had slept in a bad position than the previous mornings, when she had felt like her whole body was under attack when she woke up and each day was worse than the last.

At breakfast, she did not say much to her parents. They weren't eating anyway. They had eaten earlier, with Fleur before her classes began. Gabrielle had a feeling that something good was happening, that there had to be a reason her pain had abated, but she wasn't quite sure what it was. And she felt talking with her parents about it would only complicate things. She took a bath and dressed. She did not wear robes. She knew she wouldn't be going into the castle. Instead, she wore a cream knit turtleneck and slim brown trousers.

After that, she felt well enough for the first time in days to sit down and read a book. While she had read plenty by wizards (especially her sister's textbooks), when it came to novels, she had a taste for muggle authors. As wizards and witches were rarer than muggles, there were fewer great works of literature. She took out her copy of War and Peace. She opened it and wandlessly levitated it a foot or so above the bed and then reclined, propping herself up on some pillows.

Harry walked out the front doors with Dumbledore beside him. It was a windy day. The had left just as lunch was being served so there were few people in the halls. Still, two students had seen them and looked on curiously as Dumbledore in his purple robes with gilt stars walked with Harry in his plain black robes.

"Sir, how often will I need to see Gabrielle for this?" Harry asked as they walked.

"Well, of course, it's largely up to you and her, but to keep her condition stable I think you will likely have to see her in some form once a day. If it is impossible one day, the potion and some of the herbs Professor Sprout is growing should assist in mitigating any symptoms."

"So, if I see her daily, her condition shouldn't get worse?" Harry asked over the snapping of their robes in the wind.

"Well," said Dumbledore, "as far as we can tell, it should take a long time to worsen perceptibly with that kind of regular contact. But there's no way to be sure. In all likelihood, the impacts of the charm are merely slowed with contact without bonding. But it's difficult to be certain with so few recorded cases. The type of contact likely also plays a factor."

"Type of contact?" Harry asked.

"Well, whether the contact is romantic or not," Dumbledore said. Harry noticed a slight tinge of embarrassment to his voice.

"I see," said Harry.

While he felt calm and resolved about choosing to have contact and protect Gabrielle, Harry felt a certain uncertainty about what would happen now. What was he supposed to do? It seemed like everyone expected him to fall in love with her, but wouldn't come right out and say it. On the other hand, what was he supposed to do? Spend time with this person every single day and not fall in love with her? How could he have other romantic relationships with that? How could he do anything else, really? How could he compete in the Triwizard tournament? He closed his eyes and took a deep breath as they walked farther out onto the grounds. He felt the ground beneath his feet. He opened his eyes and looked up at the lofty, overcast dome of the sky above him. His mind cleared slightly. I have made it through every other challenge in my life, he thought to himself, and I can make it through this. I didn't make it through immediately, but step by step, moment by moment. I can do this. Whatever happens.

As they reached the great carriage, Harry marveled at its gleaming wheels and massive frame. Dumbledore tapped on the door with his fingernail. The door immediately opened and Madame Maxime welcomed them in.

"Madame Maxime," said Dumbledore with a smile. "I was not aware that you so honored guests of Beauxbatons carriage by opening their doors."

They stood in a large entrance hall with marble pillars.

"Only for you, Dumbledore," Madame Maxime said with a flirtatious grin. "And for this incroyable young wizard!"

She stooped down and actually hugged Harry for a moment before gesturing them down a long hall, which looked like one in an apartment building. Harry knew that the carriage was like the tent at the World Cup, charmed to be far larger on the inside that it looked on the outside, but the size still took him aback.

"Well, we must be on our way," said Dumbledore. "I'll speak with you later regarding additional arrangements." He said this last sentence in a lower tone.

Madame Maxime nodded. Dumbledore set off down the long central hallway. At several points, other halls branched off horizontally. But Dumbledore clearly knew the location of the apartment. The corridor was lit with lamps and paneled in dark wood. It had a cozy feeling but felt somewhat confining as they walked as it had no windows or natural light.

Dumbledore paused at the next to last door in the hallway. Harry stopped beside him. He didn't know what he was supposed to do. Dumbledore gave a little wave of his wand and a pleasant chime sounded somewhere in front of them, clear without being loud.

Harry heard some shuffling and a muffled voice and footsteps.

"Professor Dumble— Oh…" said Apolline Delacour as her willowy frame swung back the door. She actually recoiled slightly at the sight of Harry.

"Madame Delacour," said Dumbledore decorously, "may I kindly present Mr. Harry Potter."

"Oh, mon dieu," Apolline exclaimed, before turning her head, her blonde hair glinting in the light, and calling "Jean! Gabrielle!"

She turned her head back to them. "Won't you please come in?" she said. Her accent was not thick but she spoke with the slightly halting cadence of many people using a second language.

She stepped back from the door frame and stepped towards the dining table behind her and slightly to the left. Monsieur Delacour came out from the kitchen set at the left. There was a slender strip of window on the far side of the room. To the right was a hallway with several doors off it.

Monsieur Delacour wore a three piece suit and immediately extended his hand to Dumbledore. "Professor Dumbledore," he said jovially, pumping Dumbledore's aged hand. "Harry," he said, grasping Harry's hand with a smile. He seemed an affable, devoted, but not particularly serious man. Apolline shook her head in wonder at the scene.

Harry heard a rustling to his right. The first door down the hallway, about ten feet away, opened with a creak. And there, haloed by the lamps she was reading by, half her shoulder hidden behind the doorframe, was Gabrielle.

Harry was suddenly very still. He had thought of her so many times over the last few days but it had always been so fuzzy. Everything had happened so fast at the lake. His few memories were brief shards. What he had remembered, or thought he remembered, was a child. Had it not been for her height – she was at least a head shorter than Harry – he would have thought of the Gabrielle standing before him as a mature young woman. She looked so composed to him. Her jawline was sharp. Her figure was slim and felt in perfect proportion to Harry's eye. Her beauty had a refinement that usually only comes with age.

Gabrielle looked at Harry. There he was. Real. In the flesh. With his dark hair and his gangly frame and his viridescent eyes. And that scar. She could really see it for the first time. And it was him. Him. Not a photo in a magazine. She had always thought that they would really meet properly, always believed that they would be together somehow, in some way.

She resisted the urge to run up to him, hug him, and say "I knew you'd come. I just knew it." Her stomach was leaping. But she kept cool, controlled herself, and stood by the doorframe. She didn't notice it at the time, but all of her aches and pains were gone. The only sign of all that was going on inside her was that after perhaps two or three seconds, she lifted her right hand, partially covered by the sleeve of her cream knit turtleneck, to her mouth. Their eyes remained on each other.

Harry heard a sharp intake of breath that usually meant Dumbledore was about to speak. But Harry beat him to it.

"Hello," he said.

"Hello," said Gabrielle.

There was a beat. In that beat there was a brief whiff of a smile, a hint of movement at the corner of her lips. Then she let it go.

"Fancy meeting you here," she said.

After the slightest pause, Harry started to laugh. His face, which had been serious a moment before, broke into a wide smile and he laughed. Then Gabrielle laughed. The room was filled with relieved laughter.

Dumbledore and the other Delacours smiled. Mr. Delacour allowed himself a little chuckle.

After that, the ice was broken amongst the whole group. Madame Delacour began rushing around to get them something for them for lunch. Harry and Dumbledore tried to protest, but they were only able to keep Madame Delacour away for so long. She soon had pastries in front of him. Monsieur Delacour insisted on the giving Harry and Dumbledore the heads of the table, and put extra cushions on the wooden chairs and hustled around making sure everyone was comfortable. Madame Delacour put cut fruit on the table as well and began insisting that she cook them "viande". Her command of English was strong, as her father had been an English teacher in Saint-Denis, but she had a tendency to slip between the two languages when she was flustered, and having two of the most famous wizards of the age suddenly at her table had left her in a state. She also felt suddenly confined in the carriage's apartment, missing her larger kitchen at home.

Gabrielle looked over at Harry to her left. Their eyes met. Gabrielle smiled a smile of amusement about her mother's fussing. Harry gave a look of amusement back.

"What are you smiling about, Gabrielle? Shouldn't you be helping me take care of our guests?" Apolline went.

"Maman," said Gabrielle, "Harry and Professor Dumbledore are fine." She looked at them both and smiled again. With her pain gone, she felt in a warm and expansive mood. What might have been embarrassment and frustration before was merely amusement now. "Come, sit down Maman. Harry and Monsieur Dumbledore can hardly eat with you running around."

"Professor Dumbledore, dear" Monsieur Delacour corrected.

"Sorry," said Gabrielle genuinely, looking across the table at Dumbledore.

"It's quite alright, my dear," said Dumbledore with crinkly smile. "No need for such formalities," he said looking over at Monsier Delacour.

Apolline began settling in her chair.

"Harry," Dumbledore said in a low voice, clearly hoping only to be heard by Harry. "Isn't there something you would like to say?"

Me? Harry mouthed, gesturing to himself. Dumbledore nodded.

"Well, um," Harry started. He looked down at his plate. He wasn't certain what to say. "I'm not sure quite how everything ended up with these circumstances, but we came down here to say that while I don't know every detail of how this all works but I certainly will not let any harm come to Gabrielle, and if that means seeing her every day, or whatever is necessary, then I'll do it."

"Oh thank you, thank you, you dear boy," said Apolline, springing from her seat. She came up behind and hugged Harry. "You know, Mr. Delacour and I have been so worried about our Gabrielle. To know that you will take the time to make sure her foolish charm doesn't cost her is kindness beyond words."

"It's fine, it's fine," muttered Harry, slightly overwhelmed by the hug. Mr. Delacour reached over the table and grasped his hand and pumped it while thanking him.

"Now then," said Dumbledore, resting his hands on the table. "Arrangements will have to be made to make all this work."

"Of course, Professor Dumbledore," said Monsieur Delacour. "But what sort of arrangements?"

"Well, Harry," Dumbledore said, turning his head "you will still have to abide by the rules about bedtime hours. But I can inquire with Madame Maxime if you may have access to this carriage now, I think. That way you will be free to come down her any time outside of class time."

"Ok," said Harry.

"And, with your parents' approval, I think we likely need to enroll you in Hogwarts, my dear," said Dumbledore turning to Gabrielle. "If you are going to be near Harry every day, then this is the place to be."

"Oh… I see," said Gabrielle. "In the middle of the school year?"

"Yes, it might be difficult. I have spoken with the other professors and they agreed to tutor you in any subjects where it is felt you don't have sufficient knowledge to join the other first years immediately."

"I see. Thank you, sir." Gabrielle thought of how exciting it would be to take classes at Hogwarts. Her parents hadn't even been letting her in for meals. Now she would take classes. But there was a little disappointed feeling in the pit of her stomach as well, realizing that she wouldn't have as much free time as before.

"Not at all, dear. This will require your consent, of course," said Dumbledore turning to the older Delacours, "and there will naturally be arrangements that have to be made with our Ministry of Magic."

"Naturally," said Monsieur Delacour. "And I believe the French Ministry demands that we complete a permit for education abroad."

"Oh, is that so?" said Dumbledore.

"Yes, I believe it would be necessary in this circumstance," said Monsieur Delacour, who then began talking about who else he knew in the French Ministry through his work there, and which office they worked in, and whether flooing them would be of any aid in cutting through any delays.

Harry leaned over to Gabrielle. "Do you want to get out of here?"

"What?"

"Do you want to get out of here? Maybe go take a walk around the lake?" Harry paused. Dumbledore and the rest of the Delacours had turned their attention to him. "That's ok, right?" he asked.

"But of course," said Apolline.

"Yes, just not so long that you miss your next class, Harry," Dumbledore said.

Harry walked towards the door. Gabrielle got up and joined him in the entry way.

"Can you get back in here on your own?" asked Harry.

"Yes," said Gabrielle. "It's a password for the door and I have a key for the apartment."

"Ok," Harry said. "We'll just take one turn around the lake and be back" called Harry to Dumbledore and the Delacours.

They all sounded their approval and Harry and Gabrielle stepped out into the hallway by themselves and began to walk towards the entrance.

"Have you and your parents been here the entire time?" Harry asked.

"Well, we came along with Fleur and Beauxbatons back in the fall but sometimes we apparate or floo home for a night or two. Maman misses our house, I think."

They reached the entranceway. Gabrielle slid the door aside and they stepped out. It felt strange to step from a large hall with so much marble that it felt like it belonged in a museum onto a small carriage step. They stepped away from the carriage and down towards the lake. They walked on the side closest to Hogwarts, first. For the first time Gabrielle felt that she was really alone with Harry. She had imagined being with him ever since she was very young. She felt a bit nervous but not as much as she had expected. She felt confident. This was where she was supposed to be, she felt.

"Do you walk around here a lot?" asked Harry.

"Some," Gabrielle said. "I mostly stay in my room."

"Does it feel restricted in there?"

"Yes. But, some of the Durmstrang guys are pretty annoying. But sometimes I go out for walks with Maman and Papa."

"Annoying how?"

"Well, those guys come down from the ship when they're all in a group and sort of chase me around or call to me, or whistle at me."

"Damn. That's awful."

Gabrielle shrugged as if to say that this was what she always had to deal with.

They had reached the edge of the lake itself. The Durmstrang ship dominated the view.

Harry gestured down towards the center of the lake. "Hard to believe that we met down there."

Gabrielle laughed. "Yeah," she said. "Not too many people meet at the bottom of a lake."

"So, um, yeah, I didn't really expect to be out here today, either… you know, with you…" said Harry awkwardly.

The smile faded from Gabrielle's face. She looked up at him. There was regret there. But Harry did not sense fear. Her voice lowered slightly and she spoke clearly "Yes. I know you didn't. I am so sorry. I don't know what to say."

Harry looked down at his feet. Then he stopped, turned towards her, and looked back at her blue eyes. Gabrielle felt so sorry and so drawn to Harry in that moment.

"It's ok," he said. "I guess we're going to have to get to know each other a lot better," he said with a chuckle.

They walked on.

"Is this your first time in Britain?" Harry asked.

"Oh no," said Gabrielle. "Maman and Papa always believed in traveling, and Papa's work for the ministry sometimes took him abroad, so we took lots of trips."

"I've never been outside Britain," said Harry.

"Yes, those horrible muggles always kept you locked at home, didn't they?" said Gabrielle with icy disdain.

"Yes, well… wait, how did you know that?"

Gabrielle suddenly looked a bit embarrassed. "Magazines," she said.

"Oh. Right." It felt awkward to think people read about him in France.

"Do you like the idea of going to Hogwarts?" he asked.

"Oh, well, I hadn't thought about it before…" Her voice trailed for momentarily. "But I think it would be fascinating to try studying here."

"Were you planning on going to Beauxbatons?"

"Yes, I was supposed to start next year."

"Is it very similar to Hogwarts?"

"Well," Gabrielle said, "I don't know too much, as I have only visited each, not studied there. It is different on the outside. Beauxbatons is a large chateau, not an old stone castle. There are not quite as many students. And I think the food is, perhaps, a little better," she said with a smile.

They were reaching the furthest point from the carriage along the lake.

Back in the carriage, Dumbledore spoke frankly with the Delacours. He told them that without regular contact, the negative effects of the charm would still progress. Gabrielle's future still had some uncertainty. She would never be totally free of it, unless Harry and Gabrielle bonded. but they could under no circumstances ask this of Harry. This would already present immense and lasting challenges to Harry's life. He had to have some area of his life where he could develop. The Delacours agreed and were apologetic to Dumbledore about the entire situation.

As they worked their way back along the lake, Harry caught himself feeling so comfortable talking with Gabrielle that it felt quite similar to any other friend. He looked over at her slender frame in the cream knit top. He wondered if she was chilly in the breeze. It was warmer than usual for that time of year but still quite cool. He had an urge to put his arm around her and felt that comforting her would be very pleasant for him. But she walked confidently and never complained of the chill. Harry didn't want to push anything and wasn't resolved in how he felt about her yet.

Harry had just finished telling her about all the different Defense Against the Dark Arts teachers Hogwarts had had for some time.

"Do you receive owls here?"

"Oh yes," said Gabrielle. "The owlery is not far off from the entrance room. I can't guarantee if you send something, though, that my mother or my sister won't see it first."

"Gotcha," said Harry.

"And I think it takes time to get to us because they go to the owlery and then the owlery witch, Madame Blanchet, sends us a note and we have to walk down there. But she doesn't work at night."

"Oh, I see."

"Harry, can I ask you a question?"

"Of course."

"Why are you here? I mean, why did you agree to seeing me and all this? It must be very surprising to you."

"Oh, well, um. I mean, Dumbledore told me about the issue. I didn't fully understand it, so I talked to a lot of other professors. It didn't make sense to me that it could be irrevocable. All the curses, other than the killing curse, always seem like they can be countered by the best witches and wizards and healers."

"Well, it takes to cast something that strong," said Gabrielle with a dark chuckle that Harry joined before it subsided.

"But once I knew that it was real, that it wasn't something that Dumbledore or McGonagall could reverse if they really wanted to, then I knew that even though it was all a bit confusing, I just had to do it. I mean, if I didn't let you die down there," he gestured down at the lake, "how could I let you die up here, if there was something I could do to stop it?"

Gabrielle stopped and turned towards him. Harry stopped and turned towards her.

"Thank you," she said. He looked at her and could tell she meant it.

They looked at each other for another beat and then turned and went on. They were quiet for a moment.

"You know when we're first years, they take us across the lake on boats for our first look at Hogwarts."

"Lovely," said Gabrielle.

"It'd be a shame if you missed that. Maybe they'll let you go next year." Gabrielle only nodded. The thought that this was real, that there was not just a present but a future with Harry was something she was still adjusting to.

They were about a hundred meters from the carriage as Dumbledore stepped to return to the castle. Somewhere above them, a twig with three leave attached dropped from a tree limb. It was about to fall right on Gabrielle but she gave one quick wave of her hand, and the twig swung in its path and landed about five feet to her right, in the direction she had waved her hand. She hadn't touched it. She had just waved her hand back through the air, without obvious focus, the way anyone else would wave their hand when a fly was nearby. If he hadn't been looking directly at them, Dumbledore never would have noticed it at all, it was so casual. His eyes narrowed before he walked on.

Harry noticed as well, though. "Did you just use wandless magic on those leaves?" Harry asked.

"Oh. Yes," Gabrielle said. "But don't tell my parents. They freak out whenever I use it. And, um, they're not too happy with me about some other magic I cast recently either," she said with a wry smile, running her left hand through her smooth, cascading hair.

"Why don't you want your parents to know? I mean, wouldn't they be proud?"

"Well, you know, I don't have a wand yet and I haven't started school yet so I'm really not supposed to be using any magic at all. And they don't want any attention on me when it's supposed to be Fleur's moment."

"That's really impressive, though," said Harry, "I mean, I don't really use wandless magic and the only people I know that use it are adults. I heard they only teach it to sixth and seventh year students here."

"Oh," said Gabrielle with a turn of her head, "that's interesting." But she did not really look interested. They reached the steps of the great carriage.

They paused. Then Harry said, "Well, I have to run to class. It was good meeting you. Properly, I mean."

Gabrielle dipped her hand through her hair again.

Harry felt that he should hug her and now felt comfortable enough with her to try it. But he thought it was wrong, and would look wrong if anyone was watching them, so he extended his hand for a handshake. It was awkward because they were closer together than usual for a handshake, halfway up the steps of the carriage. Harry felt her hand, smaller than his. It was soft but not weak. Just as he was pulling away, Gabrielle, without planning it, shifted her hand slightly so the index finger was on top of his hand. She ran the finger along his. He could feel its suppleness. He would remember it for much longer after that day.

They looked at each other in the eyes.

"Tomorrow," said Harry.

"Tomorrow," said Gabrielle.