The rest of the day was busy but lifeless for Harry. Classes that were not particularly interesting on a regular day seemed stultifying in the face of the day's drama.

At dinner, Hermione and Ron tried to ask him about the day but he whispered "Later" to them and changed the topic. There were too many people around.

That evening in the common room, all the seats were filled. But they managed to find a spot on the side in which they could talk and be reasonably certain that no one would hear them. As soon as they were there, Ron and Hermione started peppering him with questions.

"Well, how was it? Did you meet her parents?" asked Hermione.

"Is she pretty? I didn't really get a good look at her by the lake." asked Ron at about the same time.

Hermione bumped Ron in the arm after he asked about Gabrielle.

Harry wasn't sure what to answer first. "Did Dumbledore say anything more about the whole situation?" Hermione asked.

"Oh, not too much. He said that her condition shouldn't worsen too fast if I see her every day, what with the potions they'll give her."

"Every day?" asked Ron.

"Yeah, mate. That's what it looks like."

"Wow."

"And yeah, I met her parents. They were very nice. Then we just walked around the lake."

"With the parents?" Ron asked.

"No, just the two of us."

Ron raised his eyebrows slightly.

"Oh come on, we didn't do anything!" Harry exclaimed.

"I know, I know," said Ron with a grin.

Hermione nudged Ron disapprovingly.

"What's she like, Harry? Was it difficult talking to her?" asked Hermione.

"I mean at first I was nervous but then it was actually really easy to talk to her. It was very comfortable. She seems really nice. And she doesn't seem as young as I thought she was."

"How young is she exactly?" Ron asked.

"I-I don't know," said Harry "I think she's supposed to be starting at Beauxbatons this year."

"Imagine how jealous all the first years are at this French girl getting to spend all this time with you," Ron said with a smile.

Harry opened his palms outward, as if to say "What am I supposed to do?" but just said "I need to go up. I'm tired."

"I'll be up in a bit, mate," said Ron.

As he reached the stairs, Hermione trotted over to him and said, "Listen Harry, I know it's not easy, but I think you're doing the right thing here. Just be careful."

"Yeah, yeah. Don't worry, Hermione."

That evening, Gabrielle turned in early. Her parents had been complimentary about Harry but she didn't really know what to say to them about him. It felt like she was thinking at a different level than they were. Still, she felt more comfortable than she could remember feeling in a long time. She very tired, as though she had just finished a taxing hike. Still, she had no real pain and she managed to read a few more pages before she waved her book onto her nightstand with her slender left hand. She darkened the room with a flick of her index finger. Then she reached her hand under the covers and began to feel her body.

When Harry woke in the morning, he yearned slightly for Gabrielle. How nice it would be to have her next to him. Not even doing anything sexual or romantic. Just to have her there. As he got up and went to the bathroom, he shook himself. Was he really having feelings for her already? Or was it just expected of him? Or was it just hormones?

Harry was inclined to go down to the carriage over breakfast, or lunch. But he had double potions in the afternoon and while he wanted to hang out with Gabrielle, and knew he needed to go, he felt like he wouldn't enjoy it with Potions looming. And, she probably wouldn't get the benefit if he had to run back to the castle after half an hour. So, he decided to head down when classes were done.

By the time class was over, Harry was eager to go.

"I'm, you know, going down now," said Harry quietly as he, Hermione, and Ron approached the hallway towards the main entrance.

"Of course," said Hermione.

"Have a good time," said Ron.

The day was cool and dry as he set off across the grounds. When he reached the carriage, he said the password (Chartres) that Dumbledore had given him and climbed up into the entrance hall with its grand vaulted ceiling.

Gabrielle had been busy all morning. When she'd woken up, she felt pain again. Not as bad as it had been before but the pain was definitely back. The pain in her back felt like a period cramp but not quite in the right place. Her head ached. She had tried to sleep more, tried stretching and exercise. Nothing seemed to work. She read in her room for a while. Then, just before lunch the Professor they called Snape came with a large jar of potion. She was polite and thanked him but found him disgusting. It wasn't just his hair. Something about him made her skin crawl. But his potion did reduce her pain considerably.

In the afternoon, Dumbledore came down and told her and her parents that it had been arranged for her to study at Hogwarts. She would need to formally apply for a student wizard visa with the British ministry, but the French ministry had approved and Dumbledore's contacts at the British ministry told him it was largely a formality. There were many things to be arranged, however. She would need to purchase school supplies, complete the visa process, and while it wasn't strictly necessary, setting up a Gringotts account would make things easier during her time at Hogwarts. And, most crucially, she needed to get a wand. Since then, she and her parents had been bustling about their apartment completing the visa form, owling home for supporting documents and planning for a trip to Diagon Alley the next day. When Gabrielle heard the door, she worried it might be Dumbledore telling them of more things they had to do. She jogged over to the door and when she pulled it back, she let out a little "oh!"

"Hey," said Harry, looking at Gabrielle in her white cardigan and chiffon dress, which was pale with small red flowers on it.

"Hey," said Gabrielle, tucking some hair behind her ear, as she looked at Harry in his slightly wrinkled school robes and unkempt hair. She didn't notice it, but her pain was gone.

"You look nice," said Harry. It slipped out before he could restrain himself. He meant it but he felt sheepish about saying it, so he tried to hide his embarrassment. "Do you want to walk or hang out here or what?"

"Walk, I suppose."

"Ok," said Harry, and stepped back from the threshold.

"Maman, Papa, Harry is here," she called back into the apartment. "I'm heading out."

"Ok, ma chérie," came the response in a warm voice.

Outside, Gabrielle began telling Harry about everything that had happened that day.

"So you're going to Diagon Alley tomorrow? That'll be fun," said Harry. "Will you go to Ollivander's?"

"That is the wandmaker, yes?"

Harry nodded.

"Yes, Papa said we would go to this Diagon Alley and this Ollivander's and if no wand suits me, we can floo over to Rue de Magique and the wandmaking shops there."

"Oh, nice. Is that in Paris?" asked Harry

"Of course."

"Of course. Sorry, that was a stupid question."

"No, no."

Harry looked over and smiled at her. She smiled back. Harry was amazed at how, though small, her face seemed to carry so much maturity in it.

When they were back to the carriage, Gabrielle said "Thank you. I feel much better already." Harry had an urge to hug her to him and before he thought better of it, he leaned over to her. She leaned in to him. He hugged immediately. Her frame felt so good in his arms, like nothing about her was unnecessary. Gabrielle felt thrilled to feel the hug, and felt warm and comfortable, like all pain had been forgotten, but she worried that she was doing something wrong, that she might be making things awkward later.

As he walked back to the castle, at first he thought of all the homework he had yet to do, and how he was already tired. He felt like he would rather go back to the carriage. Wasn't that a better place for him? Someone who cared for him. Polite parents who seemed delighted whenever he was around. He looked back towards the carriage, about 80 meters away by that point. To his surprise, Gabrielle was still on the step of the carriage, looking towards him. Her refined face stood out clearly in the dying light. He smiled towards her. She smiled back. He felt a tinge of regret as turned back towards the castle.

Gabrielle was still free of pain but the great feeling of comfort and rightness that she had felt when she was close to Harry was gone. She was left wondering what the hug meant. Did it mean he was developing feelings for her? Was it just friendship? What if he had regrets? She ruminated on this as she returned to her rooms.