Disclaimer: Everything belongs to J.K Rowling

A/N: Howdy! I don't have too much to say this week, please leave a review if you like it (or don't).

Enjoy!

Chapter 9: You've Got a Friend in Me

"What do you think?"

I looked over the pair of dress robes with a scrutinising eye.

"Am I even allowed to say that I dislike them?" I answered rhetorically as I felt the fabric of the robes Rowena had just shown me.

I admittedly knew very little about clothes and fashion but the fabric felt like water, smooth, soft, beautiful. Most of the robe was as black as my hair, but it had detalis and seams the same shade of blue as the piece Delacour had given me.

It was a large step up from the hand-me-downs of the Dursleys.

"I think you should be grateful that your master decided to spend her freetime sewing these clothes for you," Rowena replied sternly as I inspected the clothes in awe.

I pointed to a pocket and frowned, "I think this thing looks very odd," I criticised.

Rowena sent me a glare, "And I think you would look even better in purple."

"Woah, I was only joking, that's too far," I backtracked quickly with my hands held up. "The robe is excellent."

"Of course it's excellent, I made it myself," Rowena replied with a shrug.

"And everything you do is excellent?"

"Naturally."

I took the robe of the hanger and went into my room in the small compound to change. There were two bedrooms in Rowena's place, one for her and one for her apprentice: me. I'd never actually seen Rowena use her bed so I wondered if it was only there for decoration, but I'd used my own bed in there a few late nights.

I slipped on the robes carefully and buttoned all the buttons as Rowena had described. Apparently, some buttons were supposed to be unbuttoned, something which made me question why you would even include them at all.

Then I went into the bathroom in an attempt to tame my unhinged hair. As expected, it didn't go well at all; my hair remained wild, if somewhat tamer. I sprayed my cologne twice and went back to the main room to get her verdict.

I squirmed slightly as she scrutinised me heavily, I felt like I was on a fashion show with how she walked around me deep in contemplation.

"It fits very well, not that I didn't expect it too," Rowena declared finally.

I shook my head and chuckled slightly, she could never resist the opportunity to compliment herself.

"Thank you," I replied and plumped down heavily in my armchair.

It was still a few minutes until I had to meet Fleur in the entrance hall and begin the night. Rowena sat down gracefully in her own armchair and gave me a small smile.

"I want to give you a piece of advice," she began gently. "Just because I made it appear as if the partner was either beneficial or fun doesn't mean that you can't have both."

I looked at her in confusion, "What is that supposed to mean?"

"It means that I want you to have fun tonight. Laugh, dance, have your first kiss. Try to have fun tonight," Rowena explained with a smile.

"It is all an act," I started slowly.

"Because you make it so. Just be yourself, aim for fun, not benefit."

"I thought we established the date would be about benefit."

"We did," Rowena began slowly. She shook her head sadly, "but don't take the fun out of things needlessly. Please."

My eyebrows rose significantly, I didn't think I'd ever heard her say 'please' before.

"I'll try my best," I replied hesitantly after a while.

"No, I want you to have fun. Don't try to have fun."

I shook my head in exasperation and left to go and find my date. The halls of Hogwarts were swarming with students, although no one looked like a student tonight. Boys walked carefully towards the great hall, fidgeting and fixing their hair. Some even had flowers with them, Rowena had wanted me to bring one as well but I didn't want Delacour to get any more wrong signals than necessary.

It was strange seeing people you had only ever seen in the black, covering Hogwarts robes waltzing through the corridors in dresses and formal wear.

The entrance hall was absolutely packed. It felt like it did before a storm, the nervous anticipation was almost tangible in the air. Everywhere I looked, boys stood alone with their eyes darting around searchingly and the girls stood in droves giggling and complementing each other's dresses and make up.

It was impossible to find anyone in there so I went into the chill winter air outside and waited for my date to arrive. There were only about twenty of us freezing outside the castle. Very few had been brave enough to stray away from the comforts of someone from their own school.

Just as I was beginning to pace on the spot, a crowd of students arrived. There was one person in that group which stood out though. I could have sworn that Delacour's dress was glowing in the dark, no matter how good my own robes were, I'd look like a pauper next to her. I felt the female glares directed at us as Fleur approached me and took my arm gracefully.

"Good evening Fleur, you look lovely," I began as planned.

I shook my head internally. Rowena has said to have fun, be myself, no planning or manipulation.

Fleur looked me up and down and nodded in approval, "You don't look too bad yourself."

I arched my eyebrow at her, "Only 'not too bad'?"

Fleur smiled smugly. "I could settle for 'above average', I suppose."

"I personally prefer 'best in the school', but I'll take what I can get," I countered with a small smile.

Fleur smiled and we began walking towards the entrance. I shivered again, probably of the cold and suddenly longed for the crowded heat of the insides. The entrance hall was emptier than before, but there were still a lot of stares. Countless boys were staring at Fleur, consequently, countless girls also glared daggers at her.

"Don't care about them, they're only jealous you have got the best looking date," I whispered to her ear and gave her a wink.

She smiled at me gratefully and shook her head. "Will I have to endure you complimenting yourself the entire night?"

"Yeah, but perhaps I will relent and give my date a compliment as well, once or twice, however much she deserves."

She arched her brow. "Surely more than once or twice?"

"Obviously," I drawled slowly. "I said as much as she deserves," I continued with a smirk

Fleur rolled her eyes. "Very smooth Harry."

"I thought so too," I replied jovially. We continued through the hall in companionable silence. A great rumble emanated from the great hall, I could only imagine how many students were crammed inside.

Cedric had decided to go with Chang and Krum had some Durmstrang girl on his arm, both of them glared at us like we had killed their entire family. Soon, McGonagall arrived and led us out into the great hall.

It was definitely larger than usual, the house tables had been exchanged for countless small tables for smaller groups. Cedric and Chang made for a pretty couple, Krum and his girl looked good together as well. Even though I kept my head high looking straight ahead, I saw in my periphery every pair of eyes glued to us.

I felt my palms sweat and my heart thudding as we strided agonisingly slowly towards the end of the room where our large table was erected. Surprisingly, someone had actually put some thought into the seating arrangement because Krum was seated on the other end of the table from me.

I held Fleur's chair out for her as Rowena had instructed and sat down next to her as gracefully as I could manage. Dumbledore demonstrated how the food was served from his seat at the middle table and names of different dishes soon rang out around the great hall.

Conversations flowed on around me but I didn't feel like participating in any, I didn't sit quiet by any means, but I let Fleur do most of the talking. After we had all finished our meals, the big moment was upon us.

If my palms had been damp with sweat earlier, they felt like lakes as I took Fleur's hand and led her out on the dance floor. She gave me an encouraging smile and put her hands on my waist. I did as I had practised with my master and started to move as the slow song started.

It felt as if the world disappeared around me at that moment. I could only see her and hear the constant ramblings inside my head. Step there, step here. Spin there.

It wasn't long until we were practically pushed around by the crowd of dancers flooding the dance floor. We must have danced together for the most part of an hour, I felt my clothes clinging to me tightly. They may look good, but they weren't made for exercise.

"You want to go and grab a drink?" I eventually asked as the tact changed again.

"Sure," Fleur replied with a smile.

We went over to a table where drinks were served and took a glass of some drink. A table at the edge of the room was soon occupied as we sat together sweaty and sipped our drinks.

"You're a good dancer," Fleur remarked with a small smile. "Who taught you?"

My mind reeled at the question, "My aunt," I responded in what I hoped was a casual tone.

"You live with your aunt, yes?" Fleur asked curiously.

"Yeah," I replied, trying not to sound too bitter about it.

She took another sip of her drink and didn't press any further.

That was when Ron and Hermione walked over to us, holding hands. My eyebrows raised internally, they were both panting slightly from their dancing.

"Hello Harry, Fleur," Hermione began timidly.

"Hi Hermione, having fun?" I asked with my eyebrows raised.

"Yes, dancing is fun. Right Ron?"

"With the right partner," Ron replied, causing me to raise my eyebrows again.

Hermione blushed a little before she became serious, "We want to apologise, Harry. We're sorry for ignoring you these past few days."

I sighed. "Can we talk about this later?" Then I downed the last of my drink quickly and stood up abruptly. "Shall we?" I said as I held my arm forward to Fleur.

"Oui," she responded primly and took the offered arm.

Soon, as the music gradually grew more and more wild, we jumped around next to each other with no cohesion at all really, all thought of practised dance gone. Space on the dancefloor started to slowly become more plentiful and soon there were only a few couples left.

"Do you think it's time to leave?" I asked in exhaustion as a song came to an end.

"Yes, let's go and take some air," she replied with an exhausted look.

The halls were full of couples at varying stages of goodbyes. Some were outright snogging, others were clearly eager to follow their example. We pointedly ignored them as the December winds greeted us again. We found a small secluded spot looking over the black lake outside.

The lake was shining beautifully in the moonlight, as if someone had lite a lamp below the water.

"Tonight was fun," Fleur began with a smile.

"Naturally," I replied smugly.

She rolled her eyes, but smiled. "I never got the impression you were so full of yourself."

I shrugged. "Who says I am?"

Flyer looked at me oddly and shrugged eventually. "Good night Harry, see you around." Her blue dress glowed eerily in the moonlight; one speck of light on the ground shrouded by darkness.

I sighed and looked out over the blank lake. I imagined that taking a swim in the lake would be easier than following my master's advice.

Since when did I become so guarded?

I had never understood why Dumbledore always pretended to be a mad, old man. Now I was beginning to see why.

-()-

"Master!" I shouted excitedly as I rushed inside the main room with my golden egg in hand. "I did it! I've solved it,"

She put down her book slowly and gestured for me to hand over the golden egg.

"It seems you are right," she confirmed after scrutinising the egg shortly. "So what is the second task about?"

"The egg was enchanted to contain a message, a clue as to what the task is about," I explained excitedly. "It was charmed to convey the message in Mermish, but the original version was in there as well."

I retold her the small poem that had resided in the large egg and she hummed thoughtfully.

"You've got a month to come up with a plan," Rowena eventually stated. "Well done, I had expected it to take longer."

That was about as much praise as I would get but I still glowed in appreciation.

"I was thinking of using the bubble head charm," I suggested with a grin.

"An adequate approach. I'll let you come up with a plan by yourself this time."

"Like I didn't have to do it last time," I replied sarcastically, with a little edge to my voice.

Rowena only rolled her eyes and picked up her book again, leaving me in silence. I packed up my things quickly and bade her goodbye as I left the room. I'd decided to name the room 'Rowena's Room', I liked the alliteration and she didn't mind the name either when I conferred with her about it. Not that anyone would ever hear about the room, but still.

It was in the middle of January and the heavy snowfall was only growing steadier each day. Still, I had rarely felt so calm and warm in the castle. It was difficult to see how I'd gone from being a regular at the hospital wing and receiving an A in class at best, to this.

It felt like my life was finally getting back on track. Beauxbatons had left me alone completely since the ball and Durmstrang had been fairly nullified.

Although perhaps that was more due to the presence of aurors than Fleur having been my date.

-()-

"Hello Harry," Hermione greeted timidly as she approached me in the library with Ron in tow.

I held in a sigh and slammed my book shut. "Hi."

She sat down in a chair across from the table and grimaced. "I want to apologise."

I arched my brow. "So you've said."

Hermione fidgeted with her fingers and glanced at Ron. "Look…I…we want to apologise." She took a deep breath and exhaled. "Both of us have felt so bad for just leaving you the other day."

I nodded.

"It was such a small thing and we overreacted completely."

"You did," I acknowledged.

"It's just…" Hermione trailed off. "It just feels like we aren't friends anymore, you know?"

"I know…I'm at fault for that as well. I can see that. But the two of you…you left me not just once, but twice."

Hermione opened her mouth but closed it again.

"Sorry, mate," Ron cut into the conversation. "I was a twat."

I smiled. "You were a big one. I was one as well, so I guess we are even."

Ron frowned. "I was the bigger twat though."

I snorted. "Sure."

"I'm serious Harry," Hermione cut in. "We want to help you, it doesn't feel right when you are off on your own all the time."

I met Hermione's eyes.

Ron and Hermione weren't perfect, no one was. Still, I couldn't help but feel that the only thing we did nowadays was fight and ignore each other. Either way, I would be lying to myself if I said that I never longed for their company anymore. They were my first friends, and as had been proved since the task, my only friends.

All of my friends had abandoned me.

That was a rather sobering thought.

"I won't lie to you Hermione. I learned how to function by myself, it's hard to unlearn now."

Hermione swallowed and forced a smile. "Is it alright if we try to learn too, instead of you unlearning?"

I shrugged. "Your choice."

-()-

"Can you pass me the book on lake creatures Hermione?"

"Which one?" Hermione replied absently as she turned another page of her thick tomb about giant squids.

"The one with a Mermaid on the cover," I replied and pointed to a green book in her pile of books.

"Haven't you read that book twice already?" Ron demanded as he rubbed his eyes in exhaustion.

"Might be something we missed," I yawned as I settled down for another dull journey across the pages.

This had been a regular occurance the last two weeks, us three bundled up in a secluded corner of the library, relentlessly researching information about everything we could need. There was only one week left until the second task and I still didn't feel prepared at all.

Rowena had proved entirely unhelpful and outright refused to alter her plan even the slightest to accomodate for the potentially life threatening endeavour I would soon partake in.

"Your extracurricular activities are of no concern of mine unless I feel you need them to be my concern," she had declared with a look that dared me to argue against her.

I wasn't sure if I should see it as a good thing that she believed in me enough that she thought I'd manage on my own or as a bad thing since she appeared entirely uninvested in my well being. "That isn't anything new," a dark voice said inside of my head.

I shook my head to wake myself up from my musings and to get back to the task at hand, endless reading.

When I stifled the third jawn in a minute I slammed my book shut conclusively with a band. Hermione and Ron jerked at the sudden sound, suddenly woken from their quiet, half slumbering states.

"Let's go and get some sleep," I muttered and was met with sighs of delight from them both. Both of their classwork and social lives were deprived by their constant helping of me, still, they kept on coming to join me in the library without complaint. The familiar twinge guilt soared through my veins as I watched them jam as many books as they could in their bags. Sometimes, I really wondered how they weren't Hufflepuffs. A darker part of me wondered if they only did this to make up for all the mistakes they had done earlier.

One of the few useful things I'd learned over the past few months was a ward which made every lifeform inside invisible from the outside. Casting it was like trying to finish a puzzle, it took time and was tricky. Considering all the nights we'd been saved from the scorching eyes of Madam Pince, it was more than worth it.

Wordlessly, we moved out of the library in perfect sync. The invisibility cloak was being stretched to its limit to hide three people at once, in a year, we would need something different.

I scanned my precious map for names and couldn't find anyone in my vicinity. I spotted Roger Davis together with a chunk of french names close to the entrance hall. It felt like I'd been stabbed with a knife of guilt again, he ended up hospitalised at least twice a week from attacks from Beauxbatons students. For some reason, he never learned how to stay away from them. How disappointed my master would be in her house's member.

-()-

"Now that we've covered the basics of runes and you've learnt an adequate amount, we will begin with a new subject," Rowena explained with an indifferent look.

I leaned forwards slightly with my ears perched. These runes had been the most agonising things I'd ever learned and apparently it was my own fault.

"You should have displayed a hint of intellect when you choose your electives," Rowena had declared with an arched eyebrow. "Divination, that's for only those who try to see beyond the horizon but can't spot their own hands."

"Please be something fun," I begged internally and held my thumbs for something which didn't involve painting for hours upon end.

"This subject will be the most important yet," Rowena explained and paused dramatically. "It will provide you with the building blocks to succeed at everything else."

I was by now hanging onto her every thread and she purposefully paused dramatically again. I screamed in frustration internally but kept up the facade of excited intrigue, "What is it master?

"Your health," she announced simply.

I stared at her in confusion for a few moments. "Am I not healthy? I know I'm skinny and all but I feel fine."

"There are several parts of health. Mainly, physical, psychological and magical. You have issues in all three, which all need rectifying."

"What? What do you mean I have psychological issues?" I demanded dignantly. I could admit that my physical state wasn't ideal but I didn't see any problems with my mind or magic.

"I mean that your mind is like an ocean. It is an unorganised mess, anyone can dive in and peruse it without problems," she explained coolly.

"With legilimency?" I confirmed hesitantly.

"Yes," Rowena uttered simply. "We will go over what is required for your physical health up until the second task, after then I assume that you will continue whatever schedule we set up."

"Schedule?," I replied incredulously. "What do you want me to do? Go to a gym? Run a mile á day?"

"Depends what your goal is," she calmed me slowly. "The greater problems will be taken care of after the task."

"Exactly what are the other problems apart from my mind being an 'ocean'?"

"You will know after the second task," she replied with a stern look.

I knew better to press the issue, but how many 'great problems' could I really have with my health now?

-()-

The interior of the Beauxbatons carriage was a forest of blue. Almost literally, I wasn't sure how I belived that all students fitted in the small carriage before but now I felt stupid for not thinking about extension charms. The space inside was huge, trees were growing inside, forming walls, pieces of furniture and doors. It looked like something pulled straight out of a fairytale. Blue leaves and small blue lights were spread throughout the room and a scent of rain and murky woods permeated throughout the space nicely.

"Beauxbatons is known for being the best place to learn how to shape nature's gifts," Fleur explained with a small smile as she spotted the awed look on my face.

Her door was on the other side of the…forest. The door lacked a handle but the letters 'F.F' were written on the door in large, blue, glowing letters. The door swung open soundlessly as we approached and she led me through the door.

I hadn't seen every room of the building, but I doubted any of them were better than this. Instead of the warm blue and brown of the outside, the room was even warmer with beautiful red and orange bushes merging together to make a bed which looked very comfortable.

"You're literally sleeping in a bush?" I asked in amusement as I eyed her bed.

She glared at me with an amused look, "Be careful what you're saying, otherwise I might make the bed eat you up?"

"You can do that?" I asked incredulously and took a long step away from the bed.

"You just have to know what the tree wants, help the tree and the tree helps you," Fleur

explained with a fond smile to her bed

"What does a tree want?"

"Usually, I can just pat them gently and they will be happy."

I nodded slowly. "Is the entire place this…dangerous?"

Fleur chuckled. "I promise I won't make it eat you, a nibble or two maybe."

I nodded hesitantly and cleared my throat. "So what did you want to talk about?"

Fleur frowned and plumped down on her bed. "I want to apologise to you, for…everything I did to you."

"Thanks."

I still didn't know why I had accepted her request to meet her by her carriage. It was very stupid of me, I had to admit that. But I couldn't see her harming me, not now. We barely knew each other, but she seemed genuinely remorseful.

"Have you solved the clue?" Fleur asked curiously.

"No."

Fleur frowned. "There is a chance I can help you, but I will need to talk to my headmistress."

I frowned. Why would she need her headmistress' approval to tell me. I didn't need her help, but still. Why would her headmistress let her help me too?

"What kind of help are we talking about here?"

Fleur's brown embers met mine with determination. "The kind of help which makes you survive."

I raised my brows. "You don't feel that it could worsen your chances? You've been so intent on almost killing me these past couple of weeks, what has changed?"

Fleur sighed and her head dropped. "I don't know what got into me, I wanted to win so much that I was ready to do anything to achieve it."

Fleur's eyes were fixed on the floor.

"You're not the only one," I remarked.

She scoffed. "No, I am not. But I can only control myself, and quite frankly, I am embarrassed of the person I have become."

I didn't say anything when she looked up and met my eyes with burning determination.

"If I can do this one small thing to help you, then I hope that these…feelings will disappear. I can't stand this guilt, it's not only you that I hurt." Fleur had an almost haunted look on her face. "There were so many."

I nodded curtly. "So will you help me?"

Fleur put her face in her hands. "I will know tomorrow. Can I meet you then?"

I looked into her eyes for several long moments. It looked like there were embers of a great fire inside, embers which could start to burn again at any moment.

I wanted to say no, I didn't need any help with the task. I had created a plan for everything with Ron's and Hermione's help. But I couldn't, the sheer look of desperation would haunt me forever if I declined. This was her shot at redemption, she didn't deserve it, but I still wanted her to have it.

"There is a table hidden behind the aisle where all the old astronomy reports are. I'll be there in the evening tomorrow."

Fleur breathed out a sigh of relief. "Thank you Harry, thank you."

I nodded again and stood up. The table may look empty when you see it, but approach, and it won't be."

Fleur smiled at me. "You won't regret this."