Chapter 22
Harry laid himself on the hospital bed with a painful moan, now that he was back and his adrenaline had subsided, his broken hips protested after every movement he made, but the werewolf was already thinking about what he would have to say to get out of there after the matron mended him. The full moon would happen in less than fourteen hours, and he couldn't be there in the hospital wing; the werewolf was not entirely comfortable with his control yet. His mind came back to Katie and how hurt she was when he left the girl at her family's house, and a different kind of pain took hold of him. The boy felt Fleur's soft and warm hands squeezing his own, almost like she knew what was going on inside his head. Harry smiled at her, it felt so good having the girl back at his side, even if just for the night, to him, she glowed like a beacon with her platinum hair flowing over her shoulders. The werewolf looked around and saw Daphne on the bed beside him, sleeping, then Blaise on the one right in front of him. He felt stupid and angry at himself for acting without thinking again. The werewolf could try and blame the full moon as much as he wanted, but in the end, he was the one running after danger again.
Madam Pomfrey walked up to the bed and started waving her wand, casting the diagnostic spells with a severe expression on her face.
"Multiple concussions, three cutting curses, and three broken ribs…"
"Well, I had worse." Harry tried to joke.
"Do I look in the mood for this kind of joke, mister Potter?" The matron called him off, flicking her wand. Harry felt a stinging pain as one of his ribs was put back in place. "If it wasn't for your alternated physical condition, you could be a lot worse!"
"Wait! You know about me?" Harry asked, surprised.
"Of course I do, Harry! After the first task, I noticed it and questioned the headmaster, and he told me about professor Lupin." There was an unusual tenderness in her eyes. "You are my favorite patient, after all."
Harry smiled while the matron kept going with her procedures. Fleur stood by his side all the time, holding his hand until he finally drifted into a dreamless sleep induced by the potions.
.oOo.
Daphne woke up in the middle of the night and recognized the infirmary ceiling. It was ironic to be laid at one of the beds after helping Pomfrey over the last two years and for the second time in the same year nonetheless. Her body was sore, but other than that, Daphne felt well. The witch shivered, remembering the fight and how things could have gone a lot worse, the memory of the monster's eyes haunting her. Then she remembered Katie and Harry. They were both hurt really bad, way worse than her and Blaise.
Looking around, the girl saw the green-eyed wizard sleeping in the bed beside her, a thin ray of moonlight coming from the window illuminating his skin. She watched Harry's chest heavily moving up and down under the sheets, the nasty cut on his face slowly healing.
Making up her mind, Daphne got out of her bed and climbed into Harry's side. Fuck Fleur, Pomfrey, or Dumbledore; she didn't care anymore. All she wanted was to feel his warmth, to be closer to him, to hear him breathing. To remind herself that Harry was not dead, that he was there for her.
.oOo.
Harry woke up feeling the warm, soft touch of a feminine body spooning him from his side. The werewolf took a deep breath, drinking on the scents around him, as he usually did as he woke now, and he knew it was Daphne, soundly sleeping beside him. But he also could sense Fleur's lilies scent close to the bed. He opened his eyes with a sigh, not sure about what he would find. The blond witch was sitting right in front of him, watching with narrow eyes and an unreadable expression, like she was deep in thought. Harry braced himself for the anger explosion from the veela, but to his surprise, Fleur just took a deep breath and shrugged. To say Harry was confused was an understatement.
To Harry's even greater surprise, the french girl got up from her chair and softly laid on the bed, spooning him by his other side. The movement nonetheless woke up Daphne, who silently looked at Fleur before looking up to Harry's astonished face. With a soft whimper and a deep breath on his neck, Daphne laid her head back at Harry's shoulder, seeming unphased by the other girl's presence. Fleur kissed Harry's lips softly, placing one hand on his chest before doing the same as Daphne on his left shoulder.
The bed was not big; they were all very close together, Harry could feel almost his entire body being surrounded by the two girl's warmth, and both their scents invaded his senses. The wizard was sure that the only reason he was not losing it was because of their closeness's effects on him. Harry took some deep breaths, making both Fleur and Daphne aware of what he was doing.
The three of them stayed together in silence, even if a somewhat uncomfortable one, but Harry could see the colors dancing around them all the same. Feeling complete and safe, Harry drifted back into sleep, this time without the need for potions.
.oOo.
Fleur watched as Harry fell back into sleep again; as much as he tried not to show, the veela knew how hurt his body was. Once he had closed his eyes and his breathing slowed down, she looked at the other girl lying on Harry's other side. Daphne was still awake, looking into Harry's face with what Fleur could only identify as love.
"It will be a very painful couple of nights for him…" Daphne whispered, and Fleur remembered the full moon was today. "And not only because of his body."
"What do you mean?" Fleur asked.
"Katie was very hurt, just like him… he took her to her family. He will be alone tonight." Daphne answered, and Fleur nodded in understanding.
"Thank you for being there with him…" The veela finally said, after a couple of minutes in silence, her hands trembling over Harry's chest.
"It was the scariest night of my life…" Daphne said, looking at the french girl. "And he faced it head on… He fought that … monster… for Katie, for me… for us…" Fleur watched as the other girl tried not to cry as the weight of things finally got to her. "I know you may hate me, and, right now, I don't really care… I'm not leaving Fleur, I'm not going away… I can't. And I'm not sorry for that."
Fleur didn't know what to think or what to do, Daphne seemed afraid, clinging to Harry like he was her lifeline. She could see herself in the other girl's actions for a moment. But she was sure of one thing.
"I'm not leaving him either, Daphne. But, non, I don't hate you."
.oOo.
Daphne and Blaise were released from the hospital during the afternoon. The girl offered to stay with Harry, but he asked her to be alone. He needed to think; his body hurt, and the full moon was too close for him to focus.
"Go on, Daphne… "Harry said. "Tracey and Hermione must be worried to death. I will be ok. We will talk in two days." Harry then softly caressed her face. "There is no way I can ever thank you enough for being there with me, but now, you really know what being with me entails. Please, think about it."
"Harry, I will not…" The girl started saying, but Harry stopped her.
"Please, just promise me you will think about it, then we will talk. Just… " The werewolf took a deep breath. "Just know… you mean a lot to me…"
Daphne nodded and kissed him softly on the lips before leaving the hospital with Blaise.
Harry's mind was in turmoil, just like his body. Growing up, the wizard had a hard time figuring out what love really was. Wasn't until he met Hermione and almost lost her and the Weasleys opened their house to him, that he started to understand it. There was no love at the Dursleys. Not even the way Vernon and Petunia treated Dudley could be understood as love. There was fear, resentment, anger, and pettiness. But no love.
But now, Harry knew that even if in a confused way, he loved those people. Harry loved Hermione, he loved Fleur and Daphne, and he loved Katie. They were all different, but he was sure of that. And the only thing he could do was be honest about it. With himself and with them.
And to make things worse, being close to Daphne was making his body burn with desire, and he was not sure what to do so close to the full moon. Hermione had come to see him while he was sleeping and had asked about his condition ostensibly to madam Pomfrey but left before he woke up. Harry was not sure if it was because his intelligent friend was aware of the effects she had on him or if she was just angry about him almost dying one more time.
After a while, Harry left the hospital wing, this time hoping no one would see him, and walked alone to Hagrid's hut. It was empty, but the scent of his big friend still lingered on it. Harry stood there, thinking about everything.
A lone wolf is a dead wolf.
The werewolf felt the sting on his hurt ribs as soon as the moon started to appear. It was going to be a long night.
.oOo.
Hermione was so angry at Harry. How could he do that, putting himself in danger, again and again, didn't he understand how much he meant to her, how much he meant to so many people? The girl was so worried during the night that she had barely had any sleep.
Of course, the girl understood what happened, and her rational side didn't really blame the werewolf; it was this very same nature of protecting the people he cared about that made her fall in love with him. But it was hard not to be scared. Especially after Daphne sat down with Hermione and Fleur to finally recount the events of the night. Even hearing it from the other girl, it was incredibly scary; it was obvious how much Daphne had been shaken by it. But it was also enlightening.
"So… a prophecy…" Hermione wondered to herself. "All of this, because of a… prophecy. Did you hear the words?" The witch asked Daphne.
"No, but I'm pretty sure Harry did before he destroyed it," Daphne answered. "It is terrible, but it makes perfect sense, you know… wizards and witches are incredibly superstitious.
Hermione scoffed at this.
"Guess you're not so keen to divination, 'ermione …" Fleur joked.
"But it doesn't matter if you believe it or not…" Daphne continued. "Or even if Harry does. The headmaster believes it, and the worse, the death eaters do so as well."
"So, that's the reason they are obsessed with Harry." Hermione continued. "We need to ask him what it says…"
"We can use that…" Daphne said. l, after a couple of minutes of silence.
"Not everything is a political game, Daphne!" Hermione said, a little annoyed. "This is Harry's life!"
"And I don't know that? I was there, I saw that… monster!" Daphne said, shivering. "But they are already using it, Hermione; if we don't take control of that, they will use it against Harry!"
"Daphne has a point…" Fleur agreed. Hermione also had to agree; the Slytherin made a good argument, especially knowing the wizarding society better than herself. Hermione also noticed the two girls had somehow stopped going at each other. Maybe their talk had some effect, or maybe almost losing Harry did it. "I will talk to my father, but only after I talk to Harry about it. Is his decision to make…" the veela finished, and Daphne nodded in agreement. Hermione looked at the two other girls.
"So… are we all still… together?" The bushy-haired girl asked.
"Well…" Daphne started.
"Neither of us is leaving, at least for now…" Fleur concluded.
"If Harry agrees." Daphne reminded.
Hermione jumped to her feet and quickly hugged a surprised Fleur and then Daphne. "I know we can make this work!" She finally said.
.oOo.
Ginevra Weasley's wrath was legendary. After Ronald and Ginny had returned from Saint mungus, the first thing she had done, much to Professor McGonagall's dismay, was to hex her brother to oblivion.
"It is all your fault; if you hadn't taunted Harry this morning, he wouldn't go there!" The girl was so angry. Angry at her brother, angry at Harry, and angry at Blaise. The Weasley girl had pretty much grown away from her crush on Harry, true, but he was still one of her best friends, someone the girl looked up to and really wanted to see being happy and to know that Blaise, her boyfriend, had been dragged into the mess was not easy either.
And, it was feeling furious that she met Blaise exiting the hospital with Daphne. Ginny was already flushed, but the moment she could see the limp on his leg, her skin became as red as her hair. Noticing the red-haired girl's look, Daphne carefully took a couple of steps to the side but could not help but watch the train wreck.
"What… tha… fuck… Zabinni!" Each word was accompanied by a hit on the young wizard's chest. "Why did you do that?"
"Ouch, sorry, Gin, I needed to!"
"Needed to? Why?" Ginny held his gaze with her caramel-colored eyes.
"You… I mean, it was your father, and Harry… he would be going anyway… he… he is my friend." Blaise finished, surprising even himself with his words. Ginny looked at Daphne, and the witch was smiling, then returned her gaze at her boyfriend before latching herself to him.
"Fuck! I was so scared!"
"Sorry amore… next time, I swear I will let you know."
Ginny looked back at him with fierce eyes.
"Next time, I will be going with you!"
.oOo.
For two nights, the entire school would hear the howling coming from the woods. Many students would get scared, and others would think it was a prank, but most of them would be touched by how sad they actually sounded.
.oOo.
Narcisa thought everything was lost for a while when her sister and that monster Greyback went into the department of mysteries with Lucius. The witch was afraid that her well-thought esquime would be all for nothing, that she would be condemned to her golden prison forever, and her son would be destined to be a pawn on the dark lord's games.
But, the regal woman now knew that she had greatly underestimated Harry Potter. Narcisa has always thought of the boy as Lily's spawn, but it seemed he had more of her beloved James on him than she had previously given the boy credit for. A sting of envy hit her as she wondered about her own weak son and how her kids with James could have been. But that was on another life, one Lily Evans had denied her.
Not only did Harry Potter did what was necessary to send Lucius to Azkaban, but Narcisa could barely suppress a smile when she saw what the powerful boy had done to her weak husband's face.
The witch had left the DMLE after recognizing Lucius at the hospital wing and signing the arrest papers but did not get back home. Narcisa didn't want even to have the slightest chance to run across her sister and the werewolf. Instead, the woman went into the Leak Caldron and asked for a room under her maiden name. Once inside, Narcisa undid the glamour charm on her hair and walked to the room's fireplace with a deep breath.
The witch threw a handful of green powder into the flames and called:
"12 Grimmauld place."
.oOo.
To say Sirius Black was surprised by Narcisa's call was an understatement, especially when the man saw her face wiped of all the ill taste glamour charms her idiot of a husband would make her wear.
"Wow… I will admit you are not on the list of people I would expect to call me at this moment, cousin." Sirius told her with a puzzled expression.
"Lord Black, can I please come in?" The woman spoke in a very formal voice, making her serious intentions clear.
"Hum, I can see we are going with formalities…" Sirius said, looking behind at Remus standing behind him.
"Please … Sirius… is a matter of utter importance." Narcisa pleaded, and Sirius noticed something in her voice, was that fear? Hope?
Sirius looked back at Remus, who was watching from the back of the room. The werewolf nodded with his wand in hand.
"Ok, you may come in." The tattooed wizard said, stepping back to give the woman space to enter his living room.
Narcisa walked out of the fireplace carrying some parchments, looking around, a little surprised, not only by Remus's presence but by the lack of furniture around the room.
"Are… are you leaving?" Narcisa asked, Sirius, noted she sounded afraid.
"Nah, just… redecorating." Sirius shrugged. "The place looked like a tomb, it was not suitable for a teenager to live in. It never was…" Narcisa nodded, realizing that Harry Potter would probably come to live with his godfather, and probably Amelia Bones and her niece would also be spending some time there; then she looked at Remus.
"Hello professor Lupin…" The woman said.
"Hello, milady. May I say you look beautiful this way." Remus said with a polite voice.
"Narcisa…" Sirius started with a more serious tone. "If you came here to beg for your husband, I'm sorry to say …"
"No!" The woman interrupted. "I came to beg for myself, Sirius, to beg for freedom." The witch looked at him with pleading eyes and handed him the papers she was carrying, almost desperately.
"What 's this?" Sirius asked.
"My marriage contract. Sirius, you know me… we were good friends once, you know I'm not like Bellatrix. Merlin, I was in love with James and wanted to marry him!" Narcisa had tears in her eyes, but Sirius was not yet sure they were sincere. "They sold me, Sirius… like… like breeding stock! And with a submission contract nonetheless." Narcisa scoffed. "I'm pretty sure aunt Walburga wanted to punish me for wanting to marry a Potter." Narcisa clenched her fists, Sirius had to agree; doing such a thing was not bellow his mother. "You have no idea what I've been through, Sirius, Lucius may be a weak wizard, but he is a disgusting monster nonetheless, and he sold his soul to the dark lord. And the worst! He was corrupting my only son!" The usually prideful witch was openly crying now.
Sirius looked at her, the memories of the times they were friends coming back to him. He remembered the woman in front of him in her teens, making plans with his best friend to be freed from their family. If only Lily had agreed.
"If you do this for me, I can help you, Sirius… I… I have information… about Lucius' business, about… the dark lord…" Narcisa tried.
"Even if you haven't, Narcisa, I would help you…" Sirius said. "But, how?"
"There is a cláusule in the contract. If Lucius does anything that puts the family line in danger or dishonors the family's name, the head of the Black house can annulate the marriage. I'm pretty sure being sent to Azkaban can be seen as a dishonor, and transforming Draco into a death eater can be putting the family line in danger. And now, the Black family has a head again." The witch looked at Sirius with hopeful eyes. "Please, cousin… you can save both my son and me…"
Sirius sighed.
"You Need to understand, I'm not doing this for Drako, he may be too far gone at this point, Narcisa, and you have to face that some time. But I will do it for you."
Narcisa felt her knees trembling… and started crying, she was getting free.
.oOo.
Harry was sitting alone in the great hall; he had just returned from the forest, and the fact that Hagrid was still not there to greet him in the morning really hurt him. Things were so wrong in the magical world. No, in the world at large as well.
The morning classes hadn't finished yet, so there were almost no students in the great hall, and the staff table was completely empty. Not that Harry cared. The werewolf's attention was entirely focused on the entrance as he anxiously waited. The first students started entering the hall, talking, flirting, playing, some worried, others distracted, some looking at him, others ignoring his presence.
The first adult to enter the hall was the ministry's Inquisitor, with her toad-like face and her overly pink clothes, accompanied by Percy Weasley, her personal "assistant." Umbridge gave Harry the most disgusting smile he could imagine before sitting at the staff's table with her fake pompous etiquette. Harry felt like growling but restrained himself, focusing his senses back at the entrance.
Harry caught the grass and strawberry scent way before he could see her and, in a hurry, got up from his seat. The werewolf wanted to smell her, see her, hug her and know if she was ok, and say how scared and proud he was.
Katie was at the doors to the great hall as soon as he finished walking the table's extension, her own brown eyes locked into his, and a bright smile graced her beautiful yet ferocious face the moment the she-wolf saw him coming in her direction.
In the back of his mind, Harry knew people were looking, both at Katie with fear and disgust and at himself with curiosity, but right now, he didn't care. All that mattered was that Katie was here and that she was hurt.
Harry hugged her, and both werewolves let out a moan, a mixture of pain from their wounds and relief for being together again. Harry took a deep breath of her hair, pulled Katie closer to him, and noticed she was doing the same to him.
People around them looked without understanding. Umbridge was clenching her teeth.
"You are my hunter…" Harry whispered into Katie's ears, making the girl tremble with happiness and excitement. " And I am so glad you're back… I was so scared of losing you…"
"Oh, Harry…" Katie answered, strengthening the hug and making him moan in pain from his ribs. "I will not leave; you are my alpha… no, not only that… you are so much more to me… I was so afraid when that… monster tried to break you… but you fought back, you resisted…"
"Because of you… because of my pack…" Harry answered.
The werewolf didn't know how long they stayed in each other's arms, but when they finally separated, the great hall was full of both foreign and Hogwarts' students, and they were surrounded by friends. Hermione, Daphne, and Fleur were looking at them, smiling.
.oOo.
They all eat together, like they haven't in some time, talking about everything and nothing, and Harry felt like everything was right, even if just for a little while. And he needed it.
After they finished, the five of them excused themselves and walked to what was once Harry's spot but now was theirs. The water from the lake calmly reflected the light from the afternoon sun, and Harry relied on the scents around him, both from the grounds and from the most important people in the world for him right now, to calm his mind.
"Before anything, I… let me say something…" Harry started, looking around at each one of the girls after they sat down, still feeling uncomfortable with what he wanted to say. "The night I screamed at you… first of all, I'm sorry. I will not lie, you pushed me into a corner, and I didn't react well. It is not an excuse for the way I acted, I shouldn't have …" Fleur was about to speak, but noticing this was hard for him, she decided to wait. "I'm human, it was a mistake. But, it is also not an excuse for what you have done." Harry looked at Hermione with his piercing eyes. "I already have so many people choosing things for me, manipulating my life, both with good and bad intentions, and no matter how well you think of me, no matter how good and loving your intentios are, I don't want that from you." Hermione closed her eyes, unable to sustain his gaze. "It hurts. I know I am broke, I know I have both magical and no magical problems, but if you can't trust me with my own life, what's the point in healing?" Harry looked at Fleur, Daphne, who were blushing, ashamed, and then Hermione, who still had her eyes closed. "Hermione, look at me, please." The girl opened her eyes, and Harry noticed her fear and her love for him, but he needed to say that before he started. " I want to know everything you have found, but as much as I trust you, Things can not go back to being like that." Hermione silently nodded. "But that is not why I walked away that night. The house I grew up in was… weird?" Harry could notice Hermione holding her breath, Fleur narrowed her eyes. The boy was sure Katie could even smell his reluctance, and Daphne had a stern look that gave him courage. "You see, I knew they never wanted me, and, after I grew up a little, I could see they never really loved me… my uncle and cousin were very keen to show me that with their fists when I was little." Even suspecting about it, Hermione gasped, Harry could smell the other three girls' fury. "But, after some time, I came to realize they didn't even know how to love each other… I was on the receiving end of most of my uncle's rage, but I saw him hit my aunt Petunia once when I was five." Harry felt his fists trembling and noticed they were clenched so strongly that his nails hurt the palms of his hands. "And that was enough. After that, I could see the fear in her eyes every time something that upset Vernon happened. She was always on the edge, she cried and drank, and I knew she wanted to walk away… but my aunt was afraid. The night I… roared at you… I could see those same eyes… I know what I am now… I may be something other wizards consider a monster, but I refuse to be this kind of monster to any of you." Harry took a deep breath.
"The thing is… until I met Hermione, that was the only kind of relationship I knew. I never learned how to … love… I didn't even know how to demonstrate affection until Hermione, and the Weasleys showed me how. I have … problems, and I think the lycanthropy exacerbated some of them…" Harry was feeling ashamed but somewhat relieved of saying it out loud.
"I should have never let things get to where they got; for a second, I allowed myself to dream, Daphne had even told me I could have two wives, being a Potter and a Black, I know, how egocentric and egotistical of me to even imagine this kind of thing, but, a bloke can dream…" Harry laughed. "But then, just like in the ministry, someone is trying to kill me, and maybe… this problem would end up going away anyway, without the need for me to hurt anyone. That makes me a coward, but not anymore."
"The thing is… I know I can't ever let Katie go or Hermione, even after all she has done… and, now, I don't think I could let Daphne or Fleur go as well, but this choice is not mine to make. In a weird and messy way, I know I love each one of you, pack bond or not, even if I don't know exactly how to love anyone. And… I can't choose. And for that, I'm not sorry, I had never felt this kind of love before, and I can't bear to lose it. I will totally understand if any of you want to walk away, and please know I will still love and protect anyone who does with all I have. The only thing is that things can't keep going as they were. I need to move forward; we all need to." Harry finished, letting out a deep breath, feeling like he had taken a weight from his chest. "I think that's it… I said it."
"Harry…" Daphne asked. "You… really mean that? You love us that much?"
"Yes, I love you all too much… and I know how bad that sounds, how… hypocrite and egotistical… but yes, I do. I could see a future for the first time, but I will never subject anyone to this against that person's will. Is already dangerous enough being close to me."
"Love grows…" Katie said, and Hermione enthusiastically nodded.
"But, it may be too much…" Harry said. "I may not be good enough…"
"Babe…" Katie said. " I watched you resisting against the most powerful werewolf of our time, and you did it for us…" Daphne nodded at this.
"We saw you fighting for us, Harry… it was the bravest, most stupid, and scary thing I ever saw…"
"I…" Harry started saying.
"Harry… you must be the most damaged noble idiot I have ever met…" Fleur said. "But, that's just one of the reasons I love you, Harry…"
"You do… even after all I did?" Harry was surprised.
Fleur got closer to Harry and placed both hands on his cheeks, looking deeply into his eyes before kissing him. It was a deep, loving kiss, their tongues met, and the world around the werewolf exploded in magical colors.
When they finally parted, gasping for air, Harry could see Hermione blushing.
"This is not going to be easy, but I think you are worth it…" Fleur said, looking Harry in the eyes, before turning her gaze to Daphne and giving the Slytherin space. Daphne captured Harry's lips on a deep and sensual kiss, her tongue caressing his in a way full of promises, making both teens tremble in anticipation and also making the colors dance in front of him, different ones from Fleur's, but in equal intensity. They parted, both panting for air, but Harry barely had time to catch his breath before Katie turned his face to her and ferociously kissed him. It was a hungry kiss, the she-wolf tried to convey how much she had missed him, how much he meant to her with that kiss, and Harry responded in kind.
When they separated, Hermione was completely flushed, her mouth partially open, and her cheeks turned red by the scene. Even a little unsure about everything, Fleur couldn't help but giggle at the needy girl.
Harry looked at the bushy-haired girl with carrying eyes.
"I know this is not how you imagined, Mione… but if you can accept me…".The wizard was not able to finish. Hermione jumped on him, throwing Harry to the ground and straddling the wizard, her mouth quickly locking into his. Harry was taken by surprise, Hermione alternated between trying to map his mouth with her tongue and moaning as she rocked her hips, pressing her needy, wet pantie-clad pussy against his hardening member.
"Wow…" Harry said, with a smirk, after the girl calmed down a little. "Are you ok there, Mione?"
"Sorry… arf…" Hermione answered, panting, still pressing her hips to his. "I don't know what got into me…" the witch laughed, and Katie followed through, making both Daphne and Fleur giggle.
"I don't know what will happen, Harry…" Fleur said finally, "but it took me too much to find you, and the more I know you, the more I want to be by your side. This may work or not, but I'm willing to try it for you.
"Fleur…" Harry said, holding her hand. "I wish you could feel just how much I love each of you; even if this doesn't work, now that I know you, I will never let you go… unless you tell me to."
"Fleur, I know we don't always see eye to eye," Daphne said. "But, I honestly like and admire you." The witch looked around at each of the other's faces. "I'm not saying it's going to be easy. But If we respect each other, this will work. I know, I want to make it work."
Harry smiled and nodded, he felt light. The colors were dancing around them.
.oOo.
"Shouldn't you go to class?" Fleur asked Harry as the other girls got up and moved back into the school for the afternoon classes. The boy shrugged.
"Perks of being a champion…" Harry smiled. They looked at each other in silence, both afraid of saying the wrong thing. Fleur thought about what she had decided the night Harry went to the ministry and now was battling with something she had just discovered about herself. When Daphne kissed Harry in front of her, the veela felt the familiar sting of her jealous nature pressing against her chest, but when both Katie and Hermione had jumped on Harry with so much need, Fleur couldn't help but feel a certain degree of pride at the scene. That was her man they so desperately wanted, and as much as they could have him, he was still her man, especially if she bonded with him. The girl had discovered she found the way he turned the so Intelligent Hermione into a pleading little girl and Katie into a needing predator incredibly intaincing. And that scared her. Fleur was not sure if she could deal with that part of herself for real.
"Fleur…" Harry called, getting her attention. The girl looked at him and was surprised by the worry on his face. "If you want for me to… leave… I will understand." The boy continued. Fleur got up and sat down on Harry's side on the tree trunk.
"It would be easier, non…" Fleur said, feeling the familiar warmth of his body closer to her. "But that is the thing, I don't want to leave… and I don't want you to leave me. But… I don't know how that changes things."
"I… I hurt you…" Harry said, looking down."I hurt all of you."
"'arry, what hurt me the most is to know that when you needed me, I was not there for you…"
"Please, don't say that, Katie got hurt, and I couldn't bear you getting hurt too. I know I can't always protect you all, that this shit will happen sometime, but I will try as much as I can…"
Fleur placed her head on his shoulder, it was so good being close to him again, the way his body and magic were welcoming her. Harry rested his head on her's. They stood in silence, just enjoying each other's company for a while.
"Fleur…" Harry finally said. "The things you said that night… I understand if you said it in the heat of the moment… I don't understand all of it, but I can sense its importance. I understand if you don't want to."
Fleur thought for a moment before speaking. "Harry, if you had a chance to be connected to me for the rest of your life, no matter what happens, would you take it?"
"Yes." Harry said with no hesitation, to Fleur's surprise. "You are one of the best things that ever happened to me, and I would like it, even if we didn't end up together. I can't imagine something more exciting and scary than this… but I would do it in a heartbeat." Fleur looked into his eyes, and the veela could see how much he loved her. Fleur's allure flowed between the two in a way it hadn't for weeks, and Harry took a deep breath, welcoming it. "I know it is hard to understand, but… you changed everything; even the colors I can see are brighter when we are close; when your allure touches me, it is like an explosion of life and love around me…" He was breathing fast, Fleur could see how nervous he was. "I'm really bad at putting my feelings into words…" Harry laughed nervously.
"We will work on that…". Fleur giggled. "You are having a good start."
"I want you to know, what I said is good for you as well, for any of you… I mean, if you want to be with Hermione or someone else…" The werewolf said.
"Harry… can you see yourself with anyone outside your pack?" Fleur asked.
"No… no way…"
"Me neither, Harry, maybe Hermione, maybe… I like her… but that is for later." The veela said, and Harry nodded, pulling her closer to him.
"Harry," Fleur said in his arms. "What I said that night… I meant every word, and I still do, Harry." She got up and looked into his eyes. "I want this, I want to be with you… I love you." Fleur finished before capturing Harry's lips in a deep, loving kiss.
.oOo.
After the final class of the day, Harry still had one person he wanted to talk to. Walking out of the room, he called.
"Blaise. Can I talk to you?"
The tall boy looked at him with a smile, but both of them were not oblivious to the glaring gaze Ronald directed at them as he passed by.
"Git…" Blaise said. "I really don't know how you tolerated him for so long."
"He wasn't always like that." Harry sighed. The werewolf knew that bridge was burnt and was not sure if he would ever be able to talk to his "mate" the same way again. But that was for later. "I wanted to thank you, Blaise. I know you did it for Ginny, but I am thankful for you being there the same way. I know there will be consequences for your family, and I swear I will be there to help." Harry placed his right hand on the black boy's shoulder. Blaise smiled back at him.
"You are not wrong there, Harry, I did it for Ginny, but not only that." Harry raised an eyebrow. "I like to think of you as a friend, and q friend who needed my help." Harry smiled. "Also, I believe in you, Harry, prophecy or not. You see, my father was a death eater, and he died during the war." Harry nodded. " When he joined the dark lord's arms, my mother ran away with me back to Italy; she didn't believe in any of that shit. My grandfather was the one who I see as a father figure." Blaise smiled. "My grandfather is one of the most respected businessmen in magical Europe, he has business with the Greengrasses, the Malfoys, and even some less than… respectful individuals. But, he is a squib." Harry was surprised. "I know what those people think about people like him, and I know it is wrong. And, if it is wrong for him, it is wrong for muggle-borns, or goblins, or veelas. I see what you are trying to do, and that is why I am proud to have you as a friend." The young wizard finished, and Harry gave him a bright smile.
"Me too, Blaise, and you can be sure I will honor this to the end."
.oOo.
Daphne said goodnight to madam Pomfrey as the old matron finished for the day and walked out the hospital wing. Daphne had said she was going to finish sorting the potions and completing some paperwork, but the girl was sure the matron knew the truth about how Daphne used the hospital wing after hours. Pomfrey pretended not to know, and Daphne knew how much the old healer liked her and Harry, she was at their side.
Daphne was barely able to pay attention to classes that afternoon, and even madam Ponphrey had chastised her for being unusually distracted. Her mind kept returning to the conversation she had with the others, especially to the green-eyed wizard that was shaking her world. Daphne had been honest when she said things could work out only if they respected each other, and she had silently vowed not to let Fleur ruin things with her jealousy.
And, if Daphne closed her eyes, she could see the colors. Daphne was not sure what they meant; for her, the important thing was to be there with Harry.
The witch was again distracted, barely registering her work with the potions, when she felt strong arms gently embracing her from behind.
"Hum… hi Harry…" Daphne said with a smile as the young werewolf sniffed her hair and neck. As much as Daphne didn't care before, it was amazing how much better Harry acted without all the guilt.
"I know it is a little early, but I wanted to see you…" The wizard said, dropping his invisible cloak.
"Yeah, you still owe me a couple of years of this…" The girl said, rocking her bum against his hips, making the boy groan, before turning her head around and kissing him. "But I don't think we have the time right now."
"Tease…" Harry giggled, kissing her again. Daphne was amazed by how warm and how good he felt around her.
"Damn, they will really chastise us, don't they?" Harry said as the teens walked into the matron's office.
"Well, they should," Daphne answered. "We kind of made a mess and acted like idiots. But I think it was for good, Lucius Malfoy will go to Azkaban after all." Harry nodded.
The wizard sat at one of the chairs that faced the fireplace, and, to his surprise, Daphne sat on his lap, passing her arms around his neck. Harry smiled at her, and Daphne felt giggly, like a girl in love. Which she was.
"And what about… the prophecy?" Daphne asked. "It is lost now that you destroyed it on Malfoy's face?"
Harry frowned. "I heard the words when I touched it, and I'm pretty sure the headmaster knew them as well." Harry sighed. "But, I don't believe those things… I don't want my actions to be guided by something I was not part of."
Daphne smiled. "Yes, I think that is better. But the death eaters clearly believe it."
"Let them. Maybe it is even something we can use to our favor." Harry shrugged.
"Have I said how much I like it when you go all Slytherin like this?" Daphne said, running her finger over his chest before kissing him.
"Good to see you two worked out what was bothering you…" They heard the familiar voice coming from the fireplace; as soon as the kiss started deepening, Harry groaned again, this time in frustration. Daphne quickly got up from his lap and sat on the other chair as Sirius and Arthurs face appeared on the fire.
"Hello, father, lord Black," Daphne said politely, and Harry did the same.
"Sirius, I …" Harry started saying but was quickly interrupted by Sirius.
"No, Harry, let me be the responsible adult here before you say anything." The tattooed man said. "You can't just throw yourself into danger like that, much less taking your friends with you. You are too important, and not in this boy who lived bullshit way. You are important to me, to your girls, and to many people around you!"
"In Harry's defense, he didn't want us to go…" Daphne tried to say.
"I am also not happy with your attitude, young lady," Arthurs said. "Rest assured it will have consequences."
"Harry, you knew it was a trap…" Sirius continued.
"Yes, Sirius, I did, but what else could I do? Mrs. Weasley has opened his house to me, his family has helped more than once. I couldn't let anything happen to him, especially because it was my fault he was there." Harry said.
"What the hell, who told you that?" Sirius asked.
"Ronald," Daphne answered before Harry could speak. "We already tried to say it was not his fault, but this one is just as stubborn as he's noble."
Harry rolled his eyes. "It doesn't matter, I didn't want him or anyone to get hurt because of me."
"And yet, people got hurt," Sirius said, and Harry gave him a sad nod. "Harry, people will get hurt, there is no escape from that, but you need to be smarter about your moves. I know it was close to the full moon, but it was too reckless. Harry, look at me. We both already lost too much, ok? Let's try not to lose ourselves."
Again, Harry nodded, even if he knew it would be impossible not to get her in trouble.
"Ok, now, with that out of the way, it was amazing! What you did to Malfoy may have been a little too brutal, but he deserved it!"
"Sirius!" Arthurs chastised, and both Harry and Daphne laughed.
"Well, it is true." Sirius continued. "We will be at Hogwarts on the day of the last task, ok? Take care till then, pup."
"We will, Sirius," Harry said.
"Good, now you can return to what you did before." Sirius laughed, and Arthurs gave him a disapproving look before both faces disappeared from the fire.
.oOo.
"Well, that was not as bad as I expected…" Harry thought to himself as the flames came back to the normal amber color. In the end, he knew Sirius was right but other than taking people with him, Harry would not change his actions. The wizard turned his head to look at Daphne and was surprised by the predatory look she was giving him. The witch licked her lips and in an elegant movement, plunged at him, holding his face with both hands and capturing Harry's lips In a hungry kiss. Harry placed his hands on her waist and pulled her closer until she was straddling him on the comfortable leather chair. Daphne whimpered with the move and bit the wizard's lower lip.
"You have any idea what you do to me, Potter?" Daphne said, reaching for the rem of his shirt. "I could not get past that night, I was so handy… and sore…" The witch pulled his shirt up before clawing her hands on his chest. "I couldn't even get myself off for the first few days, and it was not good enough when I finally could. I wanted you, I wanted your cock inside of me."
Harry moaned and moved his hips up involuntarily, his hard member aching for some relief. The damn witch knew how to push his buttons, there was something incredibly arousing in seeing such a usually cold and well-mannered girl talking dirty like that.
"Fuck Daphne…" Harry said, his hands moving up her tights, down her skirt. "You are so hot when you talk like that" The werewolf then took a handful of her round ass cheeks.
"Huuuum… and what are you going to do about it, Potter?"
"I will give you exactly what you want…" Harry's hand found its way under Daphne's panties hem and touched her wet outer lips. "I will shove my dick deep inside your pureblood cunt, and shoot my werewolf seed deep inside of it!" Harry was surprised by his own words, but it seemed to be the right ones when the witch moaned loudly and bit his neck. Daphne's hands eagerly looked for his trousers, trying to undo the button and fly.
"Yes, Harry, I want it, I want you… aaaaaaah, fuck!" The witch whimpered when Harry's fingers ran across her wet slit. The werewolf paid attention to her reactions as his fingers explored her wet folds, getting cues, trying to learn what she liked, and adapting. He was suddenly struck by the realization of how little he still knew about the beautiful girl on top of him and how little chance they had of being together. The wizard felt the urge to take and make up for the lost time. Time someone had stolen from them.
Remembering the only other time they had sex, Harry moved his other hand under her panties as well but looked for her other hole, teasing her anus with the tip of his finger.
"Aaaaaaah…. Fuck!" Daphne lost her bearings for a second, and Harry grinned at his new finding about her.
"I guess the ice queen is not so cold after all…" Harry teased as Daphne finally freed his hard member from his pants, and he moaned. "Can you hear the dirty sounds your pussy is making, Daphne? How wet it is?"
"Ues, please… I want you to fuck me… please… shove this cock inside my cunt…" The girl said, tugging Harry's member up and down, spreading his dripping pre cum over her hand and his shaft.
"As you wish, milady," Harry said with a smile before lifting Daphne and himself from the chair, and with a firm move, changing their places, the girl was now seated on the edge of the furniture, and the werewolf was standing in front of her. Harry lifted her school uniform skirt and pulled her soaked panties down her legs before holding her knees. The boy spread her legs, fully enjoying her swollen outer lips and dripping entrance under her well-trimmed pubes. Once again, Daphne seemed proud of her own body in full display, her eyes full of lust, as she watched how his dick trembled and jumped in the reaction of the intaincing sight in front of him.
"Please, Harry… no more teasing… not today…" Daphne wasn't able to finish as Harry placed the head of his cock at her entrance and slowly pushed it inside her, savoring overwhelming sensation of burrowing himself inch by inch inseam her. His dick easily parted Daphne's warm, wet walls. "Yessss … that's so good…" The girl said, throwing her head back. As he was getting fully inside, Harry looked for any signs of discomfort before he moved his hips back, pulling out slowly, enjoying how her muscles tried to squeeze him, then the wizard pressed his cock back inside and repeated the movement, increasing the speed every time he trusted. Daphne's moans became tangled with the obscene noises her body was making, and the scents from her arousal were driving Harry's instincts. He decided he loved everything about this girl, the way they teased each other, the way her body reacted to his, the noises she made, the smell of her arousal, how the ice queen persona was thrown out the window the second he touched her, the way she locked her legs behind his hips, pulling him closer to her.
"Fuck… fuck… fuck…" The witch called, and Harry found it incredibly cute to see the usually articulated pureblood girl in such pleasure. "I'm gonna… I'm gonna…. AAAAAAAH!" Daphne screamed as she came, and that was enough for Harry. With a grunt, he felt his climax approaching, and with some final firm trust, the werewolf moaned and let out his hot seed inside her, magic dancing around them. Daphne was panting, with glassy eyes and a silly smile, as Harry kissed her neck and her collarbone, rejoicing in their post-orgasmic bliss.
"Looks like our pureblood lady has a foul mouth…" Harry Said with a giggle.
"Prat…" That was all the melting girl could respond.