A/N: I know I have been bad with my updates. I'm sorry. This chapter should more than make up for it though.
Fleur stared at the man who suddenly entered the room in awe. There was some more silence before she spoke.
"Hello Gordon. It is great to finally meet you," she said and stuck out her hand.
He smiled and shook her hand. "Likewise, Miss Delacour."
"I thought you owned a shop?" Fleur asked.
Gordon smiled. "Life Long Magical Artifacts is my families shop. I help out there on the weekends or when my mother and father need me to help."
To avoid the conversation going off topic, Harry interjected. "You said that you might be able to help us. How so?"
Gordon smiled. "Well, I just happen to be the Deputy Commissioner for the Department of International Travel. I approve the activation of all Floos and Portkeys in France. I am also responsible for approving travel for all sworn officers of France's DMLE."
"What are you trying to say, Gordon?" Fleur asked wanting to get to the point.
The man simply smiled. "Well, Miss Delacour, seeing as to how you are a Curse Breaker working for Greengots and aiding the Ministry regarding a cursed object in an ongoing, active investigation, your needs are priority. You also must be escorted when you travel and I see Harry Potter has been deputized and is with you. So I gather he is your escort," he said in a hinting manor. When they remained looking at him, he chuckled and continued. "Given my position, I am going to put a rush on your Portkey and push forward the paperwork to get yours set up. I'll be able to get it to you in two days," he happily announced.
"Two days?" Harry asked.
Gordon held up his hand. "That's the fastest I can get it even with my position. That's the Minister's approval on emergency Portkey travel. I'll send an owl as soon as I have it."
Harry shook his hand. "Thank you, Gordon."
"Yes, thank you so much," Fleur added.
He shook Harry's hand and accepted a hug from Fleur before waving them off. "No need to thank me. Anything I can do to help. The least I could do as well. You did me a kindness by keeping what I did for your sister and butler out of the papers nor did you spread the word. This is my thanks for you respecting my privacy," said with a smile before nodding and being on his way.
Harry smiled. "Such a humble man. Is everyone here like that?"
Fleur giggled. "Many are yes." She stood thoughtful for a moment and turned to him. "Since we have two days, I have something I'd like to do the day after tomorrow."
"What's that?" he asked with a lot of curiosity.
She winked. "You'll see. But dress nice and comfortably. We're going to redo or have a part two of our date."
Harry just stood surprised while trying to process what she had just said. A date? They were on a date?
Two Days Later
It was two days later and they had not heard from Gordon yet. It was also a bit early as it was ten minutes until nine o'clock in the morning. This time he decided to wear the short sleeved red silk shirt that Fleur and Gabrielle got him, a pair of black jeans for comfort and his Vanguard boots. He stepped out of his room and was surprised to discover the house was practically empty and his surprise was furthered when he saw Jean-Phillipe was not in his butler suit. He was in a polo shirt and slacks.
"Jean-Phillipe. You're... dressed different," Harry observed.
Jean-Phillipe laughed. "Oh. Miss Fleur gave me the day off. So I will be meeting some friends for breakfast and then I will be making my way to the beach before it gets cold soon," he answered and looked at the stairs. "You have quite the day ahead of you," he finished with a pat on Harry's arm before going out the door.
Harry looked over to again to see Fleur coming down the stairs wearing a black spaghetti strapped crop top with a pair of blue silk wide leg cropped pants that covered her feet but left her room to not step on them when she walks. Harry looked her up and down and liked the way the outfit complimented his despite the different colors. Even if the wards didn't allow him to look directly at her, he was able to look at her enough to see how her outfit was able to further extenuate her natural beauty, modestly showed off her curves and showed off her naturally smooth and toned stomach. He took her in for a bit longer before she reached the bottom of the stairs. He blushed when he saw her look him over and smile while nodding.
"Why Harry, you look quite dapper," she complimented.
He tried to keep his face from turning any darker and looked her over again. "You look great too. You always pick out the perfect outfit for whatever occasion," he replied and smiled. "From what I heard on the stairs you decided not to go with heels?"
She laughed. "That would have hurt too much with how much we'll be on our feet today," she answered and held out her hand. "Let's go then. Shall we?"
Harry took her hand and walked with her to the bottom of the stoop before he felt them apparate. While trying to get his bearings, he felt her hands over his eyes. He turned the direction he was being pulled and when she removed her hands, he recognize the see through triangle shaped building in front of him. He stood in awe of it. Fleur was standing smiling with her hands clasped together in front of her face and was nearly squealing in excitement.
"Merlin's Beard! The Louvre? Oh my goodness, Fleur! This is amazing! Thank you!" he shouted and hugged her.
Fleur excitedly returned his hug. Grateful for how excited he was. When they broke, she lead him away from the museum entrance and towards the building that surrounded the area. He looked at her uncertain of what was going on. She squeezed his hand and nodded. He knew to just do what she was doing. When the coast was clear, Fleur nodded again and they rushed towards wall of the building only to go through it and found themselves standing in a line in front of some other doors.
"That wall has the same enchantment as the barrier at Kings Cross Station," Harry pointed out.
Fleur nodded again. "That's right. This is the witches and wizards entry to The Louvre."
"Your dad's going to be upset we came without him."
She waved him off. "It will be a nice change to be here with someone who isn't going to constantly criticize the hard work of the muggles. I love Papa, but he tends to always think the wizards did it better and smarter. I prefer to acknowledge both. Especially as to how the muggles did amazing things without magic."
It wasn't too long after that they were each handed a ticket and granted entry into the Louvre. They excitedly entered and Harry was enthralled by what he saw. He wondered if this was how Hermione must feel every time she enters a library. He never knew he would be so taken aback by art. Fleur's smile grew while she gave Harry his moment to be awestruck. She finally tapped him on the arm and pointed to their right.
He turned around to see they appeared right next to the painting that he heard was his mother's favorite. The Mona Lisa. He stood an admired it for not only how beautiful it was but also for the the time and effort put into it. Fleur was happy to be able to look at it for once and just admire the extraordinary painting for once. It was like time was standing still for both of them.
Eventually they remembered that there was more to look at and they moved on to look at everything else the Louvre had to offer. When they got to the painting called, Liberty Leading the People, Fleur was happy to explain to him the backstory of that painting and what inspired it. He was more than happy to listen and let it sink in. What amused them was when they discovered that other people were standing and listening to Fleur. Both of them wondered if the visitors mistook her for a guide.
Quickly they went to the Grande Gallery where Harry admired the painting of St. John The Baptist. Fleur leaned next to his ear and he was excited to learn more.
"Want to know a secret about Leonardo da Vinci?" she asked.
He looked at her. "He was a Wizard wasn't he?"
She nodded. "That's how he made his inventions work. Except when he painted, he would only do it the muggle way. His parents were muggles you see. He graduated from Beaubaxtons but according to what we were taught, after his sixth year he didn't return. Just like at Hogwarts. They say he kept passing grades but never seemed interested in being a wizard other than making his inventions work. Madame Maxime said that according to her relatives, Leonardo helped invent and paint the first magical portraits but did not want the credit for it," she explained.
Harry was taken aback hearing this. Yet it made so much sense. Finally they were going to the second floor by taking the Daru Staircase. Fleur stopped in the middle and stared at a statue in particular, in the middle of it. Harry looked at it and recognized the headless statue. It was one that Bill had actually told him about.
"Isn't that the Winged Victory of Samothrace?" he asked.
Fleur nodded again. "It is," she answered with a sigh. "It's a difficult one for me to look at now. Thanks to my ex husband." she said fairly easily. Harry didn't say anything and she continued. "He used to say that his interpretation of this statue is that victory came with too much unnecessary sacrifice. Hence the one wing. And Nike lost herself in the victory. From emotions to her individuality and what made up her personality. Hence the loss of her head. I wish I had known then that he was talking about himself," she explained and went back to quietly staring at the sculpture with a slight disdain.
Before long they made their way upstairs. After another hour, both Fleur and Harry needed to sit down. They went to a secret balcony only for witches and wizards hidden behind a Fidelius Charm. Someone greeted Fleur as Mlle Delacour. Checking her out as he walked by and making Harry resist rolling his eyes. Everyone outside seemingly cleared the area for them with a small smattering of murmurs about Fleur being there with Harry. They sat down on the bench that like the all access area, had an incredible view of France and the Eiffel Tower,
They sat in silence until Fleur looked at him to break it. "I am very glad you enjoyed yourself. Thank you for coming with me." she said and smiled. Her heart was beating harder when he looked at her with his rare genuine smile and his emerald green eyes lit up in the sun, even through his glasses, while he looked at her.
"Thank you bringing me here. I can't express how great I feel. And even learned things I'd never have known about were it not for you allowing me to be here." he responded.
Fleur smiled. "Were it not for you helping me in my time of need, I would not have had the opportunity to do this. Don't thank only myself, Harry." she responded noticeably flattered.
"Speaking of surprises, I have one for you, Fleur," he revealed to her and she looked at him surprised, but waited when he lifted his wand. He chanted "Arrêter la traduction."
Fleur was taken aback. He was removing the translating charm. He was now standing closer to her and looking into her eyes. He took breath and grinned.
"Pendant le temps que j'ai passé avec vous, j'ai vu une autre facette de ma vie de sorcier. Cela a changé ma perspective. Pour vous remercier de tout ce que vous m'avez montré, j'ai décidé de vous surprendre dès maintenant. J'étudie le français en secret et Jean-Philippe a été mon professeur. Je l'ai aussi fait pour vous pour une autre raison. Je l'ai fait aussi pour toi parce que, j'ai jugé bon de te dire dans ta langue que... Tu me plais, Fleur. Après avoir passé du temps avec toi au théâtre et aujourd'hui, je ne veux pas que ça s'arrête. J'aime trop ça."
Fleur stood with her hands over her mouth. She was in tears she was so touched by this. No one had taken on such a task for her ever. Even Bill refused to learn French for her after she learned English for him. They stood looking at each other for a few more second and then Fleur closed the gap. They leaned forward and met each others lips in a moment of passion. A passionate kiss for all of Wizarding France to see. They remained kissing as time meant nothing in that moment.
Arrêter la traduction- Stop Translating
Pendant le temps que j'ai passé avec vous, j'ai vu une autre facette de ma vie de sorcier. Cela a changé ma perspective. Pour vous remercier de tout ce que vous m'avez montré, j'ai décidé de vous surprendre dès maintenant. J'étudie le français en secret et Jean-Philippe a été mon professeur. Je l'ai aussi fait pour vous pour une autre raison. Je l'ai fait aussi pour toi parce que, j'ai jugé bon de te dire dans ta langue que... Tu me plais, Fleur. Après avoir passé du temps avec toi au théâtre et aujourd'hui, je ne veux pas que ça s'arrête. J'aime trop ça.
-In the time I have been spending with you, I have seen another side of the life I live as a wizard. It's changed my perspective. To thank you for all you have shown me, I decided to surprise you right now. I have been secretly studying French and Jean-Philippe has been my teacher. I also did this for you for another reason. I also did this for you because, I felt it proper to tell you in your language that... I fancy you, Fleur. After spending time with you at the theater and today, I don't want it to stop. I enjoy it too much.
