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Harry Potter and the Smallest Change.
Chapter 24. Fourth Year, Part 6. 1994.
Harry and Fleur sat in the Great Hall at breakfast at the Hufflepuff table, holding hands as they spoke. Across from them, Susan and Hannah sat. Each wore a knowing look that both Harry and Fleur ignored.
A few minutes later, Holly sat beside Fleur and Luna beside her. Hermione joined soon after that and took the spot next to Harry, and Daphne sat beside Susan.
The group chatted over their breakfast until Luna leaned forward, she looked at Harry, around both Holly and Fleur.
'Have you and Fleur noticed you have an infestation of Wrackspurts?' the strange blonde girl asked, and the group fell silent and stared at Harry.
Susan wore a smug grin and leant forward in her seat, she rested both elbows on the table and her chin on her hands.
'Yeah Harry, do you have something to tell us?' she said, her smug grin grew wider.
Holly's eyes widened, and Harry swore he could see hope in them as she waited for his words.
Harry glanced at Fleur, who smiled and nodded.
With a smile of his own, he raised their joined hands.
'Yes, we are together. I suspect that is the cause of the Wrackspurts Luna.' Harry added the last part to the girl, who seemed to be barely paying attention to the world.
Holly threw herself at Fleur and wrapped her arms around the older witch in a vice grip.
'That's so amazing.' Holly squealed.
'We're happy for the two of you.' Susan said, a wide smile on her face and the other girls nodded in agreement.
Harry noticed Hermione wore a sad expression and Daphne narrowed her eyes.
'Have you bonded?' Daphne asked, her voice cold.
Fleur scoffed, still holding an exuberant Holly in her arms. She turned her face toward the Slytherin.
'Veela don't have any magical bonds, we simply have a different culture and customs to yours. We're people, no matter what the Ministry here says.' Fleur replied and Daphne nodded, though it looked stiff.
'Actually, Daphne, can you come with me for a moment? I have a few questions I think you can help me with.' The Veela asked and Daphne's eyes widened and darted toward Harry for a moment.
Harry smiled, he gave her a nod before the Slytherin sighed and nodded.
'Fine, lead the way.' She said and Fleur smiled.
Fleur disentangled herself from Holly, who then latched onto Harry.
Fleur and Daphne left the Great Hall and Harry turned to the now silent girls.
'Is there some girl thing I don't understand happening here?' he asked.
Holly's face fell into his chest and she let out a groan. Hermione huffed.
'Honestly Harry, for someone so smart, sometimes you are so thick.' Holly said.
Harry blinked.
'Don't worry about it, it'll work itself out.' Hermione said with a smile he did not entirely trust.
Hermione shook her head and turned to him.
'It's great that you and Fleur are together, and with a minimum of angst, too. How long have you known each other again?' she asked.
Harry smiled.
'We met the Christmas before our first year. There was a Ministry Christmas party, all the old families attend and because her father is the French Ambassador to England, they had to attend as well.' He explained with a wistful smile.
'It's really nice that you've stayed in touch for so long.' Hermione said before Susan grinned.
'After first year, Harry went over and stayed at the Delacour's manor in France every weekend.' Susan gushed and Harry sighed.
'The Christmas of our first year we all met her, and Harry demanded that we accepted her as one of us. Something the old families noticed, and it ruffled a lot of feathers.' Hannah added, a smug grin on her face.
Harry waved a hand in dismissal.
'It's not quite as dramatic as all that.' Harry said before Susan scoffed.
'Among the old families, they saw it as rude and confrontational to force the girls to accept Fleur. Apparently, Daphne's family was quite upset about accepting a girl who is not only French, but also a Veela as an equal to their daughter.' Susan explained as Hermione's eyes grew wide.
Luna gave a bland smile.
'Those balls are all a cover for the Rotfang Conspiracy, anyway. Daddy says they're dangerous.' She said, and the girls blinked at her.
Holly pulled away from Harry, finished with her hug.
'The next Christmas after that, I finally got to spend some time with Fleur, as I hadn't been able to go to France as much as I'd wanted to during the summer.' She paused, and Harry noticed Fleur and Daphne returning to the table.
Both girls took their seats, and Fleur took Harry's hand once more.
'What did we miss?' Fleur asked, and Holly leant forward.
'We were just telling Hermione how long you and Harry have known each other.' She said, and Fleur beamed at Harry.
'It has been awhile, hasn't it?' she asked.
Harry nodded and opened his mouth to reply, but paused.
He noticed a crowd of older students standing in a half circle around him and Fleur.
Harry turned to see the group of students consisted of sixth and seventh-year Hufflepuffs. The boys of the group stared at Fleur, dazed expressions on their faces. The girls of the group alternated glares between the boys, Fleur and Harry.
One of the seventh-year girls slapped the back of the head of one boy and huffed before she turned to Harry, her eyes narrow slits.
'Why are you associating with the Champion of another school? You should support Cedric.' She snarled.
Harry cocked his head at the girl whose name he never bothered to learn, then smiled.
'Fleur is one of my oldest friends. We've been friends since before I came to Hogwarts and even met Cedric.' He replied, and the girl froze.
Harry could see a furious internal struggle inside the girls, likely their sense of House Pride warred with their acceptance of where his loyalty would lie.
Loyalty was a big deal in Hufflepuff.
With a huff, the seventh-year girl spun.
'Leave them alone.' She growled.
When the boys of the group continued to stare at Fleur, the girl's jaw tightened, then she slapped the closest boy, hard.
The boy came to his senses and flushed red, then looked at the girl, who huffed and stormed away. The unknown boy glanced around, he averted his eyes from Fleur, and hurried after the girl.
A moment later, the rest of the group of upper year students followed in their wake.
Susan giggled, and both Harry and Fleur turned toward her.
'Those two were prefects. The boy is the sixth-year prefect, and she is the seventh. They are good friends of Cedric.' She started.
Hannah stifled a laugh with her hand.
'Not only that, but they are dating, so he's going to be in a lot of trouble.' Hannah crowed, and the girls laughed.
Fleur's gaze fell to her lap, and she tried to pull her hand away from Harry's.
He turned and saw sadness in her eyes.
Harry rubbed a hand across her back.
'It's not your fault.' He murmured, and she met his gaze, a small smile on her face for a moment before it fell.
'But it is my fault, I can't control my Allure.' She admitted, and Harry shrugged.
'It's not your fault that most of the boys around here have no will power. Besides, I have an idea for a new charm for your bracelet that might help.' Harry said.
Fleur blinked, then narrowed her eyes at him for a moment before she gave a slow nod.
Harry smiled and turned to the group.
'I'm sorry guys, but we have a lot of work to do today, we'll see you at dinner, okay?' he asked, standing.
Susan and Holly nodded, knowing smiles on their faces.
Once he was standing beside the table, he held out a hand for Fleur.
'Shall we?' he asked, and she nodded.
As the two left the Great Hall, Fleur turned to him, a small frown marred her face as they walked.
'Will it upset them that they aren't spending much time with you?' she asked, and Harry laughed as he turned a corner.
'They're not used to seeing me on weekends. Only Holly and Susan know where I go, and the others haven't asked. I think they're surprised they've seen me this much, to be honest.' He said, and she blinked.
'You were serious when you said you spent the entire weekend in the Room of Requirement.' She breathed, and he nodded as he climbed a set of stairs.
Ten minutes later, the two stepped into the Room of Requirement and Harry saw their conjurations from the morning were still going. The room was set up in the training configuration he preferred.
She moved a few steps into the Room before she turned to face him.
'So, what is this idea you have about a way to contain my Allure?' she asked, a slight edge in her tone.
Harry blinked.
'Well, it's not containing it, so to speak. I'm still in the process of finding the right combination on runes and whatnot. But I think I can create an enchantment to, uh-' He struggled to find the right words.
He clicked his fingers half a dozen times as he thought.
'- maybe attune you to the Allure, which should allow you greater control over it. But it would need to be unique to you, it wouldn't work for anyone else.' He explained, then his expression turned thoughtful.
'It would be easier to create an enchantment to contain your Allure as you implied earlier.' He mused aloud, not noticing her narrowed eyes.
'But I figured that wouldn't be acceptable. In those books you gave me, it seems like while the Allure can be a bother, it's a part of you.' He finished and met her gaze.
Her eyes softened as he spoke.
Harry looked over at one of the desks on the other side of the room, a thoughtful frown on his face.
Then he sighed and turned back to her.
'Do you know anything about the First Task?' he asked.
Fleur shook her head, she blinked at the change in topic.
'No, but from my research, the First Task is normally combatting a dangerous beast, like a Cockatrice.' She explained, and Harry nodded.
'I think we should try to get into a routine while in the Room. Until new information comes to light, perhaps we could get any study and homework out of the way, then some practical work, then Tournament prep. Finally, I think we end it with a duel?' he asked.
Fleur nodded and leant over to inspect one of the muggle exercise machines.
'It does sound like a good way to spend our time. But what about during the week?' she asked, turning to face him.
Harry moved toward one of the many desks in the Room.
'It's too difficult to do anything with the Room of Requirement during the week. I've tried. Instead, I only focus on using it during the weekend.' He paused, rifling through a stack of loose paper covered in his scribbled writing.
'I try to get any homework and study done during the week, with everyone else. I also do morning exercise on the grounds. Sometimes Holly and Susan join me for a run around the lake and some target practice.' He muttered, a frown on his face.
Fleur nodded and moved to stand beside him.
'I do much the same, exercise in the morning, get my schooling out of the way during the week and train on the weekend. Except my weekends were not so, long, as yours have been.' She grinned and Harry looked up from his papers with a smirk.
'Though, admittedly, my usual routine includes swimming.' Fleur added, and Harry scoffed.
'Beauxbatons must be in southern France if swimming is a regular activity.' He mused, then paused.
'I can always ask the Room for a place to swim?' he asked, giving her a half smile while she scoffed.
'Not just yet you won't, mister.' Fleur said and covered her chest with her arms.
Harry blinked, then blushed. He looked back down at the desk, his cheeks flaming.
He missed her pleased look.
The two spent the rest of the extended day in the Room of Requirement working out a routine, researching, training, and enjoying the others company until they left for dinner in the Great Hall.