Disclaimer: I own none of the things you already know of.
Harry Potter and the Smallest Change.
Chapter 26. First Task. 1994.
Harry looked up at the clock on the wall of the library that the Room of Requirement appeared to be as the door opened to reveal Fleur.
He blinked his bleary eyes and swore under his breath. He rummaged through the notebooks on his desk before he found his oldest and most used one.
Harry opened the notebook and flipped past the pages detailing an hourglass filled with golden sand, then feather-shaped charms for a bracelet. He kept flipping through the pages, past lists of spells and sketches of swords and jewellery.
As Fleur joined him at the desk, he smiled over at her. It didn't look like she'd slept well. Even her inherent Veela magic couldn't hide the bags under her eyes.
Without a word, he handed her the notebook, open to the correct page.
Her eyes skimmed over his messy scrawl, and her eyes grew wide before she met his half-lidded gaze.
'Were you up all night working on this?' she breathed, and he gave her a half smile.
'All forty-odd hours.' He muttered, and she looked down at the notebook, then at him again.
'This is amazing work.' She gushed.
Harry nodded; his eyes closed for a moment before he shook himself.
'We can create these rune stones that should nullify Dragon fire.' He said and rubbed his eyes.
'Which leaves only the whole dealing with a giant flying lizard part. Oh, turn the page.' Harry added as he struggled to keep his eyes open.
Fleur turned the page, then gave a slow blink before she dropped the notebook on the table. She rushed to his side, took his face in her hands, and kissed him hard on the lips.
She didn't release him for ten seconds and when she was done, she pulled back and Harry wore a tired smile.
'You are far beyond me with charms, and I don't know any that can disable a Dragon.' Harry begun before yawning.
'However, with this rune sequence incorporated into your charm bracelet, your charms should be enhanced enough that a simple Sleep Charm should at least effect the beast.' Harry yawned again.
Fleur beamed at him.
'I've got something better, it's a Sleep Charm that Maman taught me. It's almost more a ritual, but the only downside is that it takes about a minute to work, but it will put almost anything to sleep.' She declared, and Harry blinked at her.
Fleur grinned.
'At the Veela enclaves, there was one woman who said she'd put a Nundu to sleep with it. It's a Veela Charm.' She said, and Harry gaped at her.
'That sounds brilliant.' Harry grinned and Fleur smirked.
'Of course it is. Now, you need to get some sleep so you can be awake by the time I'm ready for your help.' Fleur ordered and Harry nodded, then yawned again.
With a thought, a king-sized bed appeared next to the yellow loveseat he'd conjured three weeks before.
Without even changing, Harry collapsed on the bed and fell asleep.
Two days later, Harry approached the Black Lake at sunrise to see Fleur pacing in her Beauxbatons uniform, including her slanted hat and cerulean outer robe. But around her waist hung a belt with a dozen pouches attached to it.
The tips of carved runestones poked out the top of each pouch and a Dragon shaped silver charm hung from her bracelet.
As he drew near, she ceased her pacing.
'Where have you been? You normally beat me here.' She whispered, her face pale.
Harry smiled and pulled her into an embrace.
'Cedric Diggory waylaid me. Apparently, Neville told him that their First Task was Dragons, and he wanted me to tell you. I told him we already figured it out by accident but thanked him for his concern.' Harry said and her arms squeezed him tight.
'Poor guy found out last night, so he hasn't had a wink of sleep.' He continued.
Fleur let out a breath.
'Is Krum the only one who doesn't know, you think?' she asked, and Harry laughed.
'Apparently, Neville noticed Karkaroff skulking around the Dragon enclosure, about the same time he saw your Headmistress there with Hagrid.' Harry said, and Fleur smirked.
'Yes, she told me about the Dragons yesterday. She was surprised when I told her I already knew. The woman seemed torn between worry and wanting to scold me.' She grinned.
Harry laughed.
'You'll be fine. Not only will you get through this task, but you'll also win it. I'll be there to watch you win.' He declared, and she gave him a warm smile.
'I believe you 'Arry. You have been so good to me.' She whispered.
Harry pulled her into a soft kiss before he rested his forehead against hers.
'You will win this thing; I believe in you.' He whispered.
She nodded, then looked to the castle, then back to him.
'I'm nervous.' She said simply, and he nodded.
'How about we have a jog around the lake to get rid of some of that nervous energy?' he asked, and she gave a thankful nod.
Together, the two did a single lap around the lake. It was more of a leisurely jog compared to when they would normally exercise in the morning.
After they finished and made their way back to the castle.
Harry put his hand on the small of Fleur's back and whispered into her ear.
'Fleur, you have company.' He said, and she frowned at him until she followed his gaze and her eyes widened.
By the entrance to Hogwarts stood Dominique, Apolline, and Gabrielle. They each wore wide smiles, and Gabrielle bounced in excitement, waving.
'Go, say hello to them.' He whispered, and she latched onto his hand, holding it tight.
'You're not escaping that easily. You're coming with me.' She hissed and dragged him toward her family.
Harry felt Fleur's Allure slip from her control in her excitement. He still didn't know why it didn't affect him, but he could still feel it, and it was loose. Thankfully, only he and her family were around.
Apolline beamed at them, her sky-blue eyes locked onto their joined hands. Dominique's smile matched his wife's as Harry and Fleur approached.
Gabrielle didn't have the same restraint and when they got close enough, the little Veela rushed toward them and wrapped her arms around both Fleur and Harry.
'I missed the two of you so much. So did Papa and Maman.' Gabrielle gushed in French.
Harry looked up as Apolline and Dominique bridged the gap caused by Gabrielle's greeting.
Apolline wore a mischievous smile.
'Did anything significant occur between the last letter you sent me and now?' the Veela woman asked and Fleur's eyes widened, then she blushed.
'I've been really busy, Maman.' Fleur muttered, stroking Gabrielle's hair.
Dominique held a knowing glint in his eye.
'So, what happened?' he asked, and Fleur turned red.
''Arry and I are together. We have been for about a month.' She said.
Apolline rushed forward and took them both into a tight hug, crushing Gabrielle further into the embrace.
Dominique clapped a hand on Harry's shoulder with a wide grin.
'I've been expecting this for years.' He said and Harry turned to stare at him over Apolline's shoulder.
'Really?' Harry asked.
Three incredulous stares met him as the group hug ended.
'Of course, you two were always going to get married.' Gabrielle said, as if there had never been any doubt.
A bright flash came from nearby and Harry spun to find it wasn't as private a conversation as he'd thought. The reporter that Fleur had told him about, that had been at the Weighing of the Wands ceremony, stood nearby.
Rita Skeeter, reporter for the Daily Prophet, gave him a predatory smile and stepped into his personal space.
'Is the Heir of House Potter marrying a Veela? Does the Lord and Lady Potter know of these intentions? The public needs to know.' Rita purred.
Dominique placed a hand on Harry's shoulder, he stepped in between Harry and the reporter.
'Rita, you know the contract you signed. You are to behave yourself during this event, no lies and you are to only cover the event itself. Otherwise, you may find your job is not as stable as it seems.' He declared and Rita's eyes widened.
The reporter scurried away from the French Ambassador like she couldn't escape fast enough. Her photographer stood and stared at both Fleur and Apolline like a simpleton. Dominique coughed and raised his eyebrows at the man, who jerked in surprise as four sets of hostile eyes bore into him. The man followed behind the reporter moments afterward.
Dominique sighed and turned to Harry.
'I apologise Harry. In time, you will grow accustomed to dealing with the media, but with any luck you'll have plenty of time.' The man said, his voice low.
Harry smiled.
'Thank you for getting rid of that woman, at least for now.' He said
Harry looked down at Gabrielle, who tugged at his sleeve.
'I'm sorry for telling the secret, Harry.' Gabrielle said, her eyes holding back tears.
Harry knelt in front of her and pulled the little Veela into an embrace. She looked about ten, but was closer to thirteen, almost the age Fleur was when he met her.
'Fleur and I aren't getting married.' He blushed and kept his eyes away from the three sets of eyes watching them.
'But I don't think it's a bad idea for the future.' He whispered in the girl's ear.
Gabrielle squealed and hugged him tight.
Fleur tilted her head in question and he only gave her a small smile.
Harry turned to Apolline.
'Am I going to get interrogated after the event?' he asked as he stood, Gabrielle wrapped around his middle.
Apolline smiled and patted a hand on his cheek.
'Oh, my dear boy. You are already a part of this family; you have been for years. This won't change a thing, except maybe making it official.' She said.
Harry blushed.
Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Fleur do the same.
Dumbledore strode out of the castle and his eyes lit up at seeing the group.
'Oh, wonderful. If you would all join us in the Great Hall, feel free to sit together for breakfast.' Dumbledore said, his eyes twinkling.
'The rest of the day until the event is for family.' The Headmaster said before he turned and headed back inside.
Harry turned to Fleur.
'I should probably leave you guys to be together.' He said, and Fleur narrowed her eyes at him.
'Didn't you hear Maman? You're already a part of the family.' Fleur said, turning to look at Apolline.
The woman gave him a warm smile and a nod. Harry turned to Dominique, who did the same, and Harry smiled and gave a short nod.
After breakfast, Harry and Fleur showed the Delacours around Hogwarts. The family joked and enjoyed each other's company. Gabrielle spent most of the day latched onto either Harry or Fleur, much to the amusement of her parents.
Harry noticed other families walking across the grounds. He saw the Dowager Longbottom sitting with Neville in a greenhouse as they walked past. Harry noted a man who looked like Cedric walking around the Quidditch Pitch with him and a woman who bore a resemblance to Viktor Krum walked beside him around the stadium as well.
At around three o'clock, a chime rung out and Professor McGonagall's amplified voice rung out over the grounds.
'Can all students and guests make their way to the Quidditch Pitch? The First Task of the Triwizard Tournament will take place soon.'
Harry turned to Fleur and smiled at her. She nodded back.
'Okay, honey, we're going to make our way to the stands. We're going to be cheering for you.' Dominique said and pulled Fleur into a hug.
Together, the family and Harry made their way to the Quidditch Pitch.
A great crowd of people pushed to get into the stadium to watch the event. Not all were students or families of students. Harry noted the event must have been open to the public as well.
A door stood near the main entrance that the families of the Champions crowded around, bidding farewell to the Champions.
Harry held Fleur in a tight embrace.
'Good luck, you'll be amazing, I just know it.' He whispered, and she nodded.
He stepped back and with a final nod, she turned and walked through the Champion's entrance and disappeared.
Harry joined the Delacours in the crowd and entered the stadium.
As he walked behind Apolline, a woman caught his eye as she stood in the walkway. The woman leant against the wall where she would have an unobstructed view of the rocky arena.
He placed a hand on Apolline's shoulder and leant into her ear.
'I'll see you up at the seats. I'm just going to the bathroom.' He called, trying to be heard over the din of the crowd.
Apolline nodded with a smile and Harry released her, then turned to find the woman again.
Harry didn't know what it was about the woman that caught his attention, but she felt familiar somehow. She wore black robes that covered almost all sense of body shape, though she couldn't hide the outline of her feminine curves, even under the thick black cloak.
He narrowed his eyes as he kept sight of her. He sensed a familiar pull. But couldn't place anybody with her build, apart from perhaps Apolline, who he had left moments ago to watch this mysterious cloaked woman.
Her robes were faded and showed signs of too many mending charms. They were once black, but were now more a dark grey, like the colour had faded with age and use. He couldn't see her face or hair and he figured that her robes' hood was charmed for that exact function.
Harry disillusioned himself and stood a few metres behind the woman as the crowd entering the stadium thinned out until it stopped entirely. His eyes were locked on the woman's back and he wondered what made him so suspicious of the woman.
Within minutes, the amplified voice of Ludo Bagman washed over the crowd.
'May I have your attention, Wizards, and Witches?' he called, his voice boomed through the hallway Harry stood in.
The cloaked woman stood at attention, her body taught like a spring, waiting to burst into action.
As was Harry, his wand in hand.
'Welcome everybody, to the First Task of the 1994 Triwizard Tournament.' Bagman's voice carried across the stadium and the crowd fell into near silence.
'This First Task will involve the Champions taking a Golden Egg from one of the most dangerous beasts to walk the Earth.' Bagman paused for effect.
'Dragons.' He finished and gasps erupted from the crowd.
As if on cue, a Dragon roared.
Harry felt a chill run down his spine.
It sounded like some primordial beast from a nightmare. It carried with it a sense of overwhelming rage and power, a sense that the very idea of resistance was futile. He felt tiny as he heard the roar of the titanic beast again, even though he'd heard that roar, along with three others a few nights earlier.
'The first Champion to face their Dragon is Hogwarts' first Champion, Cedric Diggory.' Bagman announced, and the crowd roared their approval, drowning out even the roar of the Dragon.
'He faces a Swedish Short-Snout. This one is a little longer than the average length of this type of Dragon at just over seven metres. It is regarded as a Five-X magical creature and its flame is strong enough to reduce timber and bone to ash in seconds.' Bagman explained, and a hush fell over the crowd.
Harry clenched his jaw as he kept his gaze on the cloaked woman. From the corner of his eye, he saw the silvery blue scaled beast rear up on its hind legs and release a gout of brilliant blue flame. The creature's wings spread wide as it towered over a pile of eggs between its legs.
He wished Cedric well in his mind and focussed on the woman before him. Harry narrowed his gaze as he struggled to grasp what was so familiar about her.
Cedric transfigured a dog from a rock and distracted the great beast, Harry cringed as the dog was crushed beneath the Dragon's powerful tail, before another roar filled his ears as the beast turned to Cedric as escaped the arena, the Golden Egg held tight in his arms.
The crowd roared their approval, and a team of Dragon Handlers entered the arena to lead the giant creature out.
A few minutes later, another team of Dragon Handlers entered. They led a second Dragon into the arena, this one, Harry recognised as a Welsh Green.
Once the Dragon Handlers secured the Dragon to the ground and left the arena, the woman moved.
She darted forward and into a door in the wall.
Harry followed her, he kept close and moved through the door before it closed behind her.
'This Dragon is a Welsh Green; this nesting mother is much larger than average for its type and is eight metres in length.' Bagman said, and Harry tuned the man's commentary out.
He followed behind the woman as she darted through door after door. Harry kept his Disillusionment Charm active and cast a Silencing Charm on his feet. The two moved through corridors and side rooms, they even ran through the Ravenclaw Quidditch changing room at one point as the cloaked woman led Harry through a silent chase.
A roar filled the arena that sounded almost like a song, but it was anything but soothing.
'Facing this Dragon is the Champion from Beauxbatons Academy, Fleur Delacour.' Bagman's voice drifted in through the door Harry ran toward, only a few steps behind the woman.
Harry clenched his jaw. He didn't want to miss Fleur's performance, but he was unwilling to allow this woman to run free until he knew what was going on.
The woman opened the door from where Bagman's voice came from and sunlight streamed into the room.
Harry narrowed his eyes at the sight.
The woman stood in a room beneath the stands. They had a clear view of the stadium and the rear of the Dragon. Harry wondered where they were, and what purpose the room served for a stadium built for Quidditch. From their vantage point, they couldn't see the air above the ground, where a Quidditch game would be played. But they had an unobstructed view of the ground where the Dragon stood.
Harry wondered if they constructed the Quidditch Pitch from designs for muggle stadiums, where all the games were played on the ground. Otherwise, this room held no purpose.
Harry watched the woman draw her wand and his eyes narrowed when he saw it was made of Rosewood.
She weaved her wand around herself and he kept his distance, she could likely detect his active spells if she were looking for them.
'Miss Delacour seems like she is summoning something from outside the arena. What is it?' Bagman's voice called.
Harry watched as the woman drew closer to the arena. An opening between the ground and ceiling gave an unobstructed view of the Dragon, like a window with no glass.
Harry noticed the chain that anchored the Dragon to the ground.
The Dragon strained against the chain as it fired great blasts of flame, the heat of which Harry felt even from behind the beast and out of direct view.
Harry's gaze left the Dragon when he saw a flash of light.
A spell left the cloaked woman's wand toward a second cloaked person, garbed in black robes. The second person deflected the spell that Harry realised was a Piercing Hex.
He watched, still disillusioned, as the two fought. Spells sped between them, and Harry narrowed his eyes.
Both figures outmatched him; it was as clear to him as the Dragon that Fleur faced outside.
So he watched as they fought.
After a few moments, he realised the second figure was a woman as well. She wore pristine fitted robes over Dragonhide leather armour. A high collar poked up and hugged her neck as she danced around the spells sent by the first woman. Beneath the second woman's robes, her Dragonhide leather armour held a golden trim.
It was obvious to Harry that the second woman was wealthy and wasn't afraid to show it. Her outfit probably cost enough to make the Malfoy's blanch.
Neither woman spoke, or if they did, Harry couldn't hear them over the destruction they caused in the viewing area.
Chunks of wall exploded inward, showering the occupants with dust and debris.
Harry ducked, careful to avoid what could give him away as the two continued their lethal dance. He couldn't tell which one, if any, to aid. Neither spoke and both fought an offensive fight.
Harry wondered why the two women were fighting and why they did so there and at that time. Questions filled his mind as the room filled with dust as the spells the two fired at rapid fire pace and destroyed everything.
He wondered if in the stands above them, where the spectators watched the event, they could feel this battle. And whether the stands would withstand much more of the fight.
'Miss Delacour is using some kind of stones to nullify the Dragon's fire. How on Earth did she pull that off?' Bagman's voice could barely be heard over the fight in front of his eyes.
'Wait, what's this? What's she doing? Is she singing?' Bagman continued.
The judge's voice quickly was drowned out as the two women's fight grew more intense.
The first woman fought with a familiarity that Harry couldn't place. She fought with a grace that was eerily familiar and each step she took was perfectly executed, with no wasted movement. Every movement she made flowed seamlessly into the next with the smoothness of an elegant dance.
The second woman, in contrast, fought with a brawler's grace. Her footwork wasn't sloppy, but it wasn't graceful. She moved in straight lines, with no thought to the art of duelling. The second woman fought as if victory was owed to her, like she expected to win.
Both women outclassed him by a wide margin, and he couldn't figure out which one to help.
With an enraged snarl, the second woman twisted and fired an overpowered Shattering Hex out of the room, and Harry's eyes widened as he followed the path of the spell.
The hex struck the chain holding the Dragon and the thick metal exploded. It sent shards of white-hot iron into the massive beast's leg, making it unleash an ear-shattering roar.
Harry now knew who to attack.
As the massive Dragon outside launched away from its pile of eggs toward Fleur, Harry turned and unleashed a barrage of potentially lethal spells at the second woman.
He fired Bone Breakers, Piercing Hexes, Expulso Curses, Blasting Hexes, and any other combat spell he could think of at the woman.
Harry even fired a spell he and Fleur he had been working on, a new spell. He couldn't cast it silently just yet though.
'Ardenti Lux.' Harry hissed and a beam of super concentrated light shot out of his wand, a laser.
The second woman shielded the first few spells he sent before the shield shattered, which forced her to deflect the rest. The light beam tore through her shield without resistance and she dodged out of the way at the last moment.
She struggled to evade the spells fired by the first woman in addition to Harry's.
Harry transfigured a piece of rubble into a wolf and, with a flick of his wand, enchanted it to be resistant to magic and enhanced its speed. He sent it off to attack the second woman before he leapt back into the fight.
With a shriek of rage, the second witch killed the wolf with a Piercing Hex to its head and withdrew a rock from her robes, then disappeared, a Portkey.
Harry growled and ran to the opening to see the massive Dragon collapsed to the ground, metres away from Fleur, fast asleep.
He let out a breath and spun to see the first woman staring at him.
A flash of silver hair escaped from her shadowed hood, and a moment later she disappeared. She left behind a pair of tears which fell to the ground where she had stood seconds before.
Harry stared at the spot the first witch had stood, then knelt. He almost touched the two tear drops that remained of her. He turned to where the second woman had Portkeyed away and growled as his frustration peaked.
Cheers erupted from the arena outside as Fleur ducked to scoop the Golden Egg into her arms before she ran to the exit of the area. As she rushed past him, he saw her pale face, unknowing of his presence.
Harry sighed.
He wondered what the hell just happened. Who were the two witches and why were they fighting? Why did one unleash the Dragon on Fleur?
He gave another sigh and ran a hand through his hair.
Harry left the room and made his way back to the entrance corridor where he'd first seen the first woman. Harry clenched his jaw and continued up to join Fleur's family in the stands.
Apolline frowned when she saw him, and Harry realised he was covered in dust from the fight.
'Harry? Where were you? You missed Fleur's match?' the Veela asked and Harry shook his head.
'I saw it, but there's something else I saw, too. Something that concerned me.' He admitted, standing beside Dominique.
Apolline stared at him for a moment before she took Gabrielle's hand and turned to her husband.
'Go with Harry, my love. It looks serious.' She said, and Dominique turned from Harry to Apolline, then back to Harry.
'Lead the way, my boy.' Dominique urged.
Harry nodded, and turned. He moved back down the steps to where he'd seen the woman first.
Harry led him through the veritable maze of rooms beneath the stands, toward where the fight had taken place.
'I'm sorry for pulling you away from your family, sir.' Harry said as he moved.
'Harry, you are family. What happened?' Dominique asked and Harry sighed, he ran a hand through his hair.
'I saw a suspicious looking woman as we entered the stadium.' Harry started.
As he led Dominique through the warren of rooms, he explained what had happened.
Finally, the two reached the room and Dominique's eyes widened as he saw the clear view of the stadium. The man examined the room, and the destruction caused by the battle.
'What happened? This doesn't look like a simple fight occurred.' Dominique whispered, as he trailed his wand over every surface.
'I didn't know which one to side with, so I waited.' Harry knelt beside the two tears again.
'When the second woman broke the chain restraining the Dragon, I stepped in and together with the first woman, we pushed back the second.' Harry said.
He held his fingers above the tears, and felt a strange pull toward them.
'The second woman Portkeyed away, so I turned to check that Fleur was okay. When I saw she was, I turned back to the first woman to see her crying, then she disappeared as well.' Harry paused and Dominique knelt beside him and cast a range of spells Harry couldn't make out.
Dominique frowned and cast a dozen more spells at the two tears in the dust.
'These results are strange.' Dominique murmured as he cast more spells on the tears.
Without looking up at Harry, Dominique continued.
'These tears, the magic in them, shouldn't exist. They don't exist, they can't exist. According to my diagnostics, these tears cannot exist. Yet they do.' Dominique explained.
Harry blinked.
'Huh?' he replied with the wisdom his age implied.
Dominique sighed and focussed on the tears once more.
Harry swore under his breath and drew his Marauders Map from his pocket.
'I solemnly swear that I am up to no good.' He muttered and names appeared on the map.
Harry peered at the names, but there were so many people in the stands that their names overlapped. He couldn't tell them apart.
Harry growled and was about to wipe the map when he noticed the name Bartemius Crouch in the castle, moving beside another name, Bertha Jorkins. After a quick scan, the only other name in the castle was Argus Filtch, who was on the other side of the castle.
He wondered why Crouch was in the castle, shouldn't he be in the judges' stand?
Harry peered out into the arena where the third Dragon, a Chinese Fireball, was being attached with two chains, rather than one. He narrowed his eyes and couldn't find the judges stand, he sighed, and figured it must be above his current location.
'Harry.' Dominique called and Harry turned to face the Ambassador.
'There's nothing more we can do here. I'll inform the Aurors to investigate, but we're done here for the moment.' Dominique said.
Harry nodded, and let out a sigh.
'What was Fleur's score, by the way?' Harry asked as the two moved to leave the room.
'She got forty-two. The Cedric boy got thirty-eight. It seems he lost points for not displaying enough style. However, we believe it was just Maxime and Karkaroff being upset that your school got two Champions.' Dominique explained, and Harry scoffed.
'Yeah, that doesn't surprise me. This whole thing had a rocky start.' Harry said, and Dominique chuckled.
'You're not wrong.' Dominique agreed and led Harry back to their seats, where Gabrielle latched onto Harry's arm to watch the remaining Champions.
Harry couldn't keep his mind off the two women and didn't pay attention to the final two Champions, lost in his thoughts.
An hour later, the rocky arena fell silent as the Dragon tamers stunned the irate Hungarian Horntail that Neville had narrowly avoided. Harry followed the Delacours out of the stadium, lost in thought, only looking up minutes later to see he'd followed them to the Black Lake.
He stared out into the lake, watching the waves on its surface gently move with the wind.
Harry blinked as he felt a pair of small hands wrap around his own. He turned down to meet Gabrielle's sky-blue eyes that watched him with worry in their depths.
'What's wrong? Aren't you happy that Fleur won?' she asked, her head cocked to the side.
Harry forced a smile on his face and knelt in front of the girl and pulled her into an embrace.
'I'm super happy that Fleur won. But I found some bad people today. I couldn't watch her win because I had to try to stop them from doing bad things.' Harry said, and Gabrielle frowned.
'Are the bad people going to come back?' the young Veela asked, and Harry sighed.
'I don't know, but your Papa is going to help me find them so that it doesn't happen again.' Harry said.
His gaze shifted to Dominique for a moment, to see the man nod, before it returned to Gabrielle's eyes once more.
Gabrielle nodded, though she still wore a frown, showing that she didn't really understand.
'It's okay, your Papa and I will make sure that nothing bad happens to Fleur.' Harry assured and Gabrielle nodded, her frown no longer present.
Harry looked up to the smiling elder Delacour's and behind them, Fleur walked toward them from the stadium. She wore a wide smile.
Fleur glowed with pride as she joined her family beside the lake. She rushed forward and took her parents into a tight embrace.
Harry released Gabrielle from his embrace and the little Veela rushed to join the family hug.
Apolline eyed Harry from over Fleur's shoulder as the group rotated after Gabrielle's enthusiastic entrance. Apolline gestured for Harry to join with a hand and, after a moment, he joined the embrace.
The embrace lasted a few seconds before the group disentangled themselves and Fleur looked between her parents' faces before landing on Harry's.
'What's wrong?' she asked.
Harry sighed, and ran a hand through his hair.
Dominique put a hand on Harry's shoulder.
'There was an altercation between two unknown witches under the stands behind the Dragon. In that altercation, one of the witches broke the chain of your Dragon.' Dominique explained, clear and concise.
Fleur's eyes widened, and a hand covered her mouth.
'So that's what happened.' She breathed.
'Were the witches caught?' she asked a moment later and Dominique shook his head.
Dominique gestured toward Harry.
'Harry here joined forces with the witch who didn't break the chain and together they forced the other to retreat via Portkey.' He explained and Fleur gasped. She turned to meet Harry's gaze.
Fleur rushed forward and wrapped her arms around Harry's shoulders.
'Are you okay? You're not hurt, are you?' she asked, and Harry held her close and whispered in her ear.
'I'm fine; I'll tell you everything later.' His voice was low and only Fleur heard him.
She nodded into his neck before releasing him from her grip.
Fleur turned to her family.
'Thank you all for joining us today, I really appreciate your support.' She smiled and Apolline nodded. A soft smile graced her face.
'How about we retire to the Great Hall for some dinner and hear the story of the event from your perspective?' Apolline suggested and Fleur nodded, a wide smile on her face.
Fleur took Harry's hand, and the two shared a grin before Harry allowed himself to be led toward the castle as Fleur started to speak.