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Harry Potter and the Smallest Change.
Chapter 36. Fourth Year, Part 18. 1995.
The next morning was a Friday and Harry sat at the Hufflepuff table with Fleur. Holly sat on Fleur's other side, and the rest of their friends sat with them.
Holly beamed up at Fleur, her eyes filled with pride.
'I'm so happy that you won the Tournament Fleur. We wanted to tell you yesterday, but you two disappeared from the Hospital Wing before we got there.' Holly said, and Harry felt the eyes of their friends on him.
'Sorry guys, something came up.' He sighed and Daphne rolled her eyes.
'Can you guys imagine what it would have been like if Longbottom had won?' Daphne said and they all rolled their eyes, small grins on their faces.
Harry could imagine the smug looks sent their way if Neville had won the Tournament.
But neither Harry nor Fleur smiled. They shared a heavy glance.
The future was already different from the other timeline.
Neville was alive.
Harry looked up to the Longbottom Heir and saw the boy looked terrible. Deep black bags hung under his eyes, and his normally pale skin looked pallid. Neville's hand clutched his forehead, or rather, his scar.
'While Neville has been a bother in the past-' Harry sighed.
Daphne and surprisingly, Luna, scoffed.
Harry blinked, but figured that the two did spend a lot of time together. He smiled at the two before continuing.
'Someone put Neville into the competition to kill him. Right now, his scar seems to be giving him trouble. Can anyone suggest why those two might be connected?' Harry asked, his voice low.
Susan frowned.
'Are you suggesting what I think you are?' the redhead asked.
Hannah looked between Harry, Susan, and Fleur, who all wore the same expression.
Holly stared at Harry; her face drained of colour.
Daphne shared a glance with Luna.
'What did we miss?' the Slytherin asked.
Harry sighed and ran a hand through his hair.
'I'm suggesting that whatever remains of Voldemort has a connection with Neville, through the scar given to him by the Killing Curse as a child. Neville is the only one to survive that curse, so I don't think it's a stretch to say there's some sort of magical bond between the two.' Harry explained.
'During the Third Task, Fleur escaped from an ambush that used the Triwizard Cup as a Portkey.' Harry said.
Fleur nodded and his hand in hers.
Harry gestured between himself and Fleur.
'We believe it was a plot of Voldemort's to enter Neville into the Tournament and manipulate it so he would win. Then use Neville in some way to return Voldemort to life.' He said, his emerald gaze moving between the girls.
'Any flaws with our thoughts so far?' Harry asked.
Holly and Susan were pale. They stared at Harry, speechless.
Hannah and Daphne blinked and looked between Harry and Fleur with wide eyes.
'When you explain it like that, it seems obvious.' Daphne whispered.
Luna smiled at Harry.
'Please continue.' She said.
Harry smiled back at her.
'Since Neville's scar seems to be bothering him more than usual-' Harry nodded over toward the Boy-Who-Lived and caught the boy's exhausted eyes.
Neville's scar looked red raw, like it was a fresh wound.
'Something changed since the Third Task to make the connection stronger. Why else would his scar change like it has?' he asked, and his audience stared at him with rapt attention.
Harry looked over at Fleur, who nodded.
'I think Voldemort returned to life after the Third Task. I think his Plan A was for Neville to win the Tournament and use him to return to life. But his Plan B would have been to use whoever won the Tournament if Neville couldn't.' Harry said and smiled at Fleur, squeezing her hand in his.
'But Fleur escaped before they could capture her.'
The girls stared at Fleur with wide eyes. Holly's eyes held unshed tears, threatening to escape.
'But I believe he had a Plan C, which was to abduct a random witch or wizard and use them instead. Why else would he have set up the Cup as a trap to capture the winner? Why else make Neville a competitor?' Harry asked.
Fleur leaned forward.
'Viktor was under the Imperius during the task. He attacked Cedric in the maze, then attacked me, which did not go well for him.' She whispered.
The only one who didn't gasp was Luna, who wore her serene smile.
'I believe you.' Luna said and turned to Harry.
'How did your night with your visitor go?' she asked, and Harry blinked.
He glanced at Fleur, whose eyes were wide. The two stared at Luna's blank expression.
Harry shook his head and smiled at Luna.
'Everything will turn out for the best. The people who were interfering with the Tournament are gone. Hopefully, we will all be able to get back to work now without this Tournament hanging over us.' Harry said.
Luna gave a small nod before she returned to making a face with the food on her plate.
Holly leaned forward, looking between Harry and Fleur.
'What will happen when you go back to France, Fleur? With the Tournament finished, what will the two of you do?' she asked, worry in her eyes.
Harry smiled at Fleur, who grinned back.
''Arry and I will move between the Potter and Delacour manors over the summer, and next year I will come back to stay in Britain while 'Arry finishes up here.' The Veela announced and was immediately pounced on by an excited Holly.
Susan smiled at the two before turning to Harry.
'So, you'll be trying a long-distance relationship then?' she asked, and Harry nodded.
'Yeah, it'll be hard, but we've been close since we met. We'll be able to handle it.' Harry said.
Fleur pulled out of Holly's embrace and looked around the group.
'I will be nearby to help any of my friends.' Her gaze fell to the table for a moment.
'You are my only friends.' She admitted.
Holly pulled her into another hug and the others smiled.
'You're one of us, Fleur, even if you are dating my brother.' Holly said, drawing a few chuckles.
The Hall fell silent, and Harry turned toward the staff table where the Headmaster stood, smiling around the Hall at all the students.
'Congratulations to the winner of the Triwizard Tournament, Fleur Delacour.' He began and applause filled the Great Hall, primarily from the male students.
Dumbledore waited until the applause ended before continuing.
'I must also congratulate the other Champions, two of whom are still in the Hospital Wing after their hard time in the maze.' He said and whispers spread around the room for a few moments before he kept going.
'This is a time for international relations to grow stronger, to make friends from distant lands and keep them close to our hearts. That is what this competition was about.' Dumbledore said and took a seat and drank from his golden goblet.
After breakfast, students from all schools hurried to fit in last minute study before their exams later in the day. Harry and Fleur sat with their friends to help them study and after a few hours, Fleur left to go to the Room of Requirement while Harry and the others went to their exams.
The weekend came quickly and both Harry and Fleur spent most of it in the Room of Requirement pushing their training to new heights and refining their plans.
June finished with students around the school enjoying a little free time. Harry and Fleur spent some of it with their friends, while they still spent most of it in the Room of Requirement, getting the most out of their time in the castle.
Finally, Beauxbatons and Durmstrang were due to leave, and Harry stood in front of the carriage with Fleur in his arms. Behind him stood the rest of their friends, who had already bid her farewell.
Harry touched his forehead to hers as his arms wrapped around her waist, holding her to him.
'I'm going to miss you.' He whispered, and she smiled.
'Me too.' She whispered back; her eyes closed.
'But I'll call you in the mirror tonight.' She said.
Harry released her and smiled.
'We'll see each other soon.' He said and cupped her face in his hands and drew her in for a last kiss.
She stepped backward a few steps, then turned to enter the carriage. She was the last.
Madame Maxime gave Harry an imperious stare, but nodded, a slight smile on her lips.
Once Fleur was inside, the carriage door closed and within moments, the carriage was airborne.
Harry watched as the house sized carriage disappeared into the blue sky.
Holly stepped up alongside him and took his hand.
'It'll be okay. We'll be home soon, and you'll see her then.' She murmured, and he turned to her and smiled.
Harry put an arm around her shoulders.
'Yeah, you're right. We should enjoy the time we have here before we leave.' He said as Susan moved to his other side and wrapped her arms around him in a tight embrace.
'You're not alone Harry.' She whispered, and he smiled, first at her, then the others.
Harry put an arm around Susan.
'Yeah, you're right. None of us are.' He said.
Together, the three walked back to the castle, their other friends with them.