Hey, everyone! Mystery Critic here, back at you with the new rewrite for chapter five! The rewrite was done by my amazing sister, and I thank her from the bottom of my heart for this and all future chapters she decides to help out on. Check out her work on Archive Of Our Own (AO3 from here on out to save time.), some truly amazing stories on there. Author name on AO3 is TheoVanyar, and I hope you all check out her work as you do mine. As of right now, the rewrites of the chapters are still undergoing... Well, rewriting, and will be done as soon as possible. Please bear with us as we go over these chapters. As for the disclaimer, I do not own Harry Potter, nor any of the rights affiliated with it. Now sit back, relax, and enjoy the new chapter five!
Chapter 5
Italics – French
Harry opens his eyes, the memories of his last time awake flashing through his head. He remembers nothing before going back to the hotel, but he does remember the knife. The way it glinted off the light in the kitchen before disappearing below his line of sight and the pain searing in his chest as the word "freak" was carved into it. The pain was unlike anything he had ever felt Vernon do to him before, except maybe the time he branded him. He tries to get up, but the pain was too much. He looks around and sees that a bed was brought close to his and sees that Fleur is sleeping there facing him. He looks over to see Fleur's sleeping face, her chest slowly rising and sinking as she breathes. His thoughts of the Dursley's and the knife are forgotten as he gets lost in the glow of her beauty. The way her long, silver hair sparkles in the rays of light shining through the window. The way her skin practically radiates with pure exquisiteness, not a single blemish on her pale olive skin. His eyes wander down to her heaving chest, realizing that with the exception of the blanket over her, she is completely naked. The blanket was a teasing bastard, just barely covering her luscious breasts. The blood starts rushing somewhere else besides his brain as his face heats up.
'Dear God, Goddess, or fucking Morgana.' Harry thinks, hoping she doesn't see his wooden problem when she wakes up. 'Whoever is out there, I promise I will pray to you every day for the rest of my life if you do not let her wake up right now.'
Harry hears a small moan come from Fleur as she stretches, looking over to see her destined wake up.
"'Arry, you're awake!" She screams, wrapping her arms around him tightly nearly falling from the bed, pressing her chest against his. "Mon Dieu,* I'm so thankful you are okay, mon amour!"
Harry is thankful that Fleur is indeed not naked. However, she is in her negligee, the sight of the near-transparent silk nightgown driving his hormonal teenage brain into overdrive. Unfortunately, her rapid movement to hug him prevents Harry from positioning himself to protect his modesty as Fleur's leg drapes over his waist.
"Why Harry, are you sure you have recovered enough blood for such a response?" Asked Fleur, her eyes sparkling with mischief.
"Fleur… I, uh… I wasn't going to do anything! I swear! It's just that, well… Uh, blanket and chest coverage didn't really work together, and the blood in my body doesn't want to cooperate, and it's not my fault and I… Um… I'm just digging myself deeper here, aren't I?" Stutters Harry.
"Oh, my love. Eet iz fine." She says, moving her leg off of his waist. She gets up and wraps her blanket around her, her face slightly red. "I understand completely natural reactions and I shouldn't be teasing you after the horrible experience you just went through."
"I'm glad you understand, Fleur," Harry says with a chuckle. "Any longer and I probably would have been so embarrassed that the knife might be needed again."
Harry feels a sting spread across his cheek before he turns and sees Fleur practically seething as she glares at him.
"Don't ever joke about zat, 'Arry Potter! I almost lost you zat day!" She yells, her hands planted at her sides as she keeps glaring. "Zat eez not funny! Do you 'ave any idea what eet was like walking in to see you lying in a pool of your own blood? DO YOU?! I could not even zink straight! I was ready to kill zose monsters! I would 'ave most likely went to prison, but I would not 'ave cared, because I would 'ave killed zose evil people! Do you understand me, 'Arry James Potter?!"
Harry stays silent, looking down and turning his face away from her.
"Answer me, 'Arry!" Exclaims Fleur. Harry doesn't make a sound as he cowers back away from her screams. Fleur takes a breath to calm herself down as she reaches out to comfort him, only for his hands to shoot up in defense, covering his face as he tries to protect himself from the blow he thinks is coming. Fleur realizes the severity of her mistake as she looks down at her hand and starts to shake. She lurches forward and wraps her arms around him, ignoring the flinch that stiffens his body. "'Arry, I am so sorry!" She cries, holding him close as her body wrenches from the heavy sobs emanating from her.
"Please forgive me, mon amour! I didn't mean to, I swear! Eet iz just… You were talking about killing yourself again, and I just snapped! I didn't even zink! My 'and just moved, 'Arry, I am so sorry! Please forgive me!"
Harry stays silent, but wraps his arms around her sobbing body, rubbing her back comfortingly. She continues to cry into his shoulder, her shoulders wrenching with the shame and guilt pouring out of her. After a few minutes, she pulls away from Harry and looks at him.
"'Arry, please say somezing..." She begs, taking his hand in hers slowly and gently. "Say somezing so I know you don't 'ate me..."
"I don't hate you, Fleur..." Harry says, squeezing her hand. "I could never hate you. Not at all, and I understand why you hit me. I really do. I deserved it for saying something like that."
"Non, 'Arry!" She interrupts, placing her hand tenderly on his cheek. "You did not deserve to be 'it, no matter what you said. Eet was me 'ho struck out in anger at you saying zat, and I only did it because I was afraid zat you would actually do it..."
"Fleur… I'm sorry you had to see that. I really am. I wouldn't wish that on anyone." Harry says, lowering his head in shame.
"'Arry..." Fleur says, her hand covering her mouth as she stares at him. Her heart all but shatters when she sees him suffering like this, being abused so much that he'd rather take his own life than suffer any more. She takes him into her arms and holds him close, pressing his body to hers possessively. "Never again will you feel like zat, 'Arry. Please forgive me for striking you, I swear it will never 'appen again."
"I forgive you, Fleur." He says, wrapping his arms hesitantly around her body. The doors open and Madame Pomfrey walks in, glowering at Harry and Fleur. "Um, Fleur? Maybe we should stop hugging so you can put some clothes on?"
"I do not care about clothes, 'Arry." She says, lying him down. She lays down next to him and pulls the blanket up to cover her body as she lies next to him and pulls his body to hers again. "'Owever, I will make myself decent enough so Madame Pomfrey can make sure you are okay."
"Thank you, Miss Delacour." She says, the pair jump and Harry's face reddens as Madam Pomfrey walks up to the pair. "How are you feeling, Harry?"
"Fine, Madame Pomfrey," Harry says, looking away. "I'll be fine. I… I just need some time to get over this."
"Harry James Potter, you have been my favorite patient for three years, and I will not have you lie to me. You are like the son I never had, and I'll be damned if I let you go without telling me everything so I can properly help. Do you understand?"
Harry nods slowly and looks back up at her, knowing better than to argue with the elder healer.
"Good. Now, I'm going to give you another blood replenishing potion just in case."
Poppy opens up her satchel and pulls a small red vial like before out of it, and hands it to Harry. He sits up, opens the cork and downs it quickly, shuddering a little as a little more color comes back to his face.
"You are looking better already, 'Arry," Fleur says, stretching up to give him a peck on the cheek. Harry blushes slightly. "Now, Madame Pomfrey 'as told me zat you can leave today. While you were unconscious, I asked my papa if you can move in wiz us until you 'ave to leave for the Weasley's. 'E said yes, 'Arry! You get to come 'ome wiz me, mon amour!"
Harry looks over at Poppy, his smile getting bigger when she nods to let him know it's true.
"I get to go home with you?" Harry asks, looking at Fleur again. "You really mean it?"
"Oui, 'Arry." She says, hugging him tightly. "You get to come 'ome wiz me."
Harry returns the hug and sighs happily, closing his eyes as he lies his head on Fleur's shoulder. Poppy waves her wand over Harry for a few more minutes, using diagnostic spells on him and making sure everything is okay. Once she finishes, she puts her wand away and closes her satchel.
"Well, Mr. Potter," Poppy said, picking up her satchel and walking to the door.
"Everything checks out. Don't do anything strenuous and get plenty of rest, understood? Also, do try to stay out of the hospital wing this year, will you?"
"Oh, come off it, Madame Pomfrey," Harry says, throwing her a cheeky grin. "You know I can't do that. You'd miss me too much."
"Teenagers..." Poppy mutters, opening the door and leaving.
"So, shall we get ready to go, 'Arry?" Fleur says, smiling at her destined.
"Yeah, let's go." He answers, getting up and pulling on the t-shirt lying on the nightstand next to him.
"I'll wait outside so you can get dressed."
"Why would you 'ave to wait outside, mon amour?" She says, looking at him curiously. "You are my destined mate. You 'ave every right to look at my naked body. Or do you not want to?"
"No, it's not that!" Harry says, putting his hands up defensively. He groans and slaps his forehead when she gives him a fake pout, whimpering as if he has just hurt her feelings. "Fleur, of course, I want to see you naked, I just… Wait, no! That's not what I meant, I just… Ugh..."
Fleur laughs and stands up, holding the cover to her body as she walks over to Harry. She places a kiss on his forehead and strokes his cheek with a curled finger.
"I am only teasing, 'Arry. You are so adorable when you are blushing, mon cher." She says, spinning her finger for him to turn around. "I understand what you are saying. Zank you for being such a perfect gentleman, but I am not letting you out of my sight until you are at ze Weasley's house. So just turn around and I will get dressed."
Harry nods with a blush, turning around and covering his eyes with his hand for good measure. Fleur giggles cutely, causing Harry's blush to deepen. Fleur pulls her clothes on and walks up behind Harry, wrapping her arms around his neck slowly and gently, laying her head on his shoulder as she sighs contently.
"Ready to go, mon amour?" She asks, nuzzling his cheek.
"Yeah, I'm ready." He answers, dropping his hand and holding it out for her to take. She takes it immediately and they walk out of the hospital room. They walk down the hall while Fleur hums happily, swinging her hand back in forth in Harry's. They reach the lobby after a few moments and Fleur's father walks up to the pair.
"'Ello zere, Monsieur Potter," Jacques says, extending his hand towards Harry. Harry looks Jacques up and down, measuring him up as he does every new person. Jacques is not much taller than Fleur, dull brown eyes with bags under them, short brown hair combed back neatly, and a beige muggle suit fitting perfectly to his body. "Eet is a pleasure to meet you."
"It's a pleasure to meet you, too, Monsieur Delacour," Harry says with a smile, taking his hand and shaking it. "But please, call me Harry."
"Zat's a firm 'andshake, young man." He says, smiling as he shakes Harry's hand. "Now, since you 'ave insisted I call you 'Arry, eet iz only fair zat you call me Jacques."
"Sure," Harry says, grinning happily before letting go of Jacques' hand.
"Well, shall we go, zen?" Jacques asks, walking over to the fireplace. He grabs a handful of floo powder and tosses it into the fireplace, an emerald fire roaring to life in front of them. Before going through, he hands Harry a piece of paper. "Zis is where you need to say to go. Our 'ome is under ze Fidelius Charm, so unless I gave you zis piece of paper, you would 'ave been transported into ze middle of ze Atlantic Ocean."
Thankful that he doesn't have to go swimming with sharks, Harry nods with a smile. Jacques walks into the fireplace and disappears in a flash of emerald flames.
"Ready to go 'ome, mon amour?" Fleur asks, looking over at Harry. Harry hesitates for a moment, not used to having a home.
"Will this be my only time here?" He asks, looking up at Fleur with a concerned look.
"Of course not, mon cher!" Fleur says, stroking his cheek with a loving smile. "Between you and me, papa is working to get you adopted under him and maman. Zat way, after 'Ogwarts, you can be wiz me all the time. 'Ow does that sound?"
"That sounds… bloody brilliant..." He says, gasping at the news he's just received. "Let's go… Home."
Fleur smiles at him and walks into the flames, disappearing in a bright flash of brilliant emerald fire. Harry walks up to the fire and walks in, a pleasant warmth washing over him before he feels a yank on his whole body as he calls out the name of his soon to be new home.
"Delacour Villa!"
Well, there's the new rewrite! Thank you again to my wonderful, intelligent, and amazing sister (yes, I'm trying to get her to stay, and it helps that all of it is true) for being the beta for this chapter, and I hope to work on you with many more. Constructive criticism is always welcome, flames will be used to start a bonfire that my sister and I will dance around while cackling. As usual, read, review, and spread the story like wildfire! This is Mystery Critic, signing off.