Hey, everyone! Mystery Critic here, back with another chapter of Ma Fleur! I am so glad everyone is enjoying the story and the fact that I'm back, and I am here once more to satisfy your curiosity due to the previous chapter's cliffhanger. Before we proceed, I would like to introduce the person who has graciously agreed to beta Ma Fleur, mineng101!

Greetings FanFiction, mineng101 here. I am happy to be able to help Mystery Critic with this special story. Harry/Fleur is one of my favorite pairings and I look forward to being able to add my own little touch to this world. While I have mainly been on the anime fandoms, I am looking into branching out into the Harry Potter world. Without further ado, enjoy the chapter.

Chapter 18

Italics – French

Anger. Pure anger, writhing viciously, violent crimson tendrils whip around Harry, ready to snap out at anyone who comes too close. One of the tendrils touches the surface of the table, igniting it into billowing red flames in an instant.

"Aguamenti!" Hermione cries, water spraying futilely against the emotionally-enhanced fire. "Harry! The fire!"

Waving his hand at the flames, they disappear with a heated hiss. Taking a few deep calming breaths, the tendrils close in around Harry, coalescing into practically living beings, forming into the shapes of serpents as they swirl around him. Stalking forward, Harry walks up to the podium and snatches the piece of paper from the frozen stiff headmaster. Growling at the offending scrap of paper, it bursts into flames, taking a mere instant to turn it into ash. "That was not my handwriting, Headmaster," Harry says venomously, grinding his teeth as he glares at the aged wizard. "How did this happen? Tell me, now, because I want to know how I got entered into a tournament that once again, PUTS MY FUCKING LIFE AT STAKE!"

"Twenty points from Gryffindor for language, Mr. Potter!" McGonagall snaps, walking up to them. "Do not speak to the Headmaster that way!"

The serpentine tendrils of magic turn towards her and snap viciously, stopping mere millimeters from her face as Harry holds his hand up, stopping them from moving any further. Taking a deep breath, he waves his hand at them, making them vanish. Turning back towards the headmaster from a shaking Professor McGonagall, Harry sighs and pinches the bridge of his nose as he follows the headmaster into the antechamber. "There's no way out of it, is there?"

"No, Harry," Dumbledore sighs heavily, lowering his head as everyone looks at them upon their entrance. "I honestly had no idea that someone would try to enter you."

"But you should have expected it!" Harry snaps angrily, glaring daggers at the old wizard. "Every year, Halloween comes around and something happens! First, it was that damned troll which I had to kill! Then it was Mrs. Norris being petrified by that freaking basilisk, which I again, had to kill!"

"A basilisk?" Karkaroff scoffs, rolling his eyes. "Like a mere boy could vanquish a basilisk."

Turning so quickly a snap was almost audible, Harry's magic flares and spears into the wall faster than anyone could see, mere inches from either side of his head. "Do NOT call me a liar!" He spits, his eyes glowing bright green. Turning back towards the ancient headmaster, the tendrils remove themselves from the wall and swirl back around Harry as he points at Dumbledore. "Every year something happens, every year I'm in danger, and every year, I HAVE TO CLEAN UP YOUR GODDAMN MESS!"

Harry's magic explodes outwards once more, making everyone collapse as the strength and weight of his power forces them down. Feeling a hand slip into his, he looks down to see Fleur looking up at him, struggling to even do that much. Letting his anger slip away at the sight of the pleading look in her eyes, the pressure vanishes from the room as Harry drops to his knees and wraps his arms around his love, crying into her shoulder.

"I'm so sorry, Fleur," He sobs, tightening his hold on her. "I lost control and I hurt you. I'm so sorry..."

"It is not your fault, my love." She assures, soothing him and gently petting his head. "We all get angry, and I swear, we will find a way to get through this together."

Nodding into her shoulder, she turns towards the crowd of gobsmacked adults. "Iz zere anyzing we can do to get him out of eet?"

Shaking his head, Crouch speaks up. "The rules of the tournament are clear," He says, pointing a shaky hand at Harry. "His name came out of the Goblet, so he is magically contracted to compete in the tournament. To not participate would cause his magic to be forcibly removed and would most likely cause him to die."

"Is zere anyzing we need to know about ze first task?" She growls out, glaring at the man.

"Only that the task is on the 24th of November..." Crouch declares, flinching away from her glare. "You cannot receive any help from any of the teachers at your school. This task is designed to test your skill and knowledge in the face of the unknown."

"Harry, did you put your name in the Goblet of Fire?" Dumbledore asks calmly, placing his hand gently on his shoulder. Fleur smacks it away and Dumbledore holds his hands up defensively. "I had to ask, Miss Delacour. I am simply worried about my student."

"You know I didn't, Sir," Harry says tiredly.

"'E must be lying!" Maxime insists indignantly. "I demand ze Goblet be relit and Beauxbatons be given anozzer champion!"

Karkaroff nods in agreement. "Just because this school houses an attention-seeking glory hound doesn't mean that my school should be at a disadvantage!"

"What did you call him?!" Fleur snaps, licks of flame dancing up along her arms as she stands up in fury. "'Ow dare you?!"

"Mind your tongue, little girl!" Karkaroff sneers.

"'Ow dare you speak to my student zat way!" Maxime snaps, raising her wand at the Durmstrang headmaster.

"What are you going to do about it, half-breed?!" He snaps back, raising his wand in response.

"ENOUGH!" Harry yells, snapping once more as his magic slams everyone in the room but Fleur back down onto the ground. "Do you think you two can act your fucking ages? I've seen toddlers act more civilized than you two!"

Fleur wraps her arms around her destined mate's shoulders and glares viciously at them as they pick themselves back up and pocket their wands silently. "Now, 'ow do we find out 'ho added my love's name into ze Goblet?"

"Well, since Diggory is the Hogwarts Champion," Moody says, speaking up for the first time. "It would seem as if Potter had been entered under a different school."

"How do you figure this?" Karkaroff growls, glaring at Harry. "Seems like you've given it a fair bit of thought."

"The Hogwarts Champion was already selected, and the Goblet can't be confounded to choose a student from the same school twice," Moody snaps back, glaring at the former Death Eater. "And if you remember, it was once my job to think as Dark Wizards do, hm?"

"This isn't helping, Alastor," Dumbledore admonishes quietly while helping McGonagall to her feet. "Harry, can I please ask you to try to restrain from releasing your magic like that? It's getting quite painful, and it doesn't help when you're my age being pushed onto the ground."

"Sorry, sir." Harry sighs, taking another few deep breaths. "It really is difficult with certain people acting the way they are, though."

"Harry, my boy," Dumbledore says, patting his arm gently. "I've been around children for quite a long time. Believe me, I understand."

Chuckling softly, Harry looks to McGonagall and drops his gaze in shame. "I'm sorry, Professor McGonagall." He apologizes softly. "I wasn't doing it on purpose, and I'm sorry if I hurt you."

Sighing, she walks forward and places a hand on his shoulder comfortingly. "Mr. Potter, lift your chin up and look at me." She smiles softly upon Harry's compliance. "That's better. Did you know that I was there at your birth?"

Harry's eyes widen as he stares at her, shaking his head incredulously. "You were?"

"Indeed I was, Harry." Placing her other hand on his shoulder, she smiles warmly. "You called me Aunt Minnie, and besides your mother, you would cry when anyone else held you for more than a few minutes. I have thought of all children that come through these halls as mine, Harry, but there have been none I have felt closer to my heart than you. No child of mine is going to berate himself over a mistake. Chin up and take your detentions like a mature young man."

"Aww, detentions?" Harry whines good-naturedly.

"Yes, every Saturday, with me..." McGonagall smiles, patting Harry's cheek cheerfully. "Until March."

"What?!"

"Well, it's not like you're going to be missing Quidditch, is it?" She smirks, walking out of the antechamber.

"You're evil, Aunt Minnie," Harry grumbles, eliciting a giggle from Fleur.

"I heard that, Mr. Potter!" McGonagall sings. "April 15th it is!"

"Shit..." He sighs, shrugging. "Well, it can't get any worse."

"5 points for language!" McGonagall admonishes, popping her head in one last time. Harry says nothing as McGonagall smirks. "That's what I thought, Mr. Potter."

"I think we should all get some rest," Dumbledore says, smiling warmly. "It's been a long day and I think we could all use the sleep."

"'Ow do we know ze boy iz not lying?" Maxime snaps, waving her hand in Harry's direction.

"You know, I'm more than willing to take Veritaserum." Harry drawls, rolling his eyes. "Unless you all are so arrogant you don't trust a truth serum."

"Watch what you say, boy!" Karkaroff snarls, glaring daggers at Harry.

"Igor," Dumbledore says placatingly, placing a hand on the former Death Eater's shoulder. "The fact that Harry is willing, I think that speaks volumes about his innocence."

"Or that 'e's so arrogant 'e believes 'imself able to fool truz serum." Maxime huffs, turning away. "I still insist zat ze Goblet be relit."

"It doesn't work that way, Headmistress," Barty says, looking up at the woman apologetically. "The Goblet will not relight until the next tournament. Potter will just have to compete for himself, without any of his actions in this tournament counting towards Hogwarts."

"Hmph. I suppose zat is acceptable." Maxime accepts grudgingly, motioning to the door. "Come, Fleur. We shall head back to ze carriage."

Ignoring Maxime, Fleur stands up and walks over to Dumbledore. Holding out an envelope, she smiles up at him. "My fazzer wants to transfer me to 'Ogwarts next year and 'ave Gabrielle go to school here." She explains, shocking everyone in the room, no more so Harry as his smile spreads across his entire face. "'E does not zink zat Beauxbatons is right for us anymore. We hope you will accept us. Inside iz my transcript, and Gabrielle's homeschooling records. Zis decision was made and agreed by all of us. We want to go to school wiz ze special man 'ho 'as captured all of our 'earts."

"I would be more than happy to accept you to our school, Miss Delacour." Dumbledore accepts the envelope, his eyes twinkling happily as Maxime storms out. "I only have one request. Please try to keep Mr. Potter out of trouble."

"Hey!" Harry whines. "I take offense to that! I don't go looking for trouble, ya know! It just finds me!"

"Quiet, love." Fleur smiles, skipping gracefully over to him and kissing his forehead. "It iz a small price to pay to attend 'Ogwarts wiz you."

"Headmaster, are you trying to get me in trouble with the women in my life?" Harry asks, smirking.

"Whatever could you be insinuating, Mr. Potter?" Dumbledore asks, trying to contain his laughter. "I am simply bringing your family to you."

Raising an eyebrow, he points a thumb at Fleur. "Beautiful Veela; fire, immolation."

"Best keep her happy then," Dumbledore suggests, placing a hand on both of their shoulders. "I think we might be able to accommodate Miss Delacour for the remainder of the year. After all, the rules of the tournament say that each school must be as hospitable as possible to each of the champions and their schools. I believe we can set you up in one of the spare staff apartments here. Would that be acceptable?"

"Zank you, 'Eadmaster Dumbledore." Fleur nods ecstatically, wrapping her arms around her destined.

"You're quite welcome." He says, waving them out. "Come now, let's show Miss Delacour to her apartment, Harry. Then it's off to bed with you."

Fleur and Harry smirk mischievously at each other as they walk out of the antechamber, the headmaster chuckling behind them.

~Fleur~

After showing Fleur to her apartment, and a rather lengthy goodbye kiss, drawing several cleared throats from Dumbledore, they finally say goodnight. Harry and Dumbledore bid each other goodnight as they go their separate ways in front of the Gryffindor common room. Walking in, Harry smiles happily as he makes his way over to the fireplace, plopping down on one of the couches. A few moments later, Harry looks up at the two figures standing in front of him. Ron glares down at him while Hermione looks nervous, torn between the two sides in the rapidly approaching fight.

"Quiet year, huh?" Ron accuses hotly, crossing his arms. "I guess that was a load of hippogriff dung, wasn't it?"

"I didn't enter myself, Ron." Harry huffs in irritation, standing up and walking around him. "If you don't believe me, that's your fault, not mine."

"Oh, come off it!" Ron snaps, following Harry. "You could have at least told us how you did it so one of us could have had a chance!"

Taking a deep breath, Harry turns around slowly. "I. Did. Not. Enter. My. Name. Ron." Harry punctuates each word, his patience wearing thin as the temperature in the room increases a little bit.

"You're nothing but a glory hog, Potter!" Ron snarls, his nostrils flaring as he points at Harry. "You just want everyone else in your shadow, no one else matters as long as you keep the spotlight!"

"I'm only famous because my parents died, you arsehole!" Harry roars, the serpentine crimson magic swirling into existence once more before hissing at Ron threateningly. "Do you think I want this? To only be famous for something that cost me everything? I don't want this fucking fame, I don't want to be in this fucking tournament, and if you don't want to listen, then fuck off!"

Harry turns around and walks away, only to freeze in place when he hears Ron mutter under his breath. "Don't hear you moaning about your life with that French tramp..."

Harry spins around points his hand towards the freckled redhead, the snake-like tendrils of magic snapping out in a blinding speed. They wrap around his waist and throw him into the wall, the stone cracking under the force of the blow. Harry stalks up to Ron and crouches down in front of him before holding his finger in front of his eyes, the tip crackling with lightning before he whispers menacingly. "Say something about her again and I won't stop myself next time." Harry stands up and walks towards the stairs. "Consider our friendship over, Weasley."

"You belong in the ground with your parents, Potter!" Ron spits after him, causing Harry to stop in his tracks once more. "You're nothing but a piece of shit dark wizard like You-Know-Who!"

Harry turns around to retaliate but stops when he hears a quite painful sounding slap ring throughout the common room. "Ronald Weasley!" Hermione shrieks, glowering at Ron. "How dare you?! After all, Harry has gone through, you have the audacity to say something like that?! You keep acting jealous over things Harry has no control over just because he 'winds up in the spotlight,' and it is complete rubbish! I am done trying to mediate between you two because Harry is one hundred percent correct. Harry is the only one who has ever really been my friend, not you! He has never left my side, and the only time either of us has ever fought was when I turned in his broom to Professor McGonagall, and that was only because I was concerned! I wasn't jealous he had a new broom! Even then, we were talking again after only two days! Harry has been the only constant in my life, and I have been a fool trying to stop arguments between you two when Harry has always been right! I want you to stay away from me, too, Ronald. I am done being friends with a child as petty and jealous as you."

Hermione walks over to Harry and hugs him tightly and harry hugs her back, a stunned expression donning his face. "Hermione, are you okay?"

"What did you say, Harry?" She asks, tears flowing from her eyes.

"I asked if you were okay." He repeats, wiping away her tears and conjuring a tissue.

"Am I okay?" She chokes out a sob that sounds like a chuckle before wiping away her tears. "I just finished hounding out the biggest arse I have ever had the displeasure of meeting, barring Malfoy, and you ask if I'm okay?"

"Well….yeah." He shrugs, cracking a roguish grin. "Of course I'd ask if you were okay. When have I ever cared about my own well-being?"

"Only you, Harry Potter." She replies, shaking her head and giggling. "Yes, I'll be fine. I'm more concerned about you."

"I'm fine, Hermione." He assures her, leading her towards the stairs leading up to the girl's dorm. "As much as I want to burn the git into a crisp, he's just not worth it."

"I'm proud of you, Harry," Hermione says, hugging him tightly. "Goodnight."

"Night, Hermione."

Walking out of the common room, Harry disillusions himself and starts walking towards Fleur's apartment. Upon arriving, Harry hesitates for a few moments before he knocks on the door. A few moments later, Fleur opens the door. "'Arry?" She asks, cocking her head slightly to the side. "Are you alright?"

"I don't think I can stay in Gryffindor Tower anymore." He says hesitantly. "Can I... Can I sleep with you? Just until I can find somewhere else to sleep?"

"Of course you can, ma cheri." She says, pulling him into her arms. Harry fidgets nervously as Fleur presses close to him, her thin nightgown elicits the expected reaction for a fourteen-year-old wizard as he feels her warm curves press into him.

"Um, Fleur?" Harry coughs, pulling back, and looking away nervously. "Not that I don't appreciate the hug, but uh..."

"Harry, you're going to have to get used to seeing me in things like this." She smirks, pulling him into the apartment. "We're going to be together for the rest of our lives, after all. Now, sit down and tell me what happened."

Harry spends the next few minutes explaining what happened in the common room, holding Fleur's hand comfortingly to prevent her from going to kill Ron herself. "I can't believe he'd say all of that to me," Harry mutters sadly, looking down at his lap. "I thought he was my friend."

"While he obviously is not, Hermione sounds like the best friend you can have." She says, stroking his hair. "You are lucky to have her by your side."

"You're not jealous of my friendship with her?" He inquires hesitantly, looking up at her. "I heard that most women hate letting their boyfriends being friends with other women."

"Not all women," Fleur explains, waving her hand. "just those we know would try something. Even so, I am not most women. I mean, have you seen me?"

"I love seeing you." Harry chuckles and kisses her cheek. "I am the luckiest bloke in the world to have you, Fleur. I hope you know I'd never do something that would even remotely be considered cheating."

"I know you won't, my love," Fleur says, laying her head down in his lap. Harry smiles and starts stroking her hair, enjoying the feeling of his fingers drifting through her silver locks. "I know how much you love me, I can feel it. Even though you are nervous around me and you have a long way to go before you are completely comfortable around me, I can sense how complete your love for me is."

"Veela perk?" He smirks, poking her cheek.

"Veela perk." She confirms, sticking her tongue out up at him. "Now, how about we get some well-deserved sleep? You have been through quite an ordeal tonight."

"You read my mind, Fleur." He agrees, standing up.

"Why are you standing up, ma cheri?"

"I'm sleeping on the couch." He answers, walking towards the next room.

"No, you most certainly are not." Fleur huffs, sliding under the cover and lifting it up. "In. Now."

"Are you sure, Fleur?" Harry asks nervously. "I mean, at home is one thing, but here?"

"Get your butt in here before I roast it, Harry." She says, smirking at him.

"Yes, dear." He says, the corner of his mouth curling into a grin. He walks over and slides under the cover and Fleur lets it drop over them before she snuggles up to him. "Hey, Fleur?"

"Yes, Harry?"

"Thanks."

"You're welcome, Harry." She responds, closing her eyes. "Goodnight."

"Goodnight."

Well, everyone! There's chapter eighteen! Thanks to mineng101 for being the beta, and I hope you all check out his work, as well. Constructive criticism is always welcome, and flames will be used to immolate haters. As usual, read, review, and spread it like wildfire. This is Mystery Critic, signing off.