Hey, everyone! Mystery Critic here, back at you with another chapter of Ma Fleur! I'm back a little early. My little brother doesn't read this, but he asked me to post a new chapter a bit early as a birthday present, so here it is. The last chapter was something, huh? Sirius got his trial, something I believe should have happened in the books, and should have happened by at least fourth year. Yes, that does mean a lot of things will be different with Sirius not being on the run. Well, this is a fanfiction for a reason. I know this chapter is kind of short, but it is just a bit of filler. As for the disclaimer, I don't own Harry Potter, nor any of the rights affiliated with it. With that out of the way, grab your Two-Ton Toffees to prank people, sit back, relax, and enjoy chapter twenty-four of Ma Fleur!
Chapter 24
Finally catching Sirius, Harry jumps on his back and they stumble down to the ground. Shifting back into his human form, Sirius laughs as he hugs Harry tightly. "Thank you so much, Harry." He says, sighing happily. "I haven't had fun like that since... well, since before your dad died."
"I'm sorry, Sirius." Harry apologizes, sitting up and crossing his arms over his knees. "I know it can't be easy looking at me."
"What are you talking about, Harry?" Sirius asks confusion etched on his face.
"Well, if I wasn't alive, they would be..." He says, not catching Sirius's eyes widening. "I mean, if they didn't have me, they wouldn't have died protecting me. You would still have your friends."
"No, Harry!" Sirius insists, pulling Harry into his arms again. "That's not true at all. If it wasn't for Tom, James and Lily would still be alive. He's the only one to blame, not you. Don't ever think that, Harry. It's not your fault."
"But-"
"Ah! No buts, Harry." Sirius interrupts, covering his mouth. "I don't want to hear anything else about it. It's not your fault, understand?"
"Fine..." He mutters after Sirius takes his hand away.
"Attaboy!" Sirius exclaims, patting him on the back. "Now, how about a shopping trip to cheer us all up? My treat!"
"Quality Quidditch Supplies!" Harry shouts, throwing his arms in the air and whooping. "I've been needing a new polishing kit. I'm almost out of lacquer, and I can think of a few Christmas presents to get for maman and dad."
Turning to Harry with a sad smile, Sirius envelops him in a soft hug. "I'm sorry I wasn't there for you, Harry." He said softly, trying not to let the dam of emotions break. "I shouldn't have focused on some stupid thing like revenge. You always were and should have been my main priority. I can never make up for how much I've failed you, but I'm certainly going to try."
"It's alright, Padfoot," Harry says, hugging his godfather back. "I forgive you."
Wiping away tears, Padfoot pats him on the back and stands up with new energy. "Come on, pup," He says, hoisting Harry to his feet. "Let's go shopping!"
"Sirius, perhaps the shopping trip can wait until the holidays?" Dumbledore suggests, stepping forward. "After all, it is still a school day."
"Headmaster, we both know I'm allowed to miss classes as a champion." Harry reminds the aged wizard.
"Yes, to train for the tasks." He says, eyes twinkling in mirth.
"This is emotional training." He retorts.
"How so?"
"Scenery changes are good for the mental state."
Chuckling, Dumbledore shakes his head. "Very well, my boy." He says, patting him on the shoulder. "Do try to be back before curfew, alright?"
"I'll try my best, Headmaster." He says with a smile.
~Fleur~
Stepping out of the floo and into the Leaky Cauldron, Harry wraps an arm around the shoulders of Jacques and Sirius as they exit the fireplace. "Well, my male role model and my resident flea basket..."
"Hey!"
"...Let us shop for Christmas!"
"Well said, 'Arry!" Jacques says.
"Speak for yourself..." Sirius mutters.
"I do believe I was."
"Prat."
"Mutt."
"Pompous Frenchman."
"English pig."
"Girls, girls, you're both pretty!" Harry interjects, waving his hand and drenching them both with a conjured bucket of water. "Can we move on now?"
Whipping out their wands, Jacques and Sirius start firing stinging hexes at Harry. Nimbly dodging them, Harry cackles madly as he runs out into Diagon Alley. Chasing Harry down the street, the two grown men growl as the fourteen-year-old boy makes a mockery of them.
"Stay still, you cheeky bugger!" Sirius exclaims, waving his wand and conjuring several rubber balls to try and pelt Harry.
Waving his hand, the balls bounce off an invisible shield. "Never use that which you aren't sure can't be used against you, Padfoot!" He responds, waving his hand and sending the balls right back at his godfather. Raising a shield just in time, Padfoot sighs in relief. Not letting Jacques get the upper hand, Harry whips his wand out and sends blasts of paint flying towards him. Waving his hand towards Sirius, Harry transfigures a box behind him into a lobster. Levitating it behind Sirius, it pinches its claw down on Sirius.
"BLOODY HELL!" Sirius screams, jumping around and trying to yank the lobster off of his hindquarters. "HARRY! AS SOON AS I GET THIS LOBSTER OF MY ARSE, I SWEAR TO MERLIN I AM GOING TO GET YOU!"
Ducking down, Harry nimbly avoids a set of clothespins sent at him by Jacques before retaliating with a subtle sticking charm to his feet and a blast of air from his hand. Sprawling backward, Jacques lands hard on his butt before countering the sticking charm. Sirius growls and moves in on Harry opposite Jacques. Prank spells begin flying between the three of them for several moments in an all-out barrage before a wave of paint drenches all three of them pink.
"I think that's enough, don't you?" A voice calls out, prompting all three of the paint-covered males to look at the source. "Wotcher, Siri!"
"Nymphadora!" Sirius cries in joy, dashing forward before dropping down to the ground as he receives a stinging hex to the nether regions. Harry, Jacques, and all of the men in the crowd watching wince as Sirius takes a blow of pain and pride.
"Black, call me that again and you'll wish you were back in Azkaban." She warns, her hair turning dark red and her wand spitting angry sparks.
"Noted..." Sirius wheezes out, his voice several pitches higher.
"Good! Now then!" She says, her hair shifting back to bubblegum pink. "Wotcher, Harry! I'm your cousin three times removed or some such nonsense."
"Right, Sirius said your name was-" Harry goes silent as she levels her wand between his eyes.
"Unless you want to end up like dear old Cousin Siri, I'd advise you to call me Tonks."
"Right, that's exactly what he said your name was!" He says nervously, holding his hands up in surrender.
"Oh, swell!" She says, putting her wand away. "I'm so glad he told you!"
"Yep, good old Ny-MORGANA'S QUIVERING SNATCH, WOMAN!" He cries as she sends another stinging hex his way. "WOULD YOU STOP BLOODY ATTACKING ME?!"
"Who, me? Nah, must be some other drop-dead gorgeous beauty around here." She says, winking at Harry.
Chuckling, Harry walks up and offers his hand. "It's my absolute pleasure to meet you, Tonks."
"Get in here, you!" She says, knocking his hand away and pulling him into a hug. "I've always wanted a little cousin or something to spoil, so I'm going to be the best big sister I can."
"That sounds great, Tonks." He says, hugging her back.
"Brilliant!" She says, smiling at him. "Right then, what are you lot up to?"
"Sirius was just about to take us shopping when we kind of got lost in a prank war," Harry admits sheepishly, rubbing the back of his neck.
"Nothing wrong with a little prank war, mate." She says, nudging his shoulder with her own. "Anyway, I'll tag along. Cousin Siri can buy me some stuff, too."
"Hey! What do I look like, your personal bank?" He cries indignantly.
"For today? Yes." She says without missing a beat. "Consider it thirteen years of missed birthday presents."
"I was in prison!"
"That's no excuse." She shrugs, turning away from him and linking her arms in Harry's. "Come on, little cousin. Escort me to Madame Malkin's."
"Bloody witch is gonna bankrupt me..."
"So, Harry," Tonks says, looking over at him. "Any lucky lady in your life?"
"Why do you ask?" He asks, blushing beet red.
"Oh, teasing you is gonna be fun." She laughs, smiling evilly. "Don't worry, though. You're too young, and I'm not really into incest."
"Well, actually-" Harry is interrupted by a flash of a camera.
"Oh my, Mr. Potter!" Skeeter says, placing her hands on her cheeks and faking an expression of shock. "Poor Miss Delacour, to be cheated on by the Boy-Who-Lived!"
"Listen, Skeeter," Tonks says, detaching herself from Harry and whipping out her wand. "If you don't give me that camera, I'm-"
The camera explodes in the grunt's hands, causing him to fall to the ground in pain.
"How dare you, that's my personal property!" Skeeter shrieks, whipping her wand out. Snapping his fingers, her wand flies out of her hand and into Harry's. "Hey! Give me back my wand!"
"I'll say this once and once only, Skeeter;" Harry says coldly, the malice in his voice terrifyingly palpable. "you leave me out of your trashy gossip columns and your lying fifteen minutes of fame bits in the paper. Unless it's about me as a champion and truthful, I will have your ass booted to the curb so fast you won't know what hit you. Am I understood?"
"You can't do that, I'm protected by freedom of the press!"
"When you print blatant lies about me, I can." He says, tossing her wand at her feet. "I won't be slandered, nor will I have any of my loved ones spoken ill of. I will buy out The Prophet if I have to. This is your only warning."
Huffing irritably, she turns on her heel and storms away. Turning towards the crowd looking at him, Harry raises an eyebrow. "What?"
"Harry, are those snakes usually there?" Tonks asks hesitantly, pointing above him.
"Ah, crap..." He mutters, breathing out and dispersing the magic. "They're kind of... summoned by my anger, I guess. It's a manifestation of my magic, and they can be kind of... sentiently protective, I guess?"
"Harry, that magic looked very dark..." Tonks says.
"The only reason it looked dark is that they're a manifestation of magic caused by negative emotion." He explains, placing a comforting hand on her shoulder. "I guess if it would be classified as anything, it would probably be classified as dark. This is the Ministry of Magic we're talking about. Pretty biased, if I do say so myself. However, it's not classified as anything because this is not a spell. It's literally my magic."
"Alright, Harry," She says, smiling at him. "I believe you."
"Thanks, Tonks." He says, hugging her. "That means a lot to me."
"You're welcome, Harry." She says, hugging him back. "Now, Siri! Shopping trip, you're still buying."
"Oh come on!"
~Fleur~
Walking into the final shop for the day, bag upon bag hanging off of Sirius's arms, Tonks drags Harry into a formal clothing shop.
"Tonks, what are we doing here?" Harry asks, exhausted from being a dress-up doll all day. "I don't need formal clothes, I don't even like them!"
"Harry, didn't anyone tell you?" Tonks asks, turning to glare at a whimpering Sirius.
"Don't look at me, dear niece!" He says defensively. "I don't know anything, either!"
"Somehow that doesn't surprise me." She mutters, rolling her eyes and turning back to Harry. "Harry, the Triwizard tournament always has a Yule Ball on Christmas. Champions are required to open the ball, and I'm positive Fleur doesn't want you looking like it's just another day."
"Isn't it technically just another day?"
"Listen here, ya cheeky git." Tonks threatens, pointing her finger in his face. "You're getting dress robes if I have to put you in a Body-Bind and put every set of robes in this place on you. Get it?"
"Got it!" He squeaks out.
"Good. Now, try on this set first." She says, tossing a pair of dress robes into his outstretched arms. "After that, we'll try the navy and the maroon."
So it goes, outfit after outfit, going through well over a dozen sets of dress robes before she nods in approval. Turning her finger in a circle, Harry slowly spins around, the dark emerald dress robes glinting in the light.
"I'm going to be honest," Harry says, looking behind him. "My arse looks fantastic in this."
"You can't even see your arse!" Sirius exclaims, laughing maniacally.
"So how can you tell it doesn't look amazing?" Harry counters, raising an eyebrow as he smirks at his godfather. "Been checking teenage boys out, Sirius? The scandal. We might have to set up an interview with Skeeter."
"Harry, take those robes off," Sirius growls.
"Sirius, that doesn't help your case," Harry says, raising an eyebrow with a smirk.
"I'd rather not ruin them with bloodstains, is all." He snarls, grinning maliciously. "Now step out of them so I can flay you alive."
"Tonks, I'll take them!"
"Attaboy!" She exclaims, helping him down off the podium. "Sirius, heel."
"He started it!" He whines, pointing at Harry with his wand.
"And I'm ending it." She snaps, giving him a look that dares him to argue with her. "Put it away, you mangy mutt."
Grumbling, Sirius shoves his wand into his robes before crossing his arms. Stomping over to the front of the store, he tosses a sack of galleons onto the counter. "Keep the change." He grumbles before stomping out of the store.
After getting changed, Harry steps out of the store and walks up to his godfather. "Sirius, you know I was just joking, right?"
Turning around, Sirius whips his wand out and drenches Harry before smiling at his successful prank. "Gotcha, ya prat!"
"Okay, I deserved that one." He chuckles, waving his hand and drying himself. "By the way, turn around."
Turning around, Sirius jumps up into the air with a high-pitched shriek as a conjured life-size plastic yeti roars at him. Tonks and Harry drop to the ground in peals of laughter, tears of mirth rolling down their cheeks. "That's not funny!" Sirius yells, his voice still squeaking a little as he tries not to laugh.
"It's bloody hilarious!" Tonks wheezes out.
"You're both a pair of prats..." Sirius grumbles, taking the bags towards the Leaky Cauldron. "I'll get you both, so watch your backs!"
Following after Sirius, Tonks and Harry walk with their arms over each other's shoulders, continuing to chuckle at their antics. Flooing back into the Headmaster's office, Harry stumbles down onto the ground, Tonks and Sirius following right after and chuckling at his lack of skill in magical travel.
"Oi, Harry!" Tonks says, helping him to his feet. "Should I tell Fleur you're snogging the floor? I bet she'd be pretty jealous."
"Piss off, Tonks," Harry mutters, rubbing his nose. "I hate magical travel. I'm just going to start Shimmering everywhere."
"What's Shimmering?" Tonks asks, tilting her head in confusion.
"This is." Harry says, instantaneously appearing behind Tonks before she can even blink.
"Merlin's hairy sack!" She screams, falling out of her chair.
"Okay, disgusting," Harry says, gagging with a shudder. "I don't want to think about the old man's sack, hairy or otherwise."
"What are you talking about, Harry?" Tonks asks, raising an eyebrow.
"Oh that's right, you don't know..." He sighs, rubbing the back of his neck. "Well, I've kinda been training with Merlin for a while now."
"You've been doing what with who for how many biscuits?!" She shrieks. "What the bloody hell do you mean you've been training with Merlin?!"
Sighing, Harry begins to explain the series of events leading up to the start of the year. Being rescued by Fleur, moving in with her family, Merlin, training with the Gods. Stopping every few minutes, Harry patiently answers every question she throws at him.
"Bloody hell..." She mutters, slumping down in one of the chairs in the office. "You don't do anything half-arsed, do you?"
"Can't say I do, Tonks." He says, grinning crookedly. "I can't say that I do."
"It's going to be a wild ride knowing you, isn't it?"
"Stick around and find out, cousin." He says, nudging her shoulder with his own. "You never know what might happen."
"I might just take you up on that."
~Fleur~
Walking into the Transfiguration class the next day, Harry smiles when he sees the desks cleared out and a set of bleachers on each side of the room with the whole of Gryffindor filling them. Walking over to the bleachers, Harry takes a seat next to Neville and bumps his shoulder into his friend's.
"Heya, Neville." Harry says, knocking Neville out of his train of thought.
"Huh? Oh, hiya, Harry!" Neville says, smiling brightly. "When'd you get here?"
"Just now," he says, stretching his arms upwards with a groan before leaning back. "I think this is going to be an easy class. If you know how to dance, that is."
"What do you mean?"
"You'll see." He says, pointing to McGonagall and she walks out of her office.
"Good afternoon, everyone." She says, stepping up and clasping her hands together. "Now, I'm very excited to inform you that on the twenty-fifth of this month, Hogwarts will be hosting an ancient Triwizard event. The Yule Ball is a wondrous night for young men and women alike to come out for festivities, delicious food from all three of the nations, and a night of fun exercise. In short, the Yule Ball is a dance."
As the majority of the boys shuffle in their seats uncomfortably, the girls begin chattering amongst themselves in animated whispers. "Silence!" McGonagall says with authority. As the room falls still, she steps forward and gestures towards the ladies. "In every young lady, a secret swan slumbers, longing to burst forth and take flight!"
Hearing Ron mutter something to Dean about a young girl, Harry waves his hand and sends him tumbling out of the bleachers. "Inside every boy, a lordly lion prepares to prance," McGonagall says as she turns towards the ruckus. "Thank you for volunteering, Mr. Weasley."
"For what?" He mutters, standing up with a confused blush on his face.
"Why, for the demonstration on beginner's dancing, of course." She says, gliding up to him. "Now, please place your right hand on my waist."
"Where?" He whispers in horror.
"My waist." She repeats, grabbing his other wrist and pulling his arm out. Several whistles and chuckles sound out from the boy's bleachers. "Mr. Filch, if you please? One, two, three. One, two, three."
She begins to lead him around the room in an attempt to dance with his clumsy foot muddling, much his chagrin. Nudging the humming pair of twins, Harry whispers in their ears. "You're never going to let him live this down, are you?"
"Never." They say together.
"I'm buying one of everything from your prank shop later." He says, patting the closest one on his shoulder.
"Why dear-"
"Ickle Harrikens,"
"We'd never-"
"Dream of charging-"
"You a single knut,"
"Dear friend!"
"You guys are awesome." He says.
"Girls, come together." McGonagall cries out. "Boys, on your feet!"
Most of the young men stay stuck nervously in their seats, but Harry, Neville, Fred, and George all step forward.
"You lot are pathetic." One twin says, shaking his head.
"Where's your Gryffindor courage?" The other says, mirroring his twin's actions.
"Besides, dancing can be quite enjoyable." Harry finishes.
Walking up to Hermione before Harry can, Fred bows down and holds out his hand. "May I have this dance, my dear?" He asks, smiling roguishly at Hermione. With a blush, she takes his hand and smiles up at the debonaire action of the twin.
"Of course you may, Fred." She says, curtsying to him in typical fashion. "Thank you for choosing me to have this dance."
"Why, my dear Hermione," He says as he pulls her to him and spins her around, eliciting a small squeak of surprise. "I simply chose the most elegant flower in the room."
"What makes you say that?" She asks, sporting a mad blush.
"Call it intuition." He smirks, leading her away in a spin.
"Alright, Gred!" George cries out, cheering his brother on before walking towards Angelina. Neville walks up to Ginny and mutters under his breath nervously. Ginny smiles and grabs his hand, leading him away to start to dance.
Shaking his head with amusement, Harry turns towards the rest of the young ladies who are bouncing in excitement at being chosen by Harry. "Um..." He says nervously, his eyes darting back and forth among the gaggle of girls.
"Merlin's beard, Harry!" Katie says, sighing as she pushes forward and grabs his hand. A cacophony of disappointed groans follows this action as Katie turns towards the rest of the assembled Gryffindor boys. "Oi! You lot get on your feet and ask these ladies to dance before I hex every last one of you!"
Scrambling to their feet, the boys begin awkwardly asking the girls to dance and soon the entire room is filled with dancing couples.
"Thanks for the save, Katie." Harry says.
"My pleasure." She says, grinning madly. "Always watch your teammate's back, and all that. Speaking of, wanna hang about sometime? We can head to Hogsmeade this weekend. You, me, and Fleur. We'll all have a grand time, and I can get to know my friend's girlfriend a little better."
"That sounds great, Katie," Harry says, smiling at her. "The week after, do you want to go with just us? Fleur doesn't mind me spending time with female friends. Plus, it would be really cool if you started sitting with us at the table."
"I'd like that a lot, Harry." She says, going along with the spin Harry leads her into. Innocence proven, friendships strengthen, new ones form, and a spark of new love begins this day. Harry decides that this day is one of the best in a long time, and he is happy to be living his life.
Well, that's chapter twenty-four, everyone! I hope you all enjoyed it! Yes, there will be some Fredmione in this story. If you don't like that ship, I apologize, but it's happening. I enjoy it, I know several people do, and it's my story. Constructive criticism is always welcome, and flames will be used to strengthen the Fredmione spark. As usual, read, review, and spread this story like wildfire! I'll see you all next chapter. This is Mystery Critic, signing off.