Hey, everyone! Mystery Critic here, back at you with chapter twenty-nine of Ma Fleur! This story is coming along wonderfully, and I hope to see more support and love for it. This chapter puts the posted word count to over 110,000! Another milestone, as well as breaking 2,500 followers and half a million views! This has become insane in the amount of love and enjoyment this story produces within all of you, and I want to thank every single one of you! As for the disclaimer, I don't own Harry Potter, nor any of the rights affiliated with it. With that out of the way, sit back and enjoy chapter twenty-nine!

Chapter 29

Italics – French

Strolling through the halls of Hogwarts with his hand in Fleur's the next day, Harry smiles as he sees children everywhere coughing and sniffling from the aftereffects of the snowball war. Chuckling at the high spirits of his fellow students, despite quite a few of them being sick, the spirit of fun doesn't dampen.

"Why are you smiling so brightly, love?" Fleur asks, the corner of her mouth turned up in amusement.

"Look around, love," He says, gesturing to the students around them. "What do you see?"

"I see students from all three schools, some sick and some healthy," She answers in confusion. "I don't see your point."

"Despite being sick, what's the one thing you see all of them having in common?"

"They're all smiling!" She exclaims, realization dawning on her. "They're not all still happy."

"That's one of the things I love about a good chunk of humanity," He says, sitting down at the table for breakfast and pulling Fleur into his lap. "Despite feeling like hippogriff dung, they can still find a way to be happy. They can still find a way to take enjoyment in the fun they had last night even when they're sick now. A lot of humanity can see the good in life on bad days, and that makes me smile."

"You're amazing, you know that?" She asks, staring at him for a moment with rapt attention.

"What do you mean?"

"Even though you've lost your parents, been through literal torture all of your life, faced the Dark Lord several times, and endured constant harassment and bullying, you're still positive," She says, holding his face in her hands. "You still have this outlook on life that can't be blackened. You can find the silver lining in the darkest of clouds, and it's so amazing given what you've been through."

"I'm nothing special, Fleur," He says, waving off the compliment with a blush. "Plenty of people can do what I can."

"Not the way you do it, Harry," She says, stroking his cheeks with her thumbs. "I doubt there's anyone who's been through as much as you have and can still see the world in the way you do. It's so incredible, and it's one of the things that I love so much about you, Harry."

Pulling his lips to hers, Fleur holds Harry in a passionate kiss, catcalls and wolf whistles sounding throughout the Great Hall.

"Five points from Gryffindor, Mr. Potter," Dumbledore says with a smile. "As beautiful as this is, public displays of affection are against the rules."

"Don't care, bit busy," He says through the corner of his mouth. Chuckling at their antics, George waves his wand and conjures a bucket of water to dump on the lovebirds. Turning to glare at the soon-to-be-dead Weasley twin, fire forms along the couple's arms as Harry growls out his words. "George, is there any particular reason why you did that?"

"Um, you needed to 'cool off?'" He answers, chuckling nervously. "I'm really sorry, it was just a joke."

"George?" Fleur says, smiling wickedly.

"Yeah...?" He whimpers, moving to stand up and run.

"You 'ave five seconds to run before I light you on fire," She says, raising her hands and forming orbs of blue fire in her hands the size of beach balls. "Five."

Not letting her get past the first number, George was off the bench and out the door of the Great Hall by the time Fleur's countdown reaches two. Walking towards the doors of the Great Hall, Fleur growls menacingly as the balls of fire in her hands grow larger. With a wink at Fred, Harry waves his hands and expels the flames in his girlfriend's hands. "'Arry, if I don't need fire to rip George to shreds, why would I need it to do ze same to you?"

"Oh, you don't," He said with a shrug. "I can't say the same for the sheets last night, though."

Gasps and cheers echo throughout the hall as the jingle of coins under the table exchange hands. Standing up and slamming her hands on the table, McGonagall snaps; "The fact that you two had... relations is bad enough, but you lot were betting on it?!" She screams before she hears a jingle from behind her, and sees Snape depositing a few coins into Filius's hands. "You two as well?!"

"He blackmailed me," Snape says smoothly, putting his hands up in surrender and leaving a sputtering Flitwick as McGonagall shakes her wand menacingly at the both of them.

"Everyone can hand the coins back!" Harry yells, a bright blush on his face. "Fleur and I didn't do anything. Her veela heritage just got a bit out of control last night, that's all! Her talons ripped up the sheets. We didn't do... That!"

"Much to my disappointment..." Fleur mutters playfully.

The hall explodes into yelling as students plant sacks of coins in front of Hermione and Daphne, victorious smirks on their faces.

"What the bloody hell is going on with you two?" Harry asks, pointing his finger back and forth between his two female friends.

"Hermione is a genius, and I just know people," Daphne says, checking her nails for imaginary dirt. "We knew that when it would come out that you two 'had relations' that it'd be because you said something that everyone misunderstood. So, we bet on that and we turned a pretty nice profit."

"How in the-"

"I know you, Harry," Hermione interrupts with a roll of her eyes. "Probably better than you do. At this point, I'm practically a seer when it comes to predicting what happens around you."

"You're really scary sometimes, Hermione," Harry says, being dragged down by his girlfriend to eat breakfast. "I hope you know that."

"I know, Harry," She says, smiling at him magnanimously. "Lunch at the Three Broomsticks is on me next time, sound fair?"

"For betting on me, sounds fair," He says with a smirk. Turning towards the table, he sees Professor McGonagall barely containing her smirk as she winks at Harry while Professors Dumbledore, Snape, and Flitwick place a small bag of coins in her hands discreetly. "Et tu, Professor McGonagall?"

"Miss Granger is right, Mr. Potter," She says, putting the bags into the pocket of her robes. "You are quite obvious."

~Fleur~

Walking up behind the twins, Harry smacks both of them on the back of their heads.

"Oi!" They cry indignantly in unison. "What was that for?!"

"Get up, we're going to play Quidditch," He says with a grin, walking over to Katie and Fleur and tapping both of their shoulders. "Would you two lovely ladies care to join us in a game of Quidditch?"

"I thought there was no cup this year." Katie says in confusion.

"Oh, there isn't," Harry says, grinning widely. "This is just a nice game between friends. I already have Gred and Forge on board. Would you care to join us?"

"Love to, mon amour," Fleur says, standing up. Looking over to the staff table, he spots Madame Hooch. "Madame Hooch, care to referee our little game?"

"I'd be delighted, Mr. Potter," She says, standing up and walking over.

"Mr. Potter, would it be alright if the staff attends to watch?" Dumbledore asks. "With the holidays not yet over, there isn't very much left to do. I believe we could all use a small break to enjoy a friendly game of Quidditch."

"Of course, sir," Harry says with a smile. "I just have to finish making up the teams."

Shimmering over to the Slytherin table, he throws an arm over the shoulders of Blaise and Daphne as he appears behind them. "Care to join us, you two?"

"Merlin's beard!" Blaise squeaks, jumping up in his seat. "Bloody hell, Potter! Don't scare us like that."

"I make no promises, Zabini," He counters with a mischievous grin. "So, how about it? You in?"

"I'm in," Blaise says. "I'm on the opposite team, though. I need to get you back for scaring me."

"Beater, eh?" Harry asks with a chuckle. "Fred, George, keep him off me, yeah?"

"You got it, Harry!" They say, throwing their thumbs up. Giving the twins a thumbs up in return, he turns back to Daphne.

"Count me out, Potter," She says, not turning away from the book in her hands. "I'll watch, but I don't play."

"Fair enough," He says, walking over to the Hufflepuff table. "Diggory, you up for it?"

"Love to, Harry," He says, standing up. Walking up to Harry, he drapes his arm across Harry's shoulders. "I've been needing a good workout. I think kicking your arse on the pitch would qualify as such."

"Dream on, Diggory," Harry says, rolling his eyes. "You've only ever caught the Snitch once against me, and that's only when Dementors gave you a hand."

"Cocky bugger, aren't ya?" Cedric chuckles.

"Yeah, but the thing is I can back it up." Harry retorts.

"Vould you care to test that against me, Potter?" Krum asks, walking up and turning to Cedric. "If you'd be willing to take von of the chaser spots, I could put him in his place."

"You know, that sounds too good of a deal to turn down. He's all yours, Krum," Cedric says, patting the Bulgarian seeker on the back and grinning at Harry.

"That's not fair, you're an international player!" Harry whines.

"You have a Firebolt, Harry," Cedric deadpans.

"Ah, you have von, too," He says, nodding. "Good. That means it comes down to skill alone."

"I'm so buggered..." Harry mumbles.

"Five points for language!" McGonagall says with a smile.

"Ah, well," He says, shrugging with a smirk. "I guess we should get to the pitch, then. Hey, I've got an idea. Who wants to Shimmer there with me?"

As everyone shuffles around nervously, Fred and George step forward sporting grins. "We're always up for an adventure..." Fred says.

"...Harry, our dear old chap." Fred finishes.

"I must admit, I too am very curious about this Shimmering," Dumbledore says, stepping forward. "I hope taking more than two people at a time isn't tiring for you, Harry."

"Actually, it's not draining at all, sir," Harry says, smiling up at him. "As long as everyone is touching me, the amount of people doesn't matter."

"Really, now?" Dumbledore says in fascination.

"Yeah, in fact, this mode of travel was invented by Merlin," Harry begins with a grin. "You see, while apparation works by magically moving your mass to another location, Shimmering works the opposite way. The Shimmering person stays in place while space moves around them. It's pushed by magic, and you need to have an accord with magic to do so."

"What do you mean by 'an accord?'" Dumbledore asks curiously.

"Well, you have to give some blood to the Earth," Harry answers, waiting for the explosion.

"Blood Magic?!" McGonagall shrieks." Harry James Potter, you've been using Blood Magic?!"

"No, Aunt Minnie!" Harry yells over her. "Magic of this level comes with a price. It's more like a blood oath. Basically, by letting the Earth and Magic have a bit of your blood, it's indefinitely lending you a bit of its power. The Earth and reality will move around you and anyone touching you. The blood is a promise to not hurt the Earth unnecessarily, and in return, the Earth helps you."

"Albus, what do you think?" McGonagall asks.

"I have no reason to distrust young Harry," He says, walking up to him and placing a hand on his shoulder. "You are certain it is safe, my boy?"

"Positive, sir," He says, grinning at his headmaster. "How about a demonstration to prove there's no risk? Just you and me, sir."

"That would comfort me quite a bit, Harry," He says, smiling back. "Where to, my boy?"

"Hold on tight, sir," He says, disappearing with Dumbledore in an instant. A few moments later, Dumbledore and Harry appear back in front of them, a bit of snow on their heads and shoulders.

"Well, that is certainly amazing," Dumbledore says with an elated grin, brushing the snow off of his shoulders and head. "I've never been to Antarctica. It's quite a great deal colder than I expected."

"Pretty cool, huh?" Harry says with a chuckle, the snow melting into steam. "I've only been side-along apparated once, and I swore never again. I felt I was going to hurl."

"Yes, the sensation does take some getting used to," Dumbledore agrees, wringing out his beard. "I admit, I never knew that was the reason apparation is so nauseating."

"What is, Albus?" McGonagall asks.

"Harry, would you care to explain?"

"Happily, sir. You see apparation is nauseating because of something muggle scientists call molecules," Harry explains, Hermione moving closer to absorb the information of magic mixed with science. "We're all made of little bits called molecules, and they make up almost everything in the universe. When you apparate, you're not just moving from point a to point b."

"Harry, are you telling me that apparation is literally ripping apart witches and wizards at a molecular level and putting them back together somewhere else?!" Hermione squeaks.

"What do you think splinching is, Hermione?" Harry asks. "It's when the witch or wizard wasn't put back together correctly. That's why it's so nauseating. Your stomach and everything in it was literally ripped apart at a subatomic level and put back together again."

"But by that logic, every witch or wizard should be dead upon their first apparation!" Hermione yells.

"That's right, they should," Harry says with a nod. "I said the same thing to Merlin when he told me. I'll tell you what he told me. Magic doesn't give a shit."

"Mr. Potter!" McGonagall snaps.

"Let me show you what I mean, Professor," Harry says, waving his wand at a cup and turning it into a bird. "This is a battle spell that Babd taught me. This spell rips apart an enemy instantly molecule by molecule. It's quick, painless, and lethal."

Holding his hand up, an oozing ball of black magic swirls into existence above Harry's hand. Harry closes his hand into a fist, and the ball falls onto his hand, spreading across it like a black glove. Waving his wand at the bird, it floats up into the air as Harry walks over to it. Grabbing the bird, Harry takes a deep breath before muttering out; "Fall before me, now and forever. Annihilation."

Before the assembled people can even blink, the bird erupts in a cloud of black dust, ceasing to exist in an instant. Shocked silent, they stare in horror at the disappearance of the bird without any trace but a burst of black dust for a second.

"Now, if I were to put the bird back together again, would it be alive?" Harry asks the stunned people.

"Mr. Potter, what in the world was that?!" McGonagall screams.

"A battle spell of the Celtic Goddess of War, Babd's Annihilation," He says, gesturing to the air. "It annihilates the enemy. Literally."

"Harry, that magic was very clearly dark," Dumbledore says disapprovingly.

"Then you're all under arrest, too," Harry answers.

"What do you mean, Mr. Potter?" Snape asks, narrowing his eyes skeptically.

"Why, for the use of Reductor Curse, of course," Harry says, smiling at their confused faces. "You see, the Reductor Curse was created by a Celtic witch a long time ago who witnessed Babd herself use it in battle. The curse she made blasts things to pieces because she couldn't perfect it upon only seeing it once."

"Mr. Potter, that was still some very dangerous magic," Dumbledore says. "What if you had touched one of us with that spell?"

"It wouldn't have done a single thing," Harry says simply. "The spell can only annihilate what I want it to. So unless you make me want to kill you... Anyway, the fact is that I have not used any dark magic because this spell hasn't been used in the human world in a couple of millennia. As such, it can't possibly be classified as dark magic."

Chuckling, Snape walks up to Harry and places a hand on his shoulder. "You're as devious as your mother, you know that?"

"I have absolutely no idea what you're referring to, Professor," Harry says with a smirk. "However, I still thank you."

"Now, shall we get to the pitch?" Harry asks, gesturing out the Great Hall. Placing their hands on Harry, Fleur, George, Fred, and everyone else who agreed to come prepare themselves for the travel. "Is everyone ready to go?"

"Punch it, Chewie!" Hermione says, causing chuckles from Harry, Fleur, and surprisingly Krum. Turning to the Quidditch star, they all stare at him with raised eyebrows. "You know Star Wars?"

"Just because I am a pureblood does not mean I cannot like cinema," He says with a smirk. "Besides, I have always found the night sky to be beautiful."

"Fair enough," Harry says, nodding in appreciation. "Hang on tight, everyone!"

Focusing on the Quidditch pitch, Harry wills himself away with the assembled teams and spectators. Showing up at the Quidditch pitch, Harry rolls away from the group and screams in agony on the ground.

"'Arry, are you okay?!" Fleur screams, rushing over to her boyfriend. "What is it, show me!"

"Gotcha!" He says, hopping up with a grin. "You should see your faces."

"That wasn't funny, Harry Potter!" Hermione snaps, McGonagall and Dumbledore nodding along with angry expressions. The rest of Harry's male friends and Katie are all rolling on the ground in laughter. As Snape chuckles and shakes his head, he looks up at Harry with a grin. "I knew I'd get you to laugh one of these days, Professor!"

"Oh, it's not that, Harry," He says. "I'm just thinking of how much your girlfriend's temper is like Lily, and what happened to your father the last time he pulled that prank."

"What happened?" He asks nervously.

"I suggest you run, Potter." He says, pointing to his literal flaming girlfriend.

"Yipe." He says, turning around and breaking into a dead sprint.

"You get back 'ere, 'Arry Potter!" Fleur screams, throwing fireballs after him. "When I'm finished wiz you, zere won't be enough burn cream in ze entire infirmary to fix you!"

"Should we help him?" Katie asks Professor Snape.

"Absolutely not," He says, smirking. "When Lily was on a rampage, you stay out of her way or suffer her wrath, too. I'm operating under the assumption it's similar here. Besides, I hear Veela fire is quite hot."

"He's going to regret this, isn't he?" She asks with a sigh.

Saying nothing, Snape simply smiles as Harry's scream of pain is heard from the other end of the field.

~Fleur~

Walking back into the Great Hall with Fleur, Harry pouts as his girlfriend hangs off of his arm.

"I'm glad we could come to an arrangement, my love," Fleur says with a smile.

"You set me on fire," He deadpans.

"Only for a few seconds!" She retorts. "It wasn't even enough to cause damage!"

"I'm not making any chocolate croissants for you for a month," He grumbles.

"No, please! Anything but that!" She cries, pouting up at him with tears in her eyes. "I'll behave, I promise!"

"Fine..." He mutters. "Why can I never say no to you, anyway?"

"There isn't a man on this Earth who can say no to his wife or girlfriend without repercussions," She says with a smirk. "It's the natural order of the universe."

"The universe is bullshit."

"Perhaps, but you love me anyway." She says, kissing his cheek.

As Harry opens his mouth to retort, he's cut off by the ear-shattering tones of Ron Weasley's yelling.

"That was dark magic you used on that bird, Potter!" Ron yells from his spot at the end of the Gryffindor table.

"How so?" Harry asks simply.

"W-what?" Ron sputters, his face heating up.

"How is what I used on the bird dark magic?" He repeats.

"Because it killed it!" He roars out angrily.

"So... Everyone here is a dark wizard," Harry says with a smile. "Good, glad to know I'm not the only one."

"Oi, I'm not a dark wizard!" Ron screams indignantly.

"By your logic, you are," He answers. "The spell I used was a spell used by a Celtic Goddess. In fact, Reducto was inspired by the spell I used."

"You're a liar, Potter!"

With a shrug, Harry walks towards the table to eat. "Believe what you want, Weasley," He says. "It doesn't matter to me. I've already explained this to the professors."

"Yeah, more like used the Imperius Curse on them to get away with it!" He snaps, bringing a few gasps from the people who walk into the Great Hall. Accusing someone of an Unforgivable is a heavy thing and doesn't go unnoticed by many people. "You're nothing but a dark wizard, and I'm going to tell everyone so you'll be expelled!"

"Twenty points from Gryffindor, Mr. Weasley!" Snape snaps at the boy.

"What for?!" He snaps back. "It's true! The prat is a dark wizard, and everyone should know!"

"Are you ever going to shut your mouth, you dense idiot?!" Fleur snaps, glaring at him.

"Shut up!" He shouts at her. "No one wants to hear your opinion, veela slut!"

"Mr. Weasley!" McGonagall yells, appalled at his behavior. She opens her mouth to reprimand him but is cut off as Harry is in front of him and grabbing him by his throat before anyone can react.

"You really don't learn, do you?" He hisses, lifting the idiotic boy by his throat. "How many times do I have to beat sense into you before you leave my mate alone?!"

"Mr. Potter put him down this instant!" Dumbledore yells, pulling out his wand. Growling at the boy, the Crimson Serpents manifest behind Harry, hissing at Ron and giving off a heavy aura of bloodlust. Pointing his wand at Harry, Dumbledore fires off a stunner, only to have it blocked easily by one of the snakes. "Mr. Potter!"

"This is now a matter of honor, Professor Dumbledore," Harry snaps, ignoring the fact the Headmaster just attacked him. "He can either publicly apologize and swear a magical oath to never insult me or mine again, or I can duel him until he is defeated right here and now. His choice."

"Mr. Potter, stop this!" Dumbledore commands.

"You have no right to interfere!" Harry roars, his aura forcing the Headmaster to his knees. "Choose, Weasley. Apologize, or I will beat you into the ground."

"I'll apologize!" Ron squeaks out in terror. Growling in disappointment, Harry drops Ron to the ground. Turning away from him, the snakes disappearing as he walks away.

"Mr. Potter, I am very disappointed in you," Dumbledore says, glaring at Harry as he stands up slowly. "That will be a week's detention."

"No, it won't," Harry says calmly. "You see, you're not legally allowed to punish me for calling on the Magicks of Honour. No one is. I could have chosen for a duel to the death, and legally it could have been right then and there in the Great Hall. You wouldn't have been allowed to do a thing, and you know it."

Sighing disapprovingly, Dumbledore nodded. "You're right, I couldn't have," He concedes. "However, I can punish you for attacking Mr. Weasley. I appreciate you resorting to choice where Mr. Weasley wouldn't have his life at risk. Believe me, I do. However, unless the duel actually started, you had no right to lay hands on him. That's what I'm punishing you for."

Thinking for a moment, Harry nods at the Headmaster. "You're right, sir," He says. "I shouldn't have attacked him like that, and I apologize for arguing with you."

Sighing in defeat, he looks longingly at the young man in front of him. "Harry, you know I only want what's best for you, don't you?"

"Sir?"

"Harry, you are an amazing young man," He begins, placing a hand on his shoulder. "Aside from myself, I doubt there's anyone in this entire school who could come up to your strength magically if you released your full power. Even then, I would struggle quite a great deal. I have never seen anyone as powerful as you, Harry, and you're not even done growing in strength, power, or knowledge.

"I have no doubt in my mind that by the time you're twenty, you'll be the most powerful wizard to walk this Earth, surpassing myself and Voldemort," He tightens his grip on his shoulder in desperation. "But you have to know where the line is, Harry. Having this strength does not mean you should use it to hurt someone because they insulted the one you love. I'm frightened for you, Harry. I'm frightened that this power could grow beyond your control."

"Sir, thank you," Harry says, patting the old wizard's hand. "You don't need to be worried, though. This power can't control me. I have a fail-safe, and I will never end up like Voldemort. I know you're concerned about that, but I am staying strictly Grey, sir. I don't agree with some things that the light does, but aside from certain things, there is nothing about the Dark that calls to me."

"I'm very glad to hear that, my boy," He says, smiling at the young man. "I'll supervise your detention's myself."

"He'll see you on Sunday, Headmaster," Snape says, stepping forward. "He still has a few detentions with me."

"Very well, Severus," Dumbledore says, smiling at Harry once more. "I'll see you on Sunday, Mr. Potter. Mr. Weasley!"

"Sir?!" Ron squeaks out.

"You will publicly apologize to Mr. Potter and Miss Delacour tomorrow night at the Returning Feast, am I understood?"

"But, sir-"

"Am I understood?!" He says tersely, driving his point across with a stern glare.

"Yes, sir..." He mutters, sulking back to his seat.

"Thank you, Professor Dumbledore." Harry says, receiving a nod before sitting down next to Fleur.

"Harry, you really need to stop getting into trouble over me," Fleur says, stroking his cheek with the back of her fingers. "I know you get mad over what these English pigs say about me, but you shouldn't get into trouble over me."

"There is no better reason to get into trouble than over a beautiful woman, Fleur," Harry says with a chuckle. "If Sirius has taught me anything, it's that."

"I'll have to talk to him, then." She says with a devilish smirk.

"At least leave his bits alone, love," Harry asks, shaking his head in amusement. "Those take enough of a beating from Tonks."

"No promises, my love." She says, planting a soft kiss on her lips.

"As you wish, dear." He says with a chuckle.

Miles away, Sirius enters the kitchen to find Tonks eating. With a grin, he screams at the top of his lungs; "Hiya, Nymmie!"

Jumping up, Tonks whips her wand out and sends a bludgeoning hex into a very sensitive place of Sirius's anatomy. Hearing a very high-pitched scream coming from her cousin, she winces before chuckling sheepishly. "Guess I aimed a bit too low?"

Back with Harry, he looks up and winces. 'Damn, Sirius,' He thinks as he shudders. 'I felt that from here..."

Well, everyone! That's chapter twenty-nine! I hope you all enjoyed it, and I think there's going to be either one more chapter or half a chapter before a bit of a time skip to the next task. Probably one more chapter, write a detention with Harry and/or another class. Then we'll move on to the next task, I know you're all anxious. If you have any questions, feel free to leave them in the reviews or send me a message. Constructive criticism is always welcome, flames will be used to power Tonks's rage at Sirius's danglers. As usual, read, review, and spread this story like wildfire. This is Mystery critic, signing off.