Hey, everyone! Mystery Critic here back at you with another chapter of Ma Fleur! Wow, we made it this far. This is an incredible milestone, and I'm so honored to have made it this far with all of you. Chapter thirty, everybody! Thank you again so much for everyone who has been here along the way, through the terrible beginning chapters, the rewrites, the Beta-Who-Shall-Not-Be-Named, and every other problem I've had throughout this story. You are all amazing, and I hope to see you for everything else I have planned for Ma Fleur. I never thought I would get to chapter twenty, let alone this far. Yet here we are, almost three years since the beginning. Over a hundred thousand words on this story now, and I can't believe it's come this far. Thank you all again so much. Anywho, now that the mushy stuff is out of the way, on to the disclaimer! I do not own Harry Potter, nor any of the rights affiliated with it. With the disclaimer out of the way, please sit back, relax and enjoy chapter thirty of Ma Fleur!
Chapter 30
Italics – French
Sighing happily, Harry hugs his girlfriend closer to him, causing her to look back from her spot in his lap.
"Are you alright, love?" She asks, cupping his cheek.
"I love you, Fleur." He says, smiling brightly at her.
"I love you too, Harry." She says in return, placing a soft kiss on his lips. "I am so happy I found you on the ferry that day."
"So am I, Fleur." He says, kissing her forehead. The doors to the Great Hall open as students start filing in, returning from winter break. Sitting down at their respective tables, the students settle in for the returning feast. After a few minutes, Dumbledore stands up and sends a stern look towards Ron.
"Welcome back one and all from the Winter holidays!" Dumbledore says with a warm smile. "Before we begin dinner, there is a student who must say a few words of apology to another student. Let us all quiet down for Mr. Ronald Weasley's apology."
Trudging up to Harry and Fleur sulkily, Ron raises a sheet of paper and begins mumbling.
"Weasley, I can't understand you," Harry says in annoyance. "So either say it clearly or get out of here."
Turning red, Ron opens his mouth to snap at him before being stopped by Harry, his hands crackling with red sparks of magic. "You either apologize or I call on that Honour Duel again, Weasley." Harry growls out, glaring daggers at the boy in front of him.
"Harry, Fleur, I am incredibly sorry for what everything I've said before," He begins again, reading from the sheet of paper. "I was being very rude, I was being jealous, and you didn't deserve any of the hateful things I said to you. I promise it will not happen again. I hope you can find it in your hearts to forgive me."
"Beautiful," Harry says, smiling brightly. "Don't you think, love?"
"Oh, yes," Fleur answers, rolling her eyes with a smirk. "I daresay I have not heard of a better apology since after the Burning Ages."
"I couldn't have said it better myself, my love," He says, silently chuckling at her sarcasm. "Apology accepted. Now-"
"Oh, I knew you'd accept my apology, mate!" Ron exclaims, moving to sit down.
"Woah, there!" Harry says, stopping him. "I accepted your apology because it's the right thing to do. That doesn't mean I'm your friend again. As long as you're civil to Fleur and me, then we'll be civil to you. There's no fixing our friendship, though. You killed any chance of that ever happening the first time you insulted Fleur."
"But, Harry!" He protests.
"Move on, Ron," Harry says, cutting him off. "We're not going to be friends again. Now, I'd appreciate it if you could leave us alone so we can move on to dinner. This is holding things up."
As Ron walks back down to the end of the table dejectedly, Dumbledore nods simply at Harry before standing up once more. "With that complete, let me personally welcome all of you back! Tuck in!" Dumbledore says, clapping his hands together with a bright smile. Food appears across the tables, conversation and clattering as students serve themselves sounding throughout the Great Hall.
Pouring a serving of soup into each of their bowls, Fleur gives Harry a small wink. "Oh, Harry!" She says melodiously. "They have your favorite soup!"
"I love you, you know that?" He asks, taking a small sip of the soup and sighing in happiness. Taking another sip, his smile brightens even further before he places a kiss on his girlfriend's cheek. "You're the best, Fleur."
"What is that?" Neville asks from across the table. "From the way you're eating it, it looks really good."
"It's called Soupe à l'oignon." Fleur answers, stroking Harry's hair as he happily takes small sips, enjoying his soup. "It's a French soup made wiz onions and beef broth. It's 'Arry's favorite. He fell in love wiz it ze first monz 'e lived wiz us."
"There's melted cheese, Nev," Harry says excitedly. "Melted cheese!"
"Alright, you've convinced me." He says, scooping some into a bowl for himself.
"Me too!" Katie says, following suit. "I've heard amazing things about French cuisine."
"This is incredible..." Neville and Katie say simultaneously, tears coming to their eyes after they taste their first sip.
"Told you." Harry laughs, serving himself up another bowl. "I've started learning so many French dishes, it's not even funny."
"Ze 'ouse elves keep 'aving to chase 'Arry out of ze kitchen," Fleur says with a chuckle. "Zey don't want to let 'im cook for us."
"They need to let me!" He grumbles. "Cooking was the one thing I enjoyed doing at the Dursley's house. You know what? After the feast, I'm going down to the kitchens and demanding the house elves let me make lunch for you guys tomorrow."
"We're with you, Harry!" Fred says.
"We want in on this food!" George confirms.
"I'll come, too," Neville says. "I want to learn about more cheesy French dishes."
"Count me in," Katie says after swallowing a bite of bread. "I'll be bored all night otherwise."
"Hermione, you in?" Harry asks, nudging his shoulder against hers.
"Obviously." She says, rolling her eyes. "I have to keep all of you in line. Excluding Fleur, of course."
"Zank you, 'Ermione." She says, hugging the bushy-haired girl. "I'm glad zat you recognize who ze responsible one is."
Reaching into her pocket, she pulls out a coin purse and jingles it with a smirk. "I know your other half, remember?"
~Fleur~
Walking into the Potion's classroom, Harry sits down at an empty desk near the front. A few moments later, Snape walks out of his office and walks up to Harry. "Evening, Harry," He says, waving his wand and causing a quill, inkpot, and parchment fly onto the desk in front of Harry. "Lines tonight."
"Oh, woe is me," Harry jokes with a smile. "What shall I be writing, Professor? 'I will not give people the beatings they deserve when a professor is around?'"
"No, you'll be writing something better;" Snape responds with a small smile. "You'll be writing: 'Thank you for getting me out of trouble, Professor Snape.'"
"I am in trouble, though," Harry counters, gesturing to the parchment in front of him. "I mean, you're having me write lines right now."
"Would you prefer to clean the cauldrons, Potter?"
"A hundred times, then?" He answers, dipping the quill in the pot.
"Make it a hundred and twenty-five for your lip." He says with a smirk, walking back to his desk. "I'll be grading papers while you do so."
Working on their respective tasks in silence, time passes quickly. After an hour or so, Harry looks up at his professor. "Sir?" He asks hesitantly.
"Yes, Mr. Potter?" Looking up at Harry, he glances down at the parchment. "Already finished?"
"No. sir. I only have eighty-three so far," He says, setting down his quill. "I was wondering... Could you tell me about your time with my mother? Back before your fight, I mean."
Setting down his quill with a sigh, Snape leans back in his chair. Silence fills the room for a few moments before he finally speaks. "Your mother was the most amazing person I've ever met, Harry;" He begins, pushing his hair back. "So bright, so happy. Her smile could light up a room in an instant, and no one could resist it. It was one of her greatest weapons. She was one of the most compassionate people in the world, Harry, but Heaven help you if you ever did anything to someone she cared about."
"She was really scary, wasn't she?" Harry asks.
"You have no idea," Snape responds mirthfully, shaking his head with a chuckle. "One time, she saw someone making fun of another muggleborn. It was actually your cousin Nymphadora's father, believe it or not. He was a few years ahead if I recall. She transfigured the ponce's robes into a giant bat that chased the boy through the castle, biting and scratching the boy throughout the halls in nothing but his undergarments."
"That sounds absolutely terrifying..." Harry mutters.
"Very much so." He agrees with a stiff nod. "I have only been at the end of her wand once, and I guarantee that I did whatever she said after that."
"What did she do, Professor?"
"You're the first person I've ever told this, but have you ever wondered why my hair is always so... greasy?" He asks with a small smile.
"No way..." Harry mutters before breaking out into an enormous grin. "You mean my mother-"
"Made my hair like this?" Snape interrupts. "Yes, it was. I never did find out what she did, but it's completely irreversible by any potion, and I've even created one or two in an attempt to fix it. I gave up after she died, though. It was the only thing I had left of her, after all..."
"Not anymore, is it?" Harry asks, lifting his head in a gesture towards the doe that floats through the wall and into the classroom. "You've got her with you for the rest of your life now."
"Thank you again, Harry," Snape whispers with a bittersweet smile. "You have no idea how much this gift meant to me."
"You're welcome, Professor." He says, smiling warmly at him.
"Now, finish up your lines and get out." He says with a mock glare. "I don't have all night to watch dunderheads do lines."
"Greasy git." Harry says, sticking his tongue out at him.
"Very mature, you arrogant brat." Snape counters. After a few minutes, Harry stands up stretching with a yawn before walking over and placing the parchment on Snape's desk. "Very good, Mr. Potter. Have a pleasant night."
"Thank you, sir." Harry says, grabbing his bag. "You have a good night, too. Oh, Professor?"
"Yes, Mr. Potter?"
"Now that you have my mother's Patronus, why don't you try to fix your hair again?" He asks.
"I might just do that, Mr. Potter." Snape answers with a chuckle. "Have a good night."
"You too, Professor." He says, walking out. Reading over the parchment, Snape reaches the end and raises an eyebrow at the writing on the back instructing him to flip the parchment over and read the back out loud. Flipping it over, he softly reads the short paragraph on the back;
"'A git I was, but now no more. I've learned my lesson, fix me please. With the help of this fine doe, all the of the slick, none of the grease.'" He recites, looking up at the Patronus in confusion. "That doesn't even rhyme, what does it mean?" A flash of light fills the room, forcing Snape to close his eyes and shield his face. Once the light dies out, Snape opens his eyes slowly, blinking away the flash remaining in his eyes.
"What in the world was that?" He says, reaching up to feel his hair, only to realize the grease is gone. "What... I... POTTER!"
"I'm starting to think that the Marauders could have learned something from mum..." Harry mumbles, Shimmering to his apartment.
~Fleur~
As the days pass, the day of the second task slowly approaches with growing frustration. Harry and his usual group of friends try to help the Champion couple solve the egg. Every day, the assembled students open the eggs to hear screech after unholy screech. After days of gathering to solve it, Harry's resolve is at an end. Throwing the golden egg against the wall in anger, Harry groans in exasperation. "Babd's serrated strap-on!" He yells, slamming his fist into the stone wall. "What the bloody fuck is the point of this stupid egg! All it does is shriek at me! It sounds like Lugh trying to sing!"
"I think you may need to explain that one, Harry." Katie says, trying to stifle her laughter.
"Lugh singing sounds like a feral cat being gangbanged by a herd of elephants in a pool of lava." Harry answers simply.
"That... haunting imagery aside..." Hermione says, shuddering slightly. "Does anyone have any other ideas?"
A knock sounds out on the door and Harry walks over to it, wrenching it open to see a smiling Luna Lovegood waving at him. "Hello, Harry Potter." She says, smiling up at him. Peeking over his shoulder, she takes note of the people inside. "Are you having a study session?"
"Uh... kind of, and may I ask who you are?" He says, raising an eyebrow.
"Oh, forgive me," She says, looking up at him. "I'm Luna Lovegood. You have a wonderful aura around you, did you know that?"
"Oh, thanks." He says. "So, how can I help you?"
"What's 'Lugh's serrated strap-on?'" She asks, tilting her head at him.
Hearing snickering behind him, he turns to throw a glare over his shoulder before speaking. "I'm sorry, Luna." He says, smiling down at the young girl. "I shouldn't have used that kind of language, and you shouldn't have heard it."
"It was a swear, then?" She asks.
"I'm afraid so."
"Then shouldn't you be punished?" She asks, causing Fred and George to erupt in laughter. "Daddy told me that when you swear, you need to be punished. I'd offer to spank you myself, but I don't think my hand is big enough."
"Um, Luna?" Katie pipes up from the den.
"Yes?"
"Are you being serious?"
"Why wouldn't I be?" She asks in confusion. "Punishment is sometimes necessary for kids to behave, isn't it?"
"Just checking, now get in here." She says, grinning madly at the young girl.
"Oh, thank you." She says before looking up at Harry. "Is that alright, Harry?"
"Sure, Luna." He answers, returning the smile as he steps out of the way. "Make yourself comfortable."
"Thank you." Walking in, Luna sits down at the end of the couch, setting her hands in her lap on top of her bag as she looks around with a dreamy smile. "It's quite lovely in here. Not many wrackspurts at all."
"What are wrackspurts?" Hermione asks.
"They're invisible creatures that float in your ears and make your brain go fuzzy," Luna answered. "They're not harmful, but they can cause confusion."
"How does one go about getting rid of them?" Harry asks.
"Surrounding yourself with friends or turnips."
"So that explains those wonderful earrings." Harry says with a smile. "I had wondered about them. It couldn't be about incredible fashion sense alone."
"Harry, could I talk to you in private for a moment?" Hermione asks, standing up and pulling Harry into the kitchen gently. "Harry, what is going on? Those earrings are most certainly not fashionable, and who has ever heard of wrackspurts?"
"Luna has, Hermione." He says, looking out the door at Luna talking with Fred and George. "I recognize her, in me. She has no one here, and I know how that feels. She needs friends, and what kind of friend would I be if I told her that her coping skills are fake?"
"I see..." She says, pondering her best friend's words. "You're right, Harry. Let's be the best friends she could ever have!"
"Funny, I thought that's what we were already planning on doing." Harry retorts with a grin.
"Prat." She says, smacking his shoulder. Walking back out, she plops down next to Luna. "Hey, Luna? What's your favorite animal?"
"The Crumple-Horned Snorkak, of course." She says, smiling at Hermione. "Daddy and I have been trying to find one when vacationing in Sweden, but we haven't been able to find any yet."
"Have you tried looking in caves?" Harry asks.
"No, we haven't." She says, tapping her chin in thought. "That's a great idea, though! Thank you, Harry."
"No problem, Luna," He says with a warm smile. "What are friends for?"
"Friends?" She asks, tilting her head.
"If you want to be."
"I think I would like that very much, Harry."
"Great!" He exclaims, gesturing around him. "Welcome to the group!"
"You mean, you'll all be my friends?" She asks, looking around the room.
"Of course!" Katie says, hugging the young girl. "Besides, we need someone else to help us figure out how to prank Harry."
"Wait, what?" He says, his head snapping to the side to look at her in fear.
"Of course!" She says, grinning evilly at him. "Now that you've heard it, you'll have to spend the rest of your time here living in fear, not knowing when the looming sword of the most glorious prank since the beginning of time swoops down on you. It shall crash down upon you, and you will tremble in horror as it rips apart your life and ruins your mind! You will never recover from the despair it leaves you in, destroying your very existence in a blast of fire and destruction!"
Silence reigns throughout the room as Katie pants heavily, an evil expression on her face as her clawed hands tremble in anticipation. A shaking Harry moves behind Fleur as Luna pipes up happily. "Ooh, what about putting salt in some tea for him?"
The silence continues to permeate the room for a few moments before Katie pats Luna on the shoulder. "Good suggestion, kid," She says with a smile. "but not quite there. Keep trying, though."
"Oh, nuts." She says, pouting adorably. "Well, my only other suggestion would be to stick him to the wall of the Great Hall naked and die his hair rainbow. Oh, well."
"Wait, can we go back to that plan?" Katie says, pulling out a piece of parchment and a quill. "Rainbow, you say?"
"What have we unleashed?" Harry asks in horror.
~Fleur~
"Still can't figure out the egg, huh?" Katie asks, smiling in boredom at Harry with her face scrunched in her hands. Looking up at her with a deadly slowness, Harry growls at her before continuing to bang his forehead against the table. "I'll take that as a no."
"Ya think?!" He snaps, standing up with a groan of exasperation. "The bloody task is the day after tomorrow, and I'm no closer to figuring this thing out than I was a month ago!"
"'Arry, calm down and apologize to Katie," Fleur tells him, wrapping her arms around his neck lovingly. "She's just trying to make you smile."
"I'm sorry, Katie..." He says with a sigh, sitting down. Fleur plops herself down in his lap and pecks him on the cheek. "This thing just has me round the twist. Fleur can't tell me anything, and I'm kind of scared."
"Harry, you punched a dragon," Katie says simply, looking at him as if he was stupid. "What could possibly be a danger to you?"
"it's not that, Katie;" He says, sighing in frustration. "it's going into this shit blind. I hate not knowing what to do, and it pisses me off to not have a plan."
"Harry, that's literally every adventure we've been on." Hermione points out.
"And someone nearly died every time." Harry counters. "I won't let someone be in danger again because I was unprepared."
Hearing a knock at his door, Harry walks over to it and opens it to see Cedric standing there with a smile. "Hey, Harry," He says. "Mind taking a walk with me?"
"Uh, sure, Ced." He says, gesturing for him to enter. "Let me just get my trainers on and we can go, yeah?"
"Sounds good," He says, waiting by the entrance. "Hey, Fleur. Katie, Hermione. How is everyone?"
"We're fine." Fleur says, smirking at him knowingly. Earning a wink from the sandy-haired seventh year, she rolls her eyes and thanks him silently. "'Ow are you?"
"Oh, fine," He says, shrugging with a grin. "Can't complain."
"You know, small talk sounds really creepy coming from you two." Harry says, walking back in. "Let's go, Ced."
"'Ave 'im back in an hour at ze latest!" Fleur says, blowing Harry a kiss. "We 'ave a scheduled cuddle time, and I don't want to miss it!"
"I'd burn down Hogwarts before missing our cuddle time, Fleur." Harry says, catching her kiss and blowing one back.
"Fleur, unless you're willing to share, don't flaunt your steak in front of a starving woman." Katie grumbles.
"Trust me, 'e's not a steak." She says, holding her fingers a good few inches apart.
"You're joking..." Katie whispers in shock.
"Not at all," Fleur says with a smirk. "When 'e is ready, I zink I am going to be a very 'appy woman."
"Lucky bint..." Katie mutters, looking away and pouting angrily.
Down the hallway, Harry and Cedric walk in silence. After another minute of Cedric saying nothing and smiling, Harry sighs in defeat. "Fine, you win." he says, slugging his arm playfully. "What did you need to talk to me about?"
"Oh, Harry!" Cedric says jovially, clapping Harry on the back. "I didn't see you there!"
"Stuff it, pretty boy." Harry says with a chuckle before lightly shoving his friend. "Now, tell me what it is before I turn your hair pink."
"You wouldn't do that to me, would you?" Cedric asks in mock horror. Harry narrows his eyes and holds his hand up threateningly, pink sparks dancing on his fingers. Holding his hands up in surrender, Cedric chuckles before wrapping his arm around Harry's shoulders. Pulling out his wand, he waves it in an arc above them, a blue dome appearing around the boys. "Alright, you win. Place your egg under the water and open it, then the screeching will become singing."
"Why are you telling me this?" Harry asks, sliding out from under Cedric's arm.
"You told me about the dragons." Cedric points out simply.
"I didn't tell you so you'd return the favor, Cedric." Harry says with a sigh. "I told you so you wouldn't be facing a damn dragon unprepared! No one should face the unknown without being ready, it's suicidal!"
"Which is exactly what you would have done had I not told you," He finishes. Opening his mouth to retort, nothing comes out of Harry's mouth as he realizes he's been trapped. "Harry, I'm not doing this to pay you back or something. I'm doing this for the same reason you told me. No one should face the unknown unprepared. Plus, you're my friend, ya prat."
"You're a Puff, Ced." Harry grumbles as he rolls his eyes. "You'd be friends with the dirt if you found a shiny rock in it."
"Oi, I resent that!" Cedric says in mock outrage. "I'd be friends with the rock, not the dirt."
"All joking aside, thanks, Cedric." Harry says, slugging his friend lightly. "You're a good friend."
"So are you, Harry." He says, slugging Harry back. "When you figure out what you need to do, let me know if you need help with anything."
"I will, Ced. Thanks."
"Anytime, Harry." He says, dispelling the ward and walking away. "Oh, and one more thing. The egg won't work unless Fleur is with you. I had Cho, and I'm sure it was a factor."
Dodging a stinging hex, Cedric runs around the corner and down the hall in maniacal laughter. Shaking his head in amusement, Harry walks back towards his apartment with his hands in his pockets. Walking in, he steps over to Fleur and whispers in her ear with a blush. "Fleur, would you mind joining me in the tub?"
"My my, Harry," She whispers back, smirking up at him. "such a bold question. Are you sure you're ready for something like that?"
"Fleur, it's about the egg..." He mutters, blushing even brighter.
"Harry, it's okay. I promised I wouldn't pressure you." She says, kissing his cheek. "Yes, I would be happy to join you for a nice bath. Should I bring my swimsuit?"
"I mean... We can always go without them..." He mutters, looking away.
"Are you sure, Harry?" She asks, placing her hand on his cheek. "We really don't have to. I was just teasing."
"I know, Fleur, but... as long as we don't do anything, I think I can handle taking a bath together." He says, smiling at his beautiful girlfriend.
"Alright, Harry." She says, smiling warmly at him before walking into their bedroom.
"Hey, guys," Harry says, addressing his friend. "I'm gonna need you all to go. Fleur and I are going to take a bath."
"Harry..." Hermione warns.
"Hermione, you know I love you;" Harry says, raising an eyebrow at her. "however, if you tell me that I'm not to sleep with Fleur or any such nonsense, I'm not letting you into the library for a month."
"I was just going to tell you to not forget contraceptive charms." Hermione says with a smirk as she packs her bag. "Have fun, Harry."
Staring at Hermione leaving, Harry leans over to Fred. "Fred, mate," He says, continuing to stare after Hermione. "what did you do, and where'd Hermione go?"
"A gentleman never kisses and tells, Harry." Fred says, patting Harry on the back. "Enjoy your bath."
Walking into the bathroom, Harry's eyes widen in shock as Fleur is standing in the bathroom doorway wearing nothing. Beckoning him forward, Harry's clothes burst into ash as he follows his girlfriend's order. "Oh my, Harry." Fleur purrs. "I didn't expect you to burst so early."
"Says the Veela who came within three minutes last time." Harry counters with a smirk.
"In my defense, Parseltongue is cheating," Fleur retorts, a devious smirk forming on her face. "and I'm hoping you break the rules again."
"Are we going to solve the egg?" He asks nervously.
"After we have some fun." She says, stepping into the bubble-filled tub. "Now, get in here."
"I'm not stupid enough to ignore that." He squeaks out, stepping into the water.
"Good boy." She says, wrapping her arms around her boyfriend's neck slowly. "Now, how about you kiss me?"
"Right away, dear." He says with a smile, pressing his lips against hers. 'Screw the egg. I'll solve it in the morning.'
"Harry, I do believe that's the wrong snake." Fleur whispers in his ear breathily.
"Who says there's a wrong one?" He whispers back, pushing her against the edge of the tub.
"Who says indeed, my love?"
Well, everyone! That's chapter thirty! The next chapter will have the solving of the egg (obviously) and will have the second task. I hope you all enjoyed the chapter because this took me quite of working past writer's block to finish. Constructive criticism is always welcome, and flames will be used to keep Harry and Fleur's tub warm. As usual, read, review, and spread this story like wildfire. I'll see you all next time. This is Mystery Critic, signing off.