I don't own Harry Potter in any format, this is a fanfiction only.
Harry found many things to like about the castle but some he did not like at all. The constant feeling that someone was always watching him or listening to what he was doing was one thing for the things he did not like. He felt that there was no sense of privacy while he walked through the halls.
Mrs. Norris proved to be a loyal friend and pleasant conversation. The bloody baron kept an eye on him almost expecting him to get into some sort of trouble that he would feel his duty to save him from or try and prevent. The kid was like family even though he was once disowned by the very same family. He felt it was his family duty to watch out for Harry.
The school owls turned out lived in a rather tall place and the sheer smell of the place kept them safe. Harry was not too happy to see he could not even have a nice snack every once in a while. He would have to make do with human food, but it was simply no fun eating something he had not obtained in a hunt.
The oclumency lessons didn't take long to show results, and he did something most consider impossible. He mastered the art in three months, something that usually took years to do. Minerva joked with Albus that since Harry spent so many years as a feline, he gained their mental focus and quickness of adapting to new things.
The Oclumency proved to be a real help to Harry it helped him organize his mind so much quicker than even he imagined. By the first half of the year, he had mastered all the material for two years and was getting faster at it. Dumbledore joked that maybe he will do the impossible again, and finish learning all seven years in just one.
"If I did I might be able to return to my family. Maybe even find a mate and have a few cubs of my own. " Dumbledore asked why he still was unwilling to trust his fellow human beings. "Harry no matter how much time you spent as a Panther you are still a human. Nothing in the world or even existence would ever change that. Yes, there are many who quite frankly give our species a bad name. But trust me when I say there are folks of remarkable goodness. "
Harry heard this argument over and over and each time he left for his nightly stroll through the castle. Before he left he simply asked him to give him an example that did not include the cat teacher or himself. " I have the perfect example, even though you never met them. These people died in a tragedy and were some of the kindest and noble people that ever lived. If you want to see them you need only look in a mirror, they were your human parents."
Harry left the room as he finished telling him that. "My parents were kind and my aunt and uncle were cruel. What does that say about my supposed family." Harry began to prowl the halls of the castle and could see something was odd about the third corridor. There was something strange about the door in one of the corridors on the third floor. "Why is it that I smell something canine and not quite," Harry remembered the many warnings he was told by Mrs. Norris. "So the beast that guards this place is a female. Might as well say hello, I wouldn't want to be rude now would I?" Harry pushed through the wards and got into the corridor rather easily.
"So the Panther finally decides to pay us a visit. Isn't that nice? We heard so much about you from a friend of ours. Have a seat and relax. As long as you do not come near me, you should not feel any fear. " Harry did sit down and looked rather at peace." You may call me Harry, and what is your name or should I say names ladies?" The three heads began to bark out a laugh.
"You sure are polite, I guess we see why our friend speaks highly of you. We are called by the man who raised us by the name Fluffy, we can only guess it has to do with the texture of our fur. " the head on the right nodded her head in agreement.
The head on the left did not agree about something and was quite unhappy." I hate that name. It sounds so weak, so cutesy, what kind of a name is Fluffy for a guard. Honestly, we should be named something fear inducing, like our great ancestor Cerberus, he was the guard dog to the gates to the underworld. What do we guard? A trap door that leads to a cursed mirror. "
From that day on Harry, Mrs. Norris and Fluffy became good friends. They loved to play together and hold interesting conversations about why did humans think of themselves the Masters of the world when clearly they were not. It made Harry feel happy to have someone he could talk to without all the Harry you are a human sermon.
He continued this way till it was finally time to tell him the good news. He was going to start attending school in the next term. "Never knew you allowed soul devouring felines to attend, maybe I can find myself a mate then..." Dumbledore did not like the idea of a big frightening cat seated by students he could think of as a good morning snack.
"Harry if they try to kill you, you may devour them, but only in self-defense. As for a mate, I am sorry to tell you this but you already have one. Your father James made a marriage contract with an old friend of his, he was someone I knew briefly. His name is Francis Delacour, and you are engaged to his eldest daughter Fleur. "
" Is she at least a good mate? Nice, strong, focused and skilled? I do not want some weak willed human who I have to practically beg to be able to take care of herself. I need a mate I can work with, and is able to pull her own weight. But then again she is French, isn't she? "
" Actually yes she is, mind telling me how you know? " Harry walked over to his desk and picked up the prophet." Because I read the newspaper more than you do it seems. Francis Delacour was named just a few days ago Minister of Magic for France. "
Harry wished the picture was of his supposed mate, at least then he would be able to recognize her. That is when an owl came to deliver the new copy of the prophet and took off without even asking for his payment." In case you are wondering why I did not pay for that newspaper, I have a year subscription paid in full. "
Harry picked it up and saw that his wish was granted. Fleur Delacour had just won the junior race competition held at her school. " Well she seems to know how to ride a broom, that is always a plus. I wonder how she feels about this marriage contract thing, something tells me she is not happy about it.
The very same day Fleur was visited by her father and he had some rather unusual news. It seems that the family lawyer had delivered a marriage contract he forgot about signing. He was not unhappy, he liked James and his sense of humor or the ever stoic wife that always kept him out for too much trouble.
"Fleur, I think it is time, I tell you about something. " Fleur walked over to where her father was standing. The Delacours lived in a rather comfortable estate and Francis was standing in the entrance hall of said estate." I am not sorry I won, I was a better flyer and there is nothing more shameful than not doing your best. "
" Actually Fleur I am here to tell you that your marriage contract is now active. Harry your groom has been found and as such, the marriage contract is now active and you are engaged to marry him. " Fleur looked at her father with a rather angry glare." I do not care about your contract, more than likely he will be overwhelmed by my aura. "
Fleur walked over to the sofa and sat down." I am a Veela father, my aura will decide if he is worthy of bonding with my magic. By the ancient laws and traditions, you can not make me marry someone who is not recognized by my aura. "
Having not an ounce of veela blood he simply did not understand why being chosen by her aura was so important. He simply chose the best possible suitor. Just like his own parents had done for him. It was an ancient tradition in noble houses. He was lucky that Apolline's aura chose him. He could not imagine his life without her.
"Fleur listen to me. If he has the courage and loyalty of his father and the cunning and thirst for knowledge of his mother. This Harry would be sought out by every noble family in all of Europe, not only France. He is a direct descendant of Godric Gryffindor and Salazar Slytherin. If I was not such a good friend of his dead father, you would never even get the chance to meet such an exceptional young man. "
Fleur did not look happy to hear this at all. " So he is a spoiled, narcissistic, pampered brat, who has no idea how the world works or why we do not fall on our knees and worship the ground he walks upon. Yes, I get forced to consider this worthless mutt as my future husband. And you honestly expected me to be happy?" Fleur did not like the idea of a marriage contract at all.
"If you must compare him to a dog, I assure you he is not a mutt, but one of the highest pedigree. Why don't you at least give him the benefit of a doubt? How would you feel to find that you have been berating him and indeed he was the very man who would make you the happiest Veela in all of France?"
Fleur was not holding high hopes, her time in Beauxbatons had taught her that most noble-born sons were if anything too in love with themselves to ever truly love anyone else. The few that tried flirting with her, she used her aura and they confessed that they did because they wanted to improve their reputation by sleeping with the sexiest within the castle.
This made her outlook in the possibility of finding a mate rather negative and cold. One idiot even tried to grope her. He soon found out why he should not do that to a Veela. She sent a fireball at him that burned his chair and a good portion of the table to ash.
"I am not a prized animal to be sold or traded, I am a person who has a mind of my own. If this Potter is not recognized by my aura then nothing you say or do will get me to marry him. And if he is the way I have grown to expect he will not live long to even have the wedding ceremony. "
Francis told her simply had done what he believed would be best for her. " You, of course, are assuming that he would be glad to marry you, what if he already has someone he wants and chooses to break this contract off with you? What if when you meet him in 3 years he is recognized by your aura but he flat out refuses to marry you instead? "
" You are making to many assumptions that have little to no support. That is why I keep telling you why don't you give him the benefit of a doubt? My daughter get to know him before you judge him worthy? He might be the one that makes all your dreams of a mate come true. "
Fleur at the very least asked for a picture of him. Francis did promise that he would ask one from his legal Guardian Albus Dumbledore. He called him through the fireplace in the entrance hall.
" Francis, what do I owe the pleasure of this call? Oh, and congratulations for becoming Minister of Magic. " Francis told him he needed a picture of Harry for someone in his family." I am sorry Francis but I simply do not own a camera and I could never seem to get one to work right. I propose instead that you come here with floo powder and meet him yourself. You can take the picture after talking with him. "
" Sounds like young Harry did not take the news well. I guess I should go and explain the history of the marriage contract. Very well Albus, give me a few minutes to gather a camera and I will be there as soon as I am able. "
Albus always liking a practical joke he decided to make a suggestion that he was sure would catch him by surprise. " Or you can come with the relative that wants to know what Harry looks like? Maybe even be a nice introduction to them? "
Francis had to admit that it indeed have merit. It would make the situation a lot less troublesome. "If that is the case I will go there tomorrow, and this will give me enough time for both of them to get ready after all, first impressions are important."