4. Chapter 3

Disclaimer: I do not in any way or form own Harry Potter or any of it's characters, and I only lay claim to the original characters and the plotline

**Chapter 3:**

The previous day had gone from good, to bad, then worse, and all because she had lost track of Louise.

Fleur huffed at the passing students, who were all ogling her for one reason or another, which only made her even more snappish. The problem was that Daphne and she had been trying, however futilely, to locate Harry after he had left the Hospital Wing. But it seemed he had just vanished into thin air, and though both had been trying to disguise it, several students who had even so much at looked at them crossly had gotten a tongue-lashing due to their irritable mood.

They had spent all the time until dinner roaming the castle and the grounds, trying to find him, which in retrospect was thoughtless and stupid when they had no clue as to his whereabouts. But at the time it seemed like a perfectly solid idea with great merit, and so they had pressed on trying to casually question each other all day while looking for him.

They had eventually given up and simply separated when they went for dinner, her going to the Ravenclaw table and Daphne going to Slytherin table. It wasn't that she leaned towards being prejudgemental, but something about that girl simply rubbed her the wrong way. She wasn't who she pretended to be, she was too nice of a girl, and despite maybe being good people, the Slytherin house still made you a tough person.

Even she could see that and she had only been there for a short period of time. She suspected that Daphne pretended to be a lot less dangerous than she really was, but it was only her instinct talking, so she might be wrong. However, she had learned to trust her instincts a long time ago. Moreover, she might be a contender for Harry, and she knew the Daphne might prove to be a more capable opponent in that regard than Louise.

Fleur didn't have much time to reflect upon this person who apparently knew Harry very well, before she had been drawn out of her thoughts by the mutterings of the French girls around her. Apparently Harry had been by here, with Louise, and had left not long before they had arrived.

It didn't take her long to regain the will to look for Harry, and Daphne seemed to have picked up similar rumors as she met her at the doors of the Great Hall, and they had then spent the remains of the evening trying to find Harry, but had been unable to show anything for their efforts.

To her endless frustration.

Who knew how far Louise might have gotten with Harry in that time.

But that wasn't exactly what had Fleur in a knot right now. It was the fact that when she returned to the Beauxbatons lodgings, Louise was already back, and she looked like she had been running a marathon from the tired expression on her face as she slept. However what made her mood go down the drain was the reek of arousal that had been around her and the content smile as she slept, occasionally whispering 'Harry'.

So she had spared said girl a nasty glare as Louise left for breakfast in the Great Hall, though she hardly noticed as she walked around with a content smile on her lips.

How could she let herself be beat by her? She had seen how interested the girl had been in Harry, more so than she had ever seen her be in anyone before, and to then just let her have a chance to be close to him when he was a newly-awakened male Veela.

But there was no point in beating herself up about it; she would just have to do her best to win regardless. Louise had just scored the first point.

So when Fleur entered the Great Hall that morning, she scanned the crowds looking for a familiar mop of black unruly hair, and upon finding it, hurried to the Gryffindor table. Harry had taken up a spot at the far end of the table and she noticed that today his fellow house mates seemed to be steering clear of him, more so than usual.

"Hello Harry", she said cheerfully as she sat down next to him. He smiled at her, though he didn't show great surprise at her being there.

"Fleur", he greeted her. "To what do I owe the honor of you spending your breakfast with me? I know it can't possibly be my charm."

She smiled at his way of referring to his Veela heritage. He had taken extremely well to this sudden role that had been thrust upon him by fate, or chance, or whatever. But it was probably because this new power gave him an unprecedented amount of control over his own destiny.

"You shouldn't sell yourself short. Regardless of your charm I still find you a most interesting companion. Besides we still have to arrange a time for me begin my flying lessons", she reminded him. "You weren't going to skip out on them were you?"

He gasped in mock-shock. "I would never forget something as important as that. Though it's going to have to wait till I'm done with my first task, but after that I will be all over you… And I mean it."

"So what are you going to do about the dragon?", she enquired more to get her thoughts away from such things.

"I don't know if I should tell you", he said, eyeing her suspiciously.

"I'm already done with the task, so why not tell me?", she reasoned.

"Well, I don't know. We might get another task where things in my plan might be useful", he said, then put a finger on his chin. "However, if I knew what the next task was it might not be necessary, you know."

"It's not going to be that easy", she said. "As I said before I intend to win, and I don't want to intentionally give up any advantage I have."

He shrugged. "Then you're going to have to persuade me, though I think you'll find me a tough nut to crack."

She hummed in response. "Harry, I know you've only just learned about you know your 'charm' and where it came from. But I think we need to work on it a bit more."

"But haven't I already learned to control it?", he frowned.

She laughed. "There's more to it than that and I think it's my responsibility to teach you."

"Your responsibility, is it now?", he said as he took a large bite of a piece of toast.

"Yes, I don't know if I can teach you anything at all, seeing as you're kind of unique. But it's worth a try."

"And I suppose it has to happen as soon as possible?"

"Of course, if you can't control it, your powers might go out of control and expose you", she said seriously.

"You know, you don't have to come up with an excuse to spend time with me. We could go and find a broom closet somewhere right now if you want to", Harry said with a laugh.

Fleur however intended to at least break even with Harry, and now that his allure was at a low level it was easier to collect her thoughts.

She arched a brow. "So all I had to do was ask?"

"Of course, so should we do it now or…?", he asked with a raised brow.

She giggled. "Let's save it for later. Because I _am_ actually interested in teaching you more about your new powers, or at least as much as I can. But I know Daphne was looking for you yesterday. Something about practical training instead of theoretical or something."

"Really? Well I suppose I did promise her that I would try to prepare for the task. But I could squeeze you into my schedule anyways. She has ordinary classes to attend," he said, then brightened. "However we don't. So we could spend most of the day going over this stuff, I just need to arrange it with her, and then we're set to go."

He smiled at her. "But I assume we can finish eating first."

"I think I can manage until then", she said, and she knew that if she wanted him she would have to step her game up a bit. But if she managed to gain access to that same fount of power as earlier, she ought to be able to change the current situation.

He shoveled the remains of his food in, and gestured for her to follow, and after Harry had made a quick scan of the Slytherin table he located his target. Within a few seconds he pulled Daphne aside.

"'Morning Daphne", Harry said cheerfully ignoring the heated glares of the Slyhterins around them.

"Good morning Harry", Daphne responded and Fleur noticed a weird deference in her voice. "I looked for you yesterday. Where were you?"

He waved it off. "You will probably know before the day is up anyway, so why spoil the surprise. But I actually wanted to talk to you about your tutoring in the theory we've been going over. You know once your classes are over."

"Okay", she said as a bright smile lit up her face. "I only have three classes today, so let's meet at the stairs at the end of the third period."

"Sure", Harry nodded. "Oh, and I almost forgot. I think I might have pushed the Gryffindors to submit a house ban. So we'll also try to find some new rooms tonight."

Daphne tensed slightly, and Fleur was inwardly happy not to be on the receiving end of the glare she fixed on the Gryffindor table.

However it was another thing that bore food for thought.

Why did he mention new rooms when he talked to Daphne? She had been unable to discover anything about their relationship from Daphne, and right now she was getting all sorts of strange vibes.

She would just have to try and wheedle it out of him.

Several hours later found them sitting at the edge of the lake, where Fleur attempted to figure out the clue for the Second Task.

"So I assume sitting by the lake is the first step towards learning about this gift, right?", he chuckled.

"Not really, but it is more comfortable. Besides the weather is splendid, so why not enjoy it?"

"I suppose. So how do we do this?", he asked.

"You remember how you reached your Veela core, and how you draw on it when you want to use it?"

"Yea, I've tried it on a few occasions already. But I've discovered something weird…"

She frowned. "What have you discovered?"

"You know the allure affects the emotions and needs of the person exposed, right? Well I discovered that it isn't exclusive to attraction or lust, I can also change the allure to induce sadness, rage… even repentance. I can affect all their emotions, I think."

She froze with wide eyes.

Veela's could not create emotions, they could change them, manipulate them, not create them out of the blue, and they _were_ limited to the attraction aura. Only in myths had Veela ever been able to manipulate them to the extent that he claimed he could. The Veela capable of that power was those who were fully awakened, totally true to their heritage.

But such Veela had died out centuries, heck maybe even millennia's, ago, some claimed the blood had thinned to such an extent that it was no longer possible; other's said it was just a myth, and nothing more.

"I also think I can make the effects permanent if I wanted, I actually think I might have already done so", he said with a confused furrow on his forehead.

"Are you completely certain Harry?", she asked with a doubtful look. Now it just sounded unreal, never had anything she'd read about Veela mentioning anything like this. Maybe an awakened male really did not follow any pattern that was ascertained by the female Veela's.

"Yes, I am quite certain. Like for example I know that you disdain all redheads, like the Weasley's", Harry said with a grin. "Without any reason, but you do."

He was right, she really did hate the redheads, and the few Weasley's she did know. One being one of Harry's friends, that Fon… Ron… whatever and his kid sister. Not immense hatred, but if possible she would like nothing more than to never have to see the rest of them. But odds were that she would have to see them again, and she didn't think she would be capable of being very civil to any of them.

It was irrational, but it was so deep-seated that she could only just ignore it.

"I… really hate… them, but you did that to me right?", she asked, doubtfully. She really couldn't tell if she had always hated the so irrationally or whether he had just reminded her.

"Yea, it was me, but you get my point now right. But in order to prove my point I'm going to have to let it stay like that for a while", he said with a smile. "You understand right?"

With the smile came the undeniable torrent of power that was his allure, and she was unable to deny his suggestion. She couldn't bear to deny him as the mere thought of him being disappointed in her almost sent tears to her eyes.

No, she would never do anything like that.

The pressure from before lessened, but she could still feel the same much lessened need to never disappoint him. But she could think again, and she still needed to see if there was at least a small bit that she could teach him.

She shook her head briefly, and smiled brightly at Harry, despite the quick plethora of emotions she had just experienced. "Then let us at least see if the famous Veela fire is the same, shall we?"

"Sure", he said with a childlike enthusiasm. "It would be awesome to be able to make fire out of thin air."

"Well, it's great that you're so excited, but don't get ahead of yourself, it has proven to be one of the most difficult skills for Veela to create, much less control. But if you are anything like a normal Veela you should get this feeling. It's hard to explain, it's a feeling for control and power, about how you channel it. Do you follow so far?"

Harry nodded slowly. "I think so."

"Good, when you can feel that _power_ running through you, you have to focus it in your hands, your fingers to be exact. You have to force the flow into them, and try to _will_ the flame into being. Here let me show you."

She closed her eyes and tried to grab a hold of her wildly slippery Veela powers and it was like taking hold of a melting piece of ice. But she managed to pull her power forth haltingly and direct it to her hands, though it was an uphill battle. It was harder than usual, much harder, and it only made her realize that her trip to visit her Veela core was even more important than she had believed before. She had not really attempted to use her powers since that one time in the Hospital Wing.

Gradually and slowly a blue flame licked the tip of her fingers, and it expelled a great heat, but didn't scold her fingers. It was much smaller than it normally was, though not miniscule it could not exactly be called large.

"Is it supposed to be so… small?", Harry asked with a sliver disappointment, and she felt a small twinge in her heart.

"No, no", she hurried to placate him. "I don't know exactly what's wrong. But my Veela powers have been acting up lately, you know since the dragon incident. I haven't been able to control it to the extent I did before."

"So it's not only training for me, but for you as well?", he smirked. "Well I can live with that. So you said, focus my power into my fingers and then what? Imagine the flame?"

"Yes, but conjuring the flame is different. It has nothing to do with conventional magic, this is magic that comes from your blood it's different. It doesn't require incantations, only intentions, but mostly instinct", she explained. "You need to know that you can conjure the flame. You have to will it into existence and shape, but it needs to come…"

Her words were cut off as Harry lifted a hand, and concentrated with an intense stare at his hand. Suddenly a flame, a giant flame, larger than any she had ever made before, burst forth. Almost as tall as his arm was long, and it was the most remarkable green.

"It doesn't seem so hard…", he said, only for the flame to extinguish, shocking them both. "It is however hard to control."

He attempted a couple of times to recall the flame, but it didn't come as rear its head at all.

He sighed briefly before turning to her with a smile. "Maybe you're just too much of a distraction for me."

"I'm flattered", she replied. "But I think the only thing you can do now is keep practicing. After all; practice makes perfect."

He studied her for a few seconds. "I know I'm exceedingly handsome", he said with a wry grin, a small attempt at humor. "But you can't spend all your time watching me practice. So what will you do while I'm working my ass off?"

"I think I need to take a look at my Veela core," she replied, a crease forming on her otherwise flawless forehead.

"Well that sounds infinitely more fun than trying to conjure fire", Harry said with a fake pout. "I wish I could come with you."

She chuckled delightfully. "Come with me? I'm afraid that's impossible."

"You don't want me to come with you?", Harry pouted.

"No, it's not that. But I it's simply not possible", she said with a small placating smile.

"Oh, I wouldn't be so sure about that if I were you, after all I'm pretty sure I'm unique", he said in good humor.

"Cocky much?", was the bemused reply.

"Probably", he conceded with a shrug, followed by a smile. "But I don't see you dissuading me from that notion."

"And why would I do such a silly thing", she kidded back, and made herself relax in the position she was in before closing her eyes and searching for her Veela core.

This proved harder than usual since the constant trickle of power appeared and disappeared at random intervals, which she normally followed to her core. However much longer it took her core, she did so eventually, and the last thing she felt before she lost contact with her surroundings was the dominating presence that was Harry's allure. Instead of fighting back against it she allowed it to wash over her, as if a part of her, and slowly followed the imaginary road to her magical core that she used occasionally. She let herself be sucked in that torrent that was so familiar to her, and let it carry her along.

Her travel stopped in front two big orbs floating, on light blue and one deep red. Her magical core was just as she remembered, but maybe a bit bigger, but that was normal, a person's magical core always grew.

What surprised her was her Veela core. It was much larger than she would possibly have been able to imagine. But what was scaring her, even terrifying her, was what seemed to be happening to it. The red globe that was usually so calm was convulsing violently, even seeming on the verge of imploding, stretching and bending unnaturally.

She could feel fear grip her, and panic took hold when she couldn't think clearly enough to find a way to fix it. Suddenly the insistent feeling in the back of her mind, which Harry's Allure had been, was suddenly much more prominent and she felt her own Veela powers react erratically at her own panic, drawing his presence closer.

'What's happening', she heard a voice resounded all around her, filled with confusion and trepidation. 'Where am I?'

"Harry!", she said and felt an uncommon relief filling her mind alongside a encompassing confusion as she franticly looked around trying to find him, wondering _how_ exactly he was her. "How can you be here?"

'I have no idea,' he said. 'I was practicing making the flame, and suddenly, without even being aware of it, I was touching your hand, and here I am. Wherever here is.'

"That doesn't make any sense", she said, furrowing her eyebrows.

'It's weird not having a body', he said with a very nervous tone.

"Perhaps I can make one for you, it is my mind after all", she said, after having calmed down a bit. She pictured a Harry copy right next to her, though it stood by lifelessly for a few seconds before blinking. The Harry copy then stretched and tried moving the body, seeming to get a feel for it.

"That's better, I was beginning to miss my arms and legs", he said with a grin and turned his attention to her Veela core. "So this is what a female Veela core looks like…"

He frowned. "It's quite small compared to mine."

Her eyes nearly bugged out at that statement. Before she had always imagined her core to be average size, but this orb in front of her was positively huge. She had never seen _his_ core, but how could it possibly be bigger than this.

"Small? It's hundred times bigger than it should be", she almost screeched.

"Relax", he said at an attempt to soothe her, but he kept his eyes on her core. "It looks a bit unstable. Have you tried connecting to your core or using your power yet?"

"Just two times; before with the Veela flame", she said and fiddled nervously with her fingers. But regardless it would be smart to tell the truth. "And once when I tried to use my Allure on you in the Hospital Wing."

He arched a brow but otherwise seemed to care nothing for it. "I suppose neither worked perfectly, or at least not as you had intended?"

She nodded. "It's like I can't keep a proper hold on my powers, and I have been unable to completely control, like it's slipping through my hands. But with my core like this, it's a wonder I was even able to create the flame before."

"Sounds like it. I'd really rather not interfere with anything here, but perhaps you should try to calm it down?"

She nodded, and neglected to point out the obviousness of the statement. Evening out her breathing she focused on the giant floating, convulsing red orb that was her Veela core.

She reached out with her consciousness and layered it around the core, touching every part of it with her mind. She could feel Harry's presence all around her, though dimmed as if not fully. The turmoil on the orb was clear as soon as she touched, and she felt as if she was caught on the sea in the middle of a storm, and it almost swept her away, threatening to consume her.

With a great exertion of will she tried to force this ocean to calm, the storm to break. The core slowly began to calm, and when it was finally beginning to return to normal she felt a violent spasm and suddenly found herself back in front of the core. It was convulsing worse than before, and panic seeped into her being again.

"Fleur", Harry said harshly, making her flinch and turn her attention to him. "Calm down. Panicking won't help matters at all."

"But how can I not panic?", she asked franticly, and gestured at the convulsing red orb. "Can't you see what's happening?"

"Why not let me help?", he said, contemplating. "Two might succeed where one failed. Besides we still don't know the extent of my powers, perhaps they can be of help here."

"Okay", she said in a quavering voice, while fixing her gaze back of her Veela core. "I don't any other options."

Without further words she let herself completely go to the presence of Harry, letting further into her own being that she would have ever thought, and she felt their wills and intents mix and focus on one single goal.

She didn't see anything happening, she however felt a myriad of happenings all around her, could feel _him_ flowing all around her, and could feel herself flowing all throughout him. She however again was completely stumped at the presence of him as she felt part of him smothering her Veela core in an essence that was _him_ in his purest forms, all that represented him, and with it came an iron will that gently intermingled with her own..

She could _feel_ her succeeding with him where she before had failed without him. His presence enveloped the red orb, and where she had failed he simply breezed through with her help. He didn't allow anything to stand in his path, any uprising from the unstable core was met with extreme force and any irregularities were quickly quelled and stomped out. However like with before they also met unexpected resistance from her core.

The core began convulsing strongly, and despite not seeing anything on copy Harry's face she could feel that he with his current power level was fighting strongly against the now very unstable core, despite her own efforts as well. She could _feel_ his frustration and resignation just before she felt an even bigger amount of power flow through her being causing all her nerves to tingle pleasurably.

The new wave of power joined in with his already considerable power and quashed all resistance, and finally her core seemed to completely settle down.

Her relief however was short-lived as she felt the commanding presence of Harry disappear, although not entirely. But such dealings were bound to leave some sort of residue, but that was all it was, a mere memory of his presence, for there could be no doubt that he was no longer there as she felt the union they had been dissipate in the blink of an eye.

With him went the power, and suddenly she was alone in her own being again, and after having completely accepted him here, it felt lonely being there on her own. However what worried her more was the abrupt departure of Harry, he wouldn't simply leave without a word, especially after having done something of this magnitude.

She tentatively reached out to her core again and was relieved to find that it was back to normal, that is if you discounted the surprise she felt at the discovery that the core hadn't diminished in size at all after being stabilized.

Such ponderings would have to wait though, because checking up on Harry was certainly more important.

Seconds later she was back in the outside world again, only to see Harry on all fours panting heavily from exertion, and his skin glistened with sweat. She quickly scrambled down beside him, lending assistance to the weary boy.

"Harry!", she said in a frantic voice. "Are you okay Harry?"

Harry took a couple of deep breaths again before answering her. "I'm fine, just took a lot out of me. I've never drawn so heavily on my powers before."

He rolled over on his back and let out another deep breath, and she thought nothing of it as she drew his head onto her lap.

She was immensely relieved that he was alright, but the way he had matched his strength against hers, against her now huge core, was slightly unnerving and only served to raise even more questions about him.

"Harry", she said gently. "Was that your full Veela power?"

"Hmm?", he mumbled and opened his eyes to look at her. "That wasn't my full strength; I was only at about half."

Brief shock registered in her mind, and she almost shook at the prospect of his true strength, it was almost terrifying. To think that his strength was so great, so much greater than hers, she really felt small in comparison, though she knew that compared to other Veela she was on a whole other level. However, she was also no longer as surprised at the possibilities of him doing something thought impossible.

"If that's not your full power, then why are you so exhausted?", she asked with a frown.

He chuckled. "I don't think my body is used to that amount of power, and it simply wore me out. I'm so tired I can't even begin to imagine how it would be to use a hundred percent of it."

He then fixed her with a sharp stare. "But if your power ever gets out of control like that again, don't postpone checking up on it. I would rather have to try that again anytime soon."

"I can't blame, because neither would I.", she said, though a small prick of disappointment registered at the intimacy shared between them during the ordeal, which was now lost.

"I hope that there won't be any ill effects", he said. "I don't know what might come of my core coming into so direct contact with your own."

"But it's better than the alternative right?", she said after having pondered his words for a small while, though she chose to focus on the positive aspects.

"Yea, I suppose it is", he said with a small smile and yawned. "Mind if I take a quick nap?"

She smiled down at him. "Go ahead."

She had work to do, now that her Veela core had grown so much, she would have to test the limits of her control again.

DB -

Dream -

_A tall figure, swathed in deep red robes, almost the color of blood, glided down a corridor._

_Her face was covered by the shade of the hood. The only thing that showed that she was female was the sway of the hips and the, due to the robes, barely noticeable bust. Out of the shade of the hood several lustrous and silky strands of blonde hair was visible._

_The corridor she was walking through was dimly lit, lined with torches on each side, although scarce. It had an ancient feel to it, and the walls showed signs of age, though no smell indicated it, rather it had the smell of a well-kept home. The only sound that could be heard was the soft clapping of shoes on the ground as she walked further down the corridor with a determined stride._

_She reached a set of heavy oaken doors, more than a head taller than she was, but they unlike the corridor, were in pristine condition, as though they were a more recent addition._

_She pressed the palm of her hand against the door, showing ivory-white delicate skin and slender fingers. The surface of the door which had before been as rock to the touch seemed to ripple, and everywhere the ripple touched the door disappeared, as if it had never been there in the first place. Suddenly voices could be heard, dainty melodious laughter could be heard, and when she stepped into the room it was hard not to notice the eight occupants, regardless of them being swathed in the same robes as her. They all had an air of power about them, just as she had._

_The room itself stood in total contrast to the corridor which led to it. It seemed cozy and homey, but also awe-inspiring and that was despite its very Spartan layout. The room was dominated by a round table in the middle of the room, and no other seating accommodations could be found, and the only decorations in the room were several tapestries and a fireplace, though it remained unlit._

_When she entered the room they all quickly gathered at the table and took a seat silently, and it was obvious that tension lay thick in the room. All the seats were simple, but had a touch of old that might scare more than inspire, and the nine occupants now took a seat only leaving a tenth seat open and unoccupied. On the back of each seat was engraved a number from one to ten, carved sinisterly into the wood and she had occupied seat number one._

"_We all know why we have gathered here. We have all felt the arrival, the birth of a new one, the Tenth one. We all felt when the power arose and we all felt it be stabilized", 1_st_ seat said in an authoritative tone, letting her gaze rest at all of their cloaked faces for a few seconds._

_3_rd_ seat arose, and a few deep red strands of hair feel from the confines of the hood. "But something was wrong about the way the powers were brought under control. We have all been through this, and all of us almost died. This one wasn't even close to that point. There must have been some external source to stabilize it. Who can do something like that?"_

_7_th_ seat supplied the answer. "No one can. No one is supposed to be able to do it."_

_2_nd_ seat sneered. "Have you all forgotten the Red Scripts?"_

"_You've got to be kidding me. That's only a myth, a tale told to children. Nothing more", 6_th_ snorted._

"_Myth? This order of ours is based on something from that myth, these halls, this room is from those myths. This very place is proof that this myth is real. These chairs have been here for centuries, millennia maybe, we have no idea how long back we have to go to find the beginnings of this order. We all believed the myth to the extent that we haven't even thought of the possibility that there might be another one besides the Tenth", 2_nd_ seat replied._

_"What is your point?", the until now silent 8_th_ seat asked in a calm tone._

_You couldn't see the smile, but you hear it in the amused tone that entered her voice. "I think you know what I'm trying to say, but I will indulge you. The Red Scripts say: 'The Birth of the Tenth declares the Birth of the One'."_

_6_th_ sighed. "But we don't know what 'The Birth of the One' even means or who or what it refers to."_

_2ns pressed on. "But isn't it a strange coincidence that it is the Tenth that's stabilized by an outside source, especially when you take into account this One."_

"_What are you suggesting the One are?", 8_th_ asked in the same calm tone._

"_The Ten are on a level above our sisters, is it that much of a stretch to believe that the One, whoever it is, is even stronger than us? All the signs, everything in the Scripts points to it being one like us, only stronger."_

"_It might also just mean that we will succeed in uniting our people as one, I refuse to believe that it signals one stronger than us, it's irrational and I consider it an insult to even imply it", 6_th_ raged._

"_Silence", 1_st_ shouted, effectively stopping all bickering. "That is not what we came here to discuss. If we find proof that 'The Birth of the One' is true, then we will take appropriate measures. The question however is, who should be sent to the Tenth and teach her how to grasp full control as well as her role."_

_There were some quiet murmuring around the table, and suddenly 2_nd_ seat stood up. "I will take the Tenth under my tutelage and teach her the extent of her powers, and the duties that come with them."_

_The 1_st_ just nodded gravely, mirrored by a few others, though some seemed to fix looks on her. Suddenly 3_rd_ seat stood up as well._

"_I will accompany you, and assist in any way I can in regards to her tutelage. But mainly I will be going to discover the root as to the disturbance in her stabilization, we have to know what happened", 3_rd_ seat said with a formal air._

"_I can assure you that I will be able to educate this new addition adequately enough", 2_nd_ answered, in a bit of an annoyed tone._

"_I have no qualms about the way you educate the Tenth. If you feel you don't need my help, then I will leave it all in your hands. However regardless of you accepting my help or not I will be going to find the Tenth and try to determine what this outside source was. It's too important to simply ignore", 3_rd_ replied with a small bit of anger in her voice._

"_Calm yourself down", 9_th_ said in an icy voice. "I am not in the mood to hear you throwing tantrums."_

_1_st_ simply nodded. "She is correct, and I see no reason as to why both of you shouldn't be able to go. One will simply just be in charge of educating the Tenth and the other will attempt to discover the origins of this external source."_

"_We expect you to be able to work together despite any differences you may have, understood?", 9_th_ continued in that same icy tone._

"_Nothing will ever be in the way of handling the training of the Tenth, just as there were nothing in the way of your training", 3_rd_ bit back. "We will handle this matter with the care and delicacy it requires."_

_1_st_ nodded again. "Good now that that is taking care of, we have the matter of our friend in the British Department of Magical Travel. He seems to have outlived his usefulness, and will need to be… disposed of. I assure you can handle this", she said and turned to look at 6_th_._

"_It will be done. He knows too much which may draw unwanted attention to us, and it wouldn't do for the world to know of us yet", 6_th_ replied. "I think a little accident is in order."_

_The room got blurry and seemed to spin around slowly, but gaining speed._

_The figures opened and closed their mouths but no sound came out._

''_**Arry'**_

_The source of the voice could not be located, and none of the figures seemed to have noticed anything amiss._

"'_**ARRY!"**_

End of Dream -

"'ARRY!", Fleurs voice cut through his hazy dream, which was already retreating into the back of his mind, and startled him awake. His eyes jerked open to see her radiant blue staring down at him.

"You have an agreement with miss Greengrass, non?", she said in a now quiet voice, with a sweet smile playing on her lips. "She would be quite upset if you didn't have time for her."

He grinned. "I don't think she will, at least not much, but it would still be rude, and Daphne did agree to help me."

A frown appeared quickly on her face, but disappeared just as quickly, and Harry wouldn't have noticed it had it not been for the small fluctuation in jealousy he could feel coming from her. It actually was a tad bit heartwarming.

"You haven't forgotten about our trip to Hogsmeade have you?", he asked with a smile.

"No, I haven't. Why do you ask 'Arry?", she asked with a suspicious stare, but he could feel the apprehension flowing through her. He was actually quite pleased with the development of his ability to feel the emotions of others, though it was a wee bit taxing when in larger crowds, like the Great Hall. However, this ability also seemed to be determined by the degree of Allure he used, meaning with a low Allure, it was only people in his very immediate vicinity he picked up on.

"Nothing special really. I just thought I'd mention that there will be a small change of plans. I heard a new classy restaurant opened in Hogsmeade and I think we should go there, but that means the dress code went from casual to classy", he said with a slight grin, and was a little happy to feel the nervousness disappear, although it didn't vanish entirely.

"I will be sure to remember", she replied joyously.

"Good", he said and stood up. "I think it's time I go see Daphne now, and see what she has in store for me. So take care, and try to get a hang of your powers again. It would clearly benefit you to be able to control a power that can put a dragon to sleep."

He chuckled at her wide-eyed face. Truth be told, he would have thought it to be just another silly rumor, had he not seen her Veela core for himself, and knew how it worked, although his knowledge was lacking. But apparently she hadn't thought he would know, at least her expression said so.

"Yea I knew", he said with mirth. "But I think it's about time I get going. I have an appointment to keep."

Fleur really was a special person, not because she had Veela heritage, but because she understood to a certain degree how he felt, with her often being the center of attention. It was one of the reasons he wanted to get to know her, and then there was the fact some of his interest was piqued because she was a Veela.

Soon enough he was back inside the castle and had his aura at the usual four percent. Low enough to not cause any real commotion, but enough to ensure that none would try to ruin his day, at least not those of the female gender and odds were that they would keep their more hot-headed male friend in check and make sure they didn't bother him.

He soon located Daphne, it was hard not to, she after all did stand out from the general mediocrity of Hogwarts. Admittedly he did find the general level of attractiveness in witches to exceed those of muggles, but that was probably from all sorts of small alterations. Hermione had for an example reduced the length of her front teeth, to ensure that she was no longer the target of the joke of being a beaver.

Daphne however even stood out among the Hogwarts witches, not only because she was that much more naturally attractive, but had much more distinguishing features; her dirty blonde hair, the slight tan, the easily recognizable feminine curves. The school robes did nothing to detract from her beauty, and from the looks she was subject to, that much was easy to see.

Daphne noticed him as he calmly strode towards her, and he could see and feel the she fought against the urge to smile, after all it wouldn't do for a Slytherin to be caught being overly friendly with a Gryffindor in public. But she couldn't keep that glimmer out of her eyes.

"Hello Daphne", he greeted when he reached her.

"Harry", she replied coolly, and if he didn't know any better, he would have thought she wanted to be rid of him. Her emotions however told a different tale.

"Did you have any problems today?", he asked in lower tone. He really was a bit worried about her situation, and he could feel anger and rage seep into his being at just the mere thought of someone hurting her.

She shook her head. "None that's worth mentioning. Just a few snide remarks from Malfoy's group. They really are a pathetic bunch. I can't till I can deal with them properly."

He grinned at her. He liked this side of her, she had a sadistic streak a mile long, and she really enjoyed seeing people hurt. But it was only people that got in her way, or annoyed her that would be on the receiving end of such treatment.

"And I can't wait to watch you deal with them, but until then, we need to control ourselves. But that doesn't mean we can't make his and the life of his cronies miserable, right?", he said with a bright grin.

She just nodded with an evil look in her eyes.

"So where should we go for this training?"

"Seventh floor", she said simply, and he understood immediately. Indeed the Room of Requirement would be the perfect place to do this.

He nodded to signal that he'd understood, and followed her and it was by now he noticed all the nasty glares she was the target of, most from the girls though.

"So", he said once they were out of earshot of the students. "How far on the Diggory and Krum situation are we?"

"I have a person in Hufflepuff keeping an eye on Diggory. Krum however is harder to deal with, but I have hope that I will be able to carry out your orders", she replied in a low tone, so as to not be overheard despite them being the only ones in the corridor.

He waved it off. "Be sure to not put yourself at any significant risk. This is after all still a game."

"I understand."

"So what kind of training are we going to do?", he inquired curiously.

"We are going to continue with your Occlumency training", she replied. "Since it helps you to focus your mind faster it will also help with our training in regards to penetrating dragonhide. It's like hitting two birds with one stone."

"Sounds good to me", he said as they neared the Room of Requirement. He let her do the honors of bringing the door forth.

The room definitely reflected Daphne. It was a dangerous mix of Slytherin green and silver, but with a dark violet mixed in here and there. The room was split in two sections. One resembled almost a living room of sorts, with what looked like extremely comfortable furniture and in a corner of that section was a large canopy bed, which also looked so comfortable, that he was sure there was some health risk in sleeping in it. It looked to be the perfect living arrangements.

The other part however resembled some sort of practice pit, emulating some real life environment with targets set up all around. It was a fantastic idea and he mentally scolded himself for not doing this when he'd discovered the place earlier in the year.

"This is your room", he stated. "Rather quaint, but nice. I love the practice pit."

Daphne laughed. "I thought it was a great feature as well, though I haven't really had a chance to test it out yet."

"It's almost too bad we have to find a new place", he sighed, again mentally running over his options.

"We shouldn't waste time Master", Daphne said, knocking him out of his stupor.

"Yes, let's get started", he said and clapped his hands resolutely. "Should I just continue like I usually do? You know meditating and trying to clear my mind?"

She nodded in affirmative and he sat down in the lotus position on a newly appeared pillow and started clearing his mind. It was easier than usual, but that might be because he'd worked off some of his stress regarding his new powers on Louise. But he found focusing on nothing infinitely easier.

His eyes were closed, and it was like he was in a daze. He was focusing on nothing, on trying to picture a scene, but without taking any special notice of anything, but still 'seeing' them. Focusing on everything and nothing at the same time was the way one went about the preliminary steps of Occlumency. Problem was that even though it was easier than ever, it was still bloody hard.

Random images just kept flickering around in his imagination though at less frequent intervals now, interrupting his attention. But regardless it still went better than any previous attempts, and he had made amazing progress.

But despite the joy of having progressed that far, he was more than fairly happy when Daphne four hours later pulled him out of his almost sleep-like trance, and announced it was time for a practical test of both his development with the Occlumency and the use of his hopefully greatly increased focus with the armor penetrating spells.

"Have you cleared your mind?", Daphne asked stoically.

He took some time to ready himself, clearing his mind completely, while still trying to concentrate on her. The thing about Occlumency and its counterpart Legilimency was that it took a long time to sufficiently do anything at all. You had to be able to call forth a state of mind where emotions were dulled at will, and that was hard if not impossible for many people, which explained the low amount of people employing such mind magic. Furthermore it took months, for some years to be able to become just slightly proficient in them.

So when he nodded his assent to her, and allowed her to intrude in his mind it was not surprising that when he felt her probe try to worm its way into his mind, he immediately tried to remain calm and follow her instructions, but the foreign tendril simply pushed through and it felt like it jumped left and right, and his defenses were blown away like a heap of leaves, and he felt the probe burrow deeper, though it was by no means painful.

_He was grumbling under his breath as he walked down the stairs from the boys' dorms. He had just had another row with Ron and then the git Dean simply had to get involved, and it came as no surprise that he sided with Ron immediately. The most ridiculous thing was that it was the same argument that had been running the last few weeks now._

_He huffed._

_The problem was that he was tired of taking all their bullshit, all their slandering and hidden insults. They still thought of him as some sort of glory hound, and it reflected on the way he had been treated in his own house. People were openly avoiding him._

_He really didn't know why he was still so surprised at Ron's behavior, it was easily becoming clear how fickle most of his friends actually were. The funny thing was the only one who didn't seem inclined to believe that he had not put his name in the Goblet of Fire was Hermione, but she didn't want to go against their entire house, so she had avoided him as well, though she had not done anything against him._

_Which left him the odd one out, the third wheel, and he had been summarily cut out of Gryffindor, like a boil._

_He punched the wall of the stairwell, ignoring the sting of pain he felt from flesh hitting solid stone._

_It felt good, letting off some steam, though he would have preferred if he had hit either one of those two assholes._

_The common room was surprisingly empty, though that might have something to do with it being late morning; most people were at breakfast at this point, as should he be._

_However one seemed to remain, another person he so didn't want to see right now. The bushy hair and the book holding her attention was an easy way to recognize Hermione Granger._

_He opted to simply ignore her and go get something to eat._

_He groaned when he heard her shuffle in her comfy chair, and cursed under his breath when he heard a book being closed._

"_Harry", she said loudly, trying to gain his attention, and unfortunately he knew she would be increasingly persistent about this. So he decided to deal with it right away._

"_Yes?", he said with a hint of anger._

_She looked uncertain for a second. "I know I haven't exactly been the best…", she managed before she trailed off._

"_Friend? Comrade? Chum?", he said scornfully. "Don't delude yourself. Your actions speak louder than any words, and they say you don't consider me a worthy enough friend to stand by anymore. Besides aren't you breaking your new policy just by talking to me?"_

_She blanched at his harsh words and seemed on the verge of tears, and he reveled in the warm feeling it brought him. This was no more than she deserved, and he was venting a bit of his stress on her._

"_If it makes you feel any better", he said sadistically. "The feeling is mutual."_

A growl rose in his throat. This wasn't supposed to happen; this was his mind nobody was allowed to touch what was his. This was a challenge for dominance, and with that realization he felt ice cold rage ascertain itself. With the oath of never letting himself lose control of his life again, he forced away the panic he'd felt before and took a steel grip on the intruding presence, intending to utterly crush it.

However screams broke him from his intended course and his focus to slipped allowing the probe to withdraw.

His eyes instantly focused on the blonde-haired girl in front of him, and the fear that was visible in her eyes allowed him to calm down, and he took a few deep breaths, before he quickly scrambled over and gathered the frightened girl into his arms.

"Calm down Daphne", he said softly. "Nothing's going to happen. You can calm down now."

It took a few minutes, but the girl eventually did relax, and he felt the need to ask her what had happened.

"Can you tell me what happened?"

She took a deep shuddering breath, and when she spoke in was in her normal calm tone. "I'm not completely certain. When I got through your defenses I had intended to simply draw out again, but one of your memories managed to impose itself on me, forcing us both to view it. But nothing was like it was supposed to be, your mind felt… _alien_. Like nothing I've ever felt before, it was like it was naturally resisting me. It was like no human mind I have ever felt, and I have felt a few during my stay here."

"You're saying my mind felt different from others? How so?", he asked curiously.

He could feel the uncertainty becoming the most dominant feeling in her.

"I'm not sure, but for some reason trying to intrude on your mind was difficult, very difficult. It was like it wasn't completely… human. As if it made sense, but just not to me", she said uncertainly. "Do you understand what I'm saying?"

He nodded slowly. "I think I have an inkling, but it will have to wait till later. I need more information myself before I can tell you anything."

She nodded solemnly.

"But isn't this a good thing?", he said brightly. "Doesn't this mean that my mind just have natural defenses, and we would only have to work less to achieve our goal?"

"Perhaps", she said after a while. "It's getting late Master and we still need to find a place where we can live."

"Yea, you're right. So have you found anything for us?"

"I know of a few places that might be of interest", she said with a thoughtful frown. "And if none of them suit your needs, we could call on your friend. He might be able to help us."

"Great", he said and softly stroked her hair once before getting up, and extending a hand to her. "Let's have a look at them shall we, and we'll work on the spells tomorrow right? We do after all have an entire weekend ahead of us; we might as well make it count."

She nodded her head in agreement. "Follow me then", she said and led the way out of the Room of Requirement, albeit on slightly unsteady feet.

It was about time for dinner soon, which explained the lack of students in the hallways, and it made it easier to search for the rooms that Daphne had in mind. He fully expected the ban that his current housemates had mentioned would be issued tomorrow or the following day, if it wasn't already. But the fact was that he would have to find some new rooms, which were a bit more private than any he'd be assigned by the faculty.

Daphne had really done a good job of finding several places that might work out, but none of them really did the job for him. He wanted quarters not a room, he wanted a place with a bedroom, several guest rooms, a sort of common room and a study or something, and most of the places they visited didn't live up to those requirements.

After having visited three such places his stomach grumbled loudly, calling his attention to his lack of dinner.

"Daphne", he said gaining the attention of said girl. "Are the other rooms like these?"

"Yes", she said with a bowed head, and he could feel the shame at not being able to find what he had been looking for. He frowned slightly at how hard she took failure, and resigned himself to talking to her about it at a later date.

"Don't worry, I knew it would be hard to find what I asked for, but we still have an ace up our sleeve", he said and winked at her, before schooling his face into an emotionless mask and calling for a 'Dobby'.

"You called, greatest wizard master Harry Potter", Dobby said enthusiastically. "How can Dobby be of help to great Harry Potter?"

Harry chuckled. "Me and my friend here are looking for another place to live in Hogwarts, preferably completely separate quarters from the other houses. You know bedroom, some guestrooms, a common room and a study or something, something that people won't just stumble across. Do you know of any place like that here?"

Dobby adopted a thoughtful look and scrunched his face up in concentration. If Harry hadn't known him from earlier on, he'd have thought the elf in pain from the expression he was wearing.

Dobby's face suddenly lit up in a bright smile. "I do master Harry Potter sir", the easily excitable elf said. "Follow me sir, and sir's friend."

And so they found themselves following a hyperactive house elf down the corridors and eventually found themselves on the third floor and despite it being several years ago it was still mostly abandoned. Apparently people had listened to the headmaster when he had told them to stay away from the third floor, even though there was no longer any need.

Dobby led them down a series of winding paths, until he finally stopped outside a remarkably plain door, and dobby squeaked 'tall tales' causing the door to swing inward, revealing a large antechamber. It seemed to serve as some sort of living room with a couple of couches, a fireplace, a large table off to the side and some paintings decorating the walls. However it seemed like it had not been cleaned in quite a while, if the layer of dust was any indication.

Dobby snapped his fingers once and all the dust was cleared away, and the place seemed like it had never seen a speck of dust in the last decade. The couches were all a deep blue color, complimented by a light brown every once in a while.

"What is this place Dobby?", Harry asked curiously, studying the room with Daphne. He opened one of the two doors leading on from this room, and found a small hallway lined with three doors on each side and at the end of was a set of magnificent double doors.

"This is the rooms for governors sir", Dobby answered with a squeak. "Other elves tell Dobby that the rooms have not been used in a long time sir."

"Excellent, this is brilliant Dobby", he praised the elf as he took stock of the rooms down the corridor. Many of them were actually just extra bedrooms, though they were exceptionally big, definitely larger than both of Dudley's bedrooms combined, and extremely extravagant. The rooms all contained a large four-poster bed, a couple of chairs, a tea table and a desk.

She heard a loud gasp from the antechamber and hurried back to the antechamber where he had left Daphne and quickly walked to the only other open door in the room, and upon entering said room he also couldn't help but gasp slightly, because the sight that met him was amazing.

The bathroom was more than amazing. It was like a miniature swimming pool, and even had a shower, and from what he could see a sauna as well. It was amazing, and it smelled amazing. He could see why Daphne had been awestruck by this place, and the normally cool and collected Slytherin now stood mouth agape staring at the bathroom which was twice as big as the antechamber.

"This place is perfect Harry", she said breathlessly.

He chuckled. "I have to agree with you. But let's check out the rest of the rooms before we head down for dinner", he said and leaned in close to her ear. "And can you deal with Dobby? I think it's best if only we know we're here right now."

She nodded and turned with a smile to the elf. As he left the room he heard 'obliviate' being said loud and clearly before he exited the bathroom. He opened the last door on the right of the small hallway revealing a cozy study, with a great desk in the middle of the room and big comfy chair. All in all the perfect study, just what he had been looking for. The walls were lined with several bookcases, though they were not overly stuffed with books.

Daphne joined a minute later, voicing her approval of the study as well, and they both agreed that so far the place had exceeded both their expectations.

"Well, let's save the big surprise for later shall we", he said and waggled his brows. "I'm sure the bedroom will be even better than any of the other rooms. Besides I'm kind of hungry."

As if to prove his words, his stomach grumbled loudly.

"Of course Master", she agreed instantly. "I sent the elf away, after obliviating him. He will only remember cleaning the hallways on this floor nothing more."

He nodded and smiled at her. "Good", he praised her, and he could see and feel the satisfaction oozing off her. "I would prefer if as few people as possible knew of this place."

When they left the room, he double checked to ensure that the password he'd heard Dobby mutter was indeed the correct one, and when the door swung open he was more than satisfied with the place. The day so far had been rewarding, albeit a bit taxing.

However much to his annoyance it seemed his day was far from being over, because the second he walked into the Great Hall he was called upon by his Head of House, Minerva McGonagall.

He sighed as he joined her at the staff table.

"What is this about Professor?", he asked tiredly, although he was pretty sure that he knew what she wanted to talk about.

She glared disapprovingly at his tone. "It is regarding a petition that your fellow housemates have submitted to me. Do you know what I speak of?"

"You mean the House Ban or whatever it was? Yea I knew of it, and quite frankly I encouraged it. I would rather not be associated with such a bunch of bigoted, fickle, silly bunch of cowards", he said frostily, and he knew the only reason Snape refrained from badmouthing him right now was because he was immensely enjoying hearing him put down the Gryffindor house.

"Mister Potter that is no way to speak of your fellow students, you will talk appropriately in this school", she scolded him in a heated tone.

He couldn't help but snort and he could practically feel the anger rolling off of Daphne in waves. He could feel she wanted nothing more than to jump to his defense, but he had explicitly commanded her not to interfere when this setting came to pass.

"You mean I'm not to talk ill of my former housemates, despite them being allowed to sneer and throw petty insults at me? With all due respect that's bollocks", he growled.

"Why, in all my years I've never…"

"Whatever", he said dismissively. "So I assume the ban is in effect as of now?"

Her lips thinned in anger, but she held it tightly leashed. This was extremely fun, goading people really were fun.

"You would be correct to assume that Mister Potter, and you might not be aware of this, but this house ban is permanent, there is no way for you to be allowed to reenter that house", she said tightly. That did throw him for a loop, that he had not known, but honestly it wasn't like it really mattered to him. He had no intentions of rejoining his house.

"That would make sense", he agreed. "But I don't think I will ever have the inclination to rejoin that petty house. Unfortunately it seems to be a pandemic; the other houses act exactly the same."

She nodded curtly, though he assumed it took all her will-power to refrain from making any comments. "However the rule of this particular event also allows for a possible resorting of you, if you wish so, but the Gryffindor house will forever be impossible for you to reenter."

"I assume it is not mandatory to go through this resorting", Harry asked courteously.

"Indeed it is not, though I would sharply recommend it."

"I think I will pass", he said, with a frown. "I'd rather not have it burrowing around in my head a second time."

"I am allowed to get my stuff from the Gryffindor tower, right? And where will I sleep now?", he queried.

"Of course you will be allowed to do so, though it will have to happen immediately after this meal, as the password will be changed this evening when curfew arrives. Furthermore you will be living in one of the guestrooms, a house elf will be sent to you after this is done to show you to your new room."

"Good I assume that was all. So am I allowed to _partake_ in this glorious meal?"

"Not quite yet, I still have to make it official", she said and stood up facing the students currently eating, many of whom seemed to have been following their exchange, despite only being able to have head tidbits of the conversation.

"As the Head of House of Gryffindor and by the power invested in me by Hogwarts, and on behalf of the Students of Gryffindor, I, Minerva Cassandra McGonagall, hereby declare that Harry James Potter is, as of right now, no longer a Gryffindor. He has been cast away in disgrace, and will no longer bear the colors of our House", she said formally.

Harry rolled his eyes. Yep, that definitely did sound like something they would say some thousand years ago.

Silence reigned in the great hall at that pronouncement, and it seemed that the students didn't know how to react, that of course was only until both Fleur and Louise jumped to their legs and began cursing in French, or at least he assumed that was what they were doing.

Both of the girls stormed up to him and grabbed him in a hug, while cursing all of the teachers in French, though they weren't too busy to send nasty looks at each other. This seemed to be the catalyst for the remaining students as pandemonium suddenly reigned in the Great Hall.

"That will be enough", Dumbledore thundered, and stood up, causing all the students to quiet down. He turned his attention to the two girls currently hanging on him. "And you two, I am not fond of having my teachers sexual decency brought into question."

"I don't know, I honestly don't think Snape has any", Harry muttered.

"What was that Harry?", Dumbledore asked in a dangerous tone.

"Nothing", he replied. "Now can I go get something to eat?"

"Of course you can Harry", Dumbledore said amiably.

Harry nodded curtly and was half-dragged, half-pulled to the Ravenclaw table by the two angry Beauxbaton girls, who didn't bother to hide the dirty looks they sent at the staff table as they walked back.

Daphne followed quietly behind, and he could sense that she was sharply observing what was going on in the hall.

He was resolutely sat down among the French students at the end of the table, where Fleur and Louise each took a seat by his sides; whereas Daphne opted to simply sit opposite him. There was no need for her to sit at the Slytherin table, on the contrary there was a chance it would actually be dangerous, maybe no to a lethal degree, but they wouldn't shy away from cursing her if they got the chance. The fact that he had actively sought her out that morning had only rushed the inevitable.

But it wasn't like she couldn't defend herself. In truth if half of what he suspected proved to be true, then she stood a far better chance at defending herself than he ever did, and he considered himself passing fair at that particular subject.

"What was that about Harry?", Louise asked in concern, though he could feel a great deal of anger at him being put in that situation.

"Nothing I didn't already know was coming. To be truthful I actually egged it on by provoking the Gryffindors, so I am partially at fault," he explained.

"But still for them to do that…", Louise growled.

He ran his hand through his hair and looked at each of them in turn. "Truth be told; I was just getting tired of the way people were treating me, and not even in my own House did I get any peace. So I provoked them, though it was them who came up with the idea, I just sort of pushed it along. I wanted out of the House and so I baited them till they did it", he said in resignation. "I just hadn't thought they would be so fast."

"The Gryffindors are horrible", Fleur exclaimed from beside him.

He turned his head to her and smiled. "You know, just last year I would have taken a personal affront to such a statement."

"And now?", she asked with a grin.

He grinned back at her. "Now I say, give it your best shot, I can't honestly be forced to care. I will just sit back and enjoy the show. It is after all their own fault, throwing the Boy-Who-Lived out of their house wasn't a smart move. The press will have a field day with this one I think."

"Oh I will give it my best shot", he heard Louise mutter beside and turned to see her throwing glares at the Gryffindor table.

He would have to watch her, because from what he could feel then she was liable to do something pretty nasty to the next Gryffindor she stumbled upon, provided she could get away with it of course.

He placed a hand on her shoulder and smiled disarmingly at her when she turned her head back to him, and he could immediately feel her mellow out as evidenced by the smile and adoring eyes. "Don't do anything drastic okay? It really doesn't mean that much to me, after all I wanted to get out of the house, and I got what I wanted."

"You can't just let them get away with disgracing you like…", she started, but trailed off under the his harsh gaze.

He smiled brightly at her again. "You misunderstand me Louise. I never said I would let them get away with it, I just asked you to take care."

"Harry", Daphne said quietly, bringing his attention on herself. "Take a look at your robes."

He did as she asked and laughed at what he saw. Apparently just as his robes had been charmed to originally show his house status, it now reflected his status as houseless. This was shown by being the same black and grey robes as they had been the day he started his wizarding education.

"It seems they work quickly", he laughed. "But at least now I'm not in any way associated with Gryffindor any longer."

"Except you still have to visit them one more time to pack your possessions", Daphne remarked.

"Don't remind me", he groaned and dropped his head in his hands. Both Fleur and Louise snickered slightly at his antics, and even Daphne curled her lips slightly upwards.

Despite the occurrence earlier, he and the three girls all got along great, at least on the surface. It seemed Fleur and Louise viewed each other as a sort of rivals, and they sent each other heated looks when they thought he wouldn't notice.

But the peace of his meal was undisturbed by all the students, despite him being the topic of almost every conversation currently running as well as the subject of several covert looks. None of them had gathered the necessary courage to approach him and his little entourage.

However, only one person was foolish enough to do so, and that someone was Malfoy, who took it upon himself to bother him. Of course the ferret was also flanked by his two loyal trolls, better known as Crabbe and Goyle.

"It seems not even your own house wants you Potter", Draco said scornfully, pushing his chest forth to emphasize the badge that was a lame attempt to belittle Harry, though a surprising amount of students had taken to wearing them. "Must make you sad to know that not even the mudblood or the Weasel wants anything to do with you."

He smiled at Draco, attempting to throw the boy of guard. "Why hello Draco old chum. How's your mum?"

"What?", he asked stiffly.

"You know the woman who gave birth to you?", he mocked him, before adopting a thoughtful look. "You know if she wasn't your mother I would have guessed her to only be some and twenty. I'm sure she's popular among your fathers friends."

"Why you…", Draco hissed and reached into his robes.

"Ta, ta, ta Draco. I wouldn't do that, especially not in front of all these teachers", he said in mock-consternation. "Besides why get so angry? After all it is the truth; your mom is quite attractive."

Draco face turned red, but Harry just plowed on. "I mean, I only saw her for a few minutes at the world cup, but I instantly wanted to rip off her clothes and simply ravish her", he got a foggy look in his eyes as he remembered the day at the world cup, before he looked at Draco with a serious expression. "You think there is a possibility that you might be adopted? I mean someone with as great genes as your mom couldn't possibly have made you, or else you're just like one of those once in a millennia flukes."

He shrugged his shoulders. "In which case I feel sorry for your mom. But I still think my theory is more sound than you actually coming from the same gene pool."

Draco sneered and leaned closer. "Mark my words Potter, you will pay for this." And as if to emphasize his threat the two brainless knuckleheads flanking him cracked their knuckles threateningly.

Harry leaned even closer and adopted the same tone. "And you mark my words Draco. One day I will bend your dear old mum over and have my wicked way with her, and I want you to know that it will all be because of you. All because of the way you've been acting, like a spoiled little brat."

He didn't actually want anything to do with Mrs. Malfoy, she might be a beautiful woman, but she was as obnoxious as her husband and her son, and he'd rather spend time with someone worth the time. The only reason he said it was to rile up Draco, and it sure did the trick.

Draco visibly blanched at that before his eyes filled with a fiery anger, but he fought to bring it under control and sneered at him before turning to Daphne.

"What are you doing here with Potter?"

Daphne's eyes narrowed at Draco. "Who I associate with is none of your business Malfoy, and if you keep meddling in my affairs you will find the results most _uncomfortable_."

"You will find that as long as you're a Slytherin then it concerns all of your housemates, which includes me", he said harshly, before a malicious grin entered his visage. "I think it's about time our dear Head of House were told about the student that has been missing from their beds these last couple of days, don't you agree Daphne?"

Her eyes briefly flickered to him, and he nodded slightly, causing her to smile back at Draco. "Of course, I'm glad someone is finally going to do it. I'm sure the student will be more than thrilled."

He got a confused look on his face, and Harry laughed at the blonde boy.

Draco sneered at Harry, and turned to leave, followed by his two goons. "I will get you back for this Potter."

Harry just waved cheerily at the departing boy. "Tell your mum I said hello, and that I would be delighted to meet her under better circumstances."

He snickered at the disgruntled Draco as he stormed back to the Slytherin table. "Ahh, I needed that, poor sod was asking for it."

"But isn't it going too far to insinuate something…", Fleur began, before a completely serious Harry cut her off.

"A bit yes", he shrugged. "But he has been getting on my nerves these last couple of days and why would I be interested in her, she's as horrid as her husband. Besides, why waste my time on her when fate has blessed with your delightful company?"

All three girls beamed at the compliment, however corny it was, but he could make even the corniest lines into the best pick-up lines with just a dash of his allure.

"I'm stuffed", Harry said and patted his stomach. In truth he had been a good bit hungrier than he had thought, but days such as this could get to a guy.

"I don't suppose any of you want to join me on the glorious journey to the Gryffindor tower, to see the gits that now infest the place? It could be your only time to ever see the legendary Gryffindor tower, at least from the inside", he said in his best salesman tone.

"I think I will take you up on that offer, I think I want to see the House that was so eager to give you up", Louise said heatedly, and not a second later Daphne and Fleur had thrown in their own consent.

He smiled evilly. "This will be good; they won't even know what to do when I turn up with you."

Out of the corner of his eye he could see McGonagall talk to several students from the Gryffindor house; all the six prefects, as well as Ron and Hermione. Soon after large chunks of red and gold-clothed students left the Great Hall, until the Gryffindor table was almost completely devoid of people.

They were probably waiting for him in the common room so they could have their chance to 'disown' him aswell.

He mused. "I think they will be waiting for me in the common room. So they probably have something planned. This is your last chance to bail."

"Run from Gryffindors? I don't think so", Daphne snorted. "But why not interrupt them before they finish whatever preparations they have in mind?"

He shrugged and stood up. "We might aswell."

The trip was unremarkable; they met no more students after they left the usual humdrum. The portraits however were unusually quiet and stared at him with something approaching shock. But the Fat Lady proved to be the biggest surprise. She was redfaced and seething when they reached her, and she narrowed her eyes dangerously at Harry.

"So the lost son of Gryffindor returns", she yelled. She had never been very good at keeping her temper under control.

"'The lost son of Gryffindor'? Very original", he commented. "Mind letting me in? I've got some stuff I want to pick up."

"Password", she demanded stiffly.

"Bumbling Bumbleroot", he said and rolled his eyes.

"That's your password?", Fleur asked with a grin as the portrait swung open. "How very childish."

"Hey don't look at me, only the Head of House can set the password, it's not my fault she's a weird old bat", he defended himself.

She laughed lightly, and he joined her.

"So ladies. Are you ready to see the Lion's Den?", he asked in a theatrical voice complimented with an exaggerated bow.

"As ready as we will ever be", Fleur quipped.

"Follow me then ladies and keep your hands and feet to yourself or these people might just take them", he said as he led them into the common room full of surprised Gryffindors.

Apparently they had not expected him to bring along company. The room was crowded with people, but at least they hadn't decorated the walls with posters denoting how stupid and arrogant he was, as he had half-expected them to. Actually everyone was surprisingly somber, and looked at him with serious eyes. He was pleasantly surprised to see that Lavender wasn't part of this group, and he noted the absence of several others as well.

"This, ladies, is the Gryffindor common room. Notice the abundance of red and gold to assure the general lion that this is indeed their lair," he said, disregarding the crowd. "Otherwise there is nothing remarkable about it except the extreme turnout for this event."

He looked around briefly and then stage-whispered to his companions. "But trust me, living with those colors day out and day in for so many years get rather dull."

"Besides I find that I prefer black nowadays", he said with a meaningful look at Louise accompanied with a smirk, which made her blush prettily but otherwise just return the smirk. "So shall we get going?"

The three girls followed him through the stunned crowd, who moved to let them pass.

"I think you broke them", Daphne commented with humor as they ascended the stairwell towards the boys' dormitories.

"That will only last until we get back down", he replied. "Besides I wouldn't be surprised if some were laying in ambush in my dorm room. I did notice that some rather prominent people were missing downstairs."

True to his words, as soon as he opened the door he was assaulted by the image of at least twenty people sitting on the various beds, all except his own.

"Ahh, a welcoming committee I see, how delightful", he said cheerfully and slumped down on his bed. "You might as well sit down and get comfortable", he said to his companions. "This will probably take some time."

The three girls all took his advice and settled onto the bed, looking for all intents and purposes as if they belonged there.

He sighed once before surveying the crowd. "So who wants to go first?"

"What are _they_ doing here?", Seamus asked acidly, though Harry knew he was only talking about Daphne, and that was only because she was a Slytherin.

"They are here because I invited them. They have all proved to be great friends these last couple of days, and they wanted to see the place", he shrugged. "Next."

"But you can't bring a Slytherin here", Dean said, trying to sound threatening.

Harry rolled his eyes. "And why ever not?"

"Because only Gryffindor's are allowed here", Dean retorted.

Harry laughed at that. "Just because it's not done it doesn't mean it's not allowed, it's simply… just not done."

"But… but… She's a Slytherin!"

"Really? I hadn't noticed", he mocked Dean. "Besides I couldn't care less if she is a Slytherin, a Hufflepuff or even the bloody tooth fairy all wrapped in one."

"I resent that Harry", Daphne quipped. "I would never be a Hufflepuff."

"But there could be worse places a snake than amongst prey", he countered, with a shrug.

"The Headgirl is a badger, having her own my side would be an advantage", he muttered to himself, and made a mental note to get acquainted with Camille Winston.

"So who's next? And please, no more stupid questions or obvious statements", he said with a pointed look at Dean and Seamus.

"Why didn't you just admit that you cheated?", Parvati asked haughtily.

"Ah, my dear Parvati", he said and smiled widely, and focused his allure solely on the girl and put it on a whamming ten, and the girl reacted instantly, as evidenced by the slightly widened eyes. "You don't really think I would do something like that do you?"

"Of course not Harry", she hastened to assure him, much to the surprise of the others, who whispered and hissed things at her, but she ignored them all in favor of focusing on him.

"But you just thought that I had cheated", he said in a sad tone. "Why would you say so if you didn't believe it?"

"Because everyone else said so, and I didn't… I'm so sorry Harry", she was almost hysteric by this point. "Forgive me, please forgive me."

"I don't know. You and the others have been mean", he said uncertainly. "But if you really mean it…"

"I do. Please give me a chance to prove that I'm sorry", she begged.

"Okay", he said and waved her closer, until she was standing right in front of him. He leaned closer to her ear and whispered. "Go to Lavender. She knows my conditions forgiveness, only in your case it will be Potions." Upon noticing her confused stare he elaborated. "You will understand once you talk to her."

"Thank you, thank you so much", she got out as she scrambled from the room in what he assumed was a search for Lavender. People were staring with mixed shock and annoyance at the sight of the running Indian girl, and he immediately also turned his allure down again.

"What did you tell her?", Louise asked curiously.

"Not much. I just told her that I don't just forgive and forget. She was the one asking for a way to prove that she was sorry. I just gave her a suggestion", he said smiling slightly.

"What was the suggestion?", Fleur enquired.

"That will stay between me and her", he answered with a grin, before turning back to the rest of the group. "So any more questions or things you want to get off your chest?"

"You've become so cold Harry, so… so vicious… What have happened to you?", Hermione asked quietly.

"What happened to _him_? You did that's what", Louise shouted. "You small-minded pests are what happened to him. But because he grew up and left you all behind, you all moan and whine at him, and make him out to be the bad guy. You people despise me", Louise said heatedly, taking all the people by surprise.

"What would you know of that?", Katie Bell retorted. "You haven't seen how he was before, and how he's changed."

Louise was about to respond but Harry held his hand up, preventing her, while keeping his gaze on Katie. "And I suppose you knew me well before, just because we played Quidditch together Katie?"

"I certainly know you better than this… this…", Katie hissed, but never got a chance to finish her sentence before Harry had his wand out pointed at the Gryffindor chaser.

"I would not finish that sentence if I were you Bell", Harry said coldly. "You have neither ground nor reason to badmouth her, and I won't stand for it, you got me?"

Katie didn't nod, but locked her jaw stubbornly and refused to answer him, but kept glaring at Louise, who glared right back.

"I will say this once, and once only. If any of you so much as try to hurt any of these, or I discover that you spread some rumor, I will trace that rumor back to who started and I will make it uncomfortable for that person."

He took a deep breath before fixing Hermione with a stare. "You asked a question, and Louise actually almost nailed it. I know I've changed, but for the better if you ask me. To think I was associated with people such as you before, I almost disgust myself. I realized that my entire life since I had started at Hogwarts, even _before_ I always did what people expected of me, never what I wanted."

"I was expected to be this good little boy who made all the right friends, and otherwise just shut up and follow Dumbledore. I was just supposed to be a drone. But you know what? Not long ago I realized that I have to live my life for myself, not for any of you, so I started living like I _wanted_, instead of how I _should_.", he explained to Hermione, who seemed taken aback.

"You call me a glory hound now, but can you actually mention a time where I've gone looking for this glory, and at what cost it always came?", he sneered at the gathered Gryffindors. "So yea, I've become colder, and yea I've become more vicious, but that's also partially your fault. I won't deny I've changed, and I don't regret it."

He looked at all of them. "Are you happy now? Because I am. This thing you started actually pushed me in the direction of better people than you. Personally I think Fleur here beats all of you hands down. In looks, brains _and_ personality. Too bad there are so many rotten eggs in our school."

"I praise myself lucky to meet people such as Louise, Daphne and Fleur, especially in times such as these where even my own house turns against me", he said with a tender smile directed at the three girls.

"Anyone else have something to say?", he asked as he got off the bed and started gathering his items, sorting them before stuffing them systematically back in his trunk, books went first.

"You actually expect us to believe that you didn't cheat?", Ron asked scathingly. Harry was actually a bit impressed by him; he had not expected him to be able to keep his trap shut for so long.

"I honestly don't care if you believe me or not", he responded as he glossed over the covers of various school books. "But just because I don't care it doesn't mean I won't embarrass you. I mean when I'm the one standing with that trophy you'll wish you'd never thought about throwing me out of the House."

"Yea, we all know how much you dream of winning the Tri-Wizard Cup, but that doesn't mean it'll actually happen", Fleur said in a sing song voice.

He laughed as he threw the last book into his trunk and went on to sort his clothes. "You know those beautiful blue eyes of yours might work on others, but not on me, and I doubt your charm is enough to make me hand victory to you. Besides I don't dream of winning the cup, I know I will win it, so no point spending time fantasizing about it. My dreams however are far more pleasant for me, and in them your beautiful blue eyes _do_ make a difference."

"I resent that", Fleur said in mock-anger.

"No you dont", he countered with a laugh, and then sighed. "At least you don't in my dreams."

"Enough", Dean shouted. He stared heatedly at Harry, and he could feel jealousy warring in many of them. "Why did you have to dishonor us?"

He snorted and looked at him disbelievingly. "Dishonor? You really are dense, you all are. You think I've dishonored your house? If I had stayed here, this house would have gotten a reputation boost it hasn't seen in centuries. But you let your pride get in the way."

He opened a drawer and found the garment he taken from Louise the previous day laying there looking as tempting as ever, and he leered slightly at the girl as he withdrew it from the drawer. Said girl noticed the garment and the look he sent her and blushed heavily, and averted her eyes. He could feel her embarrassment, but it was vastly overshadowed by the overpowering sense of contentment and a strange reverence that was almost arousing in its feeling.

He smiled gently at her, and placed the stringy undergarments into his trunk. She really was a jewel in the rough; the funny thing was that the level of devotion he could feel in her almost matched the one Daphne displayed. Truly it was amazing to find that such devotion existed, and he couldn't help but cherish her.

Lastly he began packing all his assorted items into the trunk, quills, parchment, Quidditch gear. Despite the variety of things he had packed, his trunk was sadly far from filled.

"I got everything I need here", he said as he shrunk the trunk and its contents, and hefted his Firebolt over his shoulder and turned to the three girls. "Are you ready to go?"

All of them nodded and stood up again, and smoothed out whatever wrinkles their clothing had accumulated.

He looked at the rest of the rooms occupants seriously. "Is there anything else? Because unless you give me a damn good reason you will be like air to me from now on? No takers? Great."

"Wait", Alicia Spinnet suddenly. "Your Quidditch badge?"

"It's over there on the bed", he said. "So have you found a new seeker yet?"

"No", she bit out. "We haven't."

"Not surprising. It's hard to live up to my reputation, I'm the best damn seeker in this castle", he said and then waved at them. "Anyways toodles."

Harry and his companions left the room, and with it most of the people that ever meant anything to Harry at one time or another. But fact was that they were in his past, and they had been the one to initiate this breaking of bonds.

As he had expected earlier, the common room was still filled with people, and this time instead of stepping out of the way of his entourage, they stepped in front of him, hindering his departure, which only caused him to quirk his brow at them.

"What?", he asked impatiently. "I've just spent an eternity answering the foolish questions of those hiding in my former dorm room, and I really have no want to also answer yours. So step out of the way, and let me leave this pathetic place behind."

"Just because McGonagall let you off so easily, it doesn't mean we will", a dunderhead of a seventh year said and approached the group.

"What are you going to do?", he said arching a brow. "We're two Tri-Wizards champions, don't you think they will notice if something happens to us?"

Harry was actually already pretty tired, and he was in no mood for dealing with these knuckleheads, so he unleashed his aura, letting it touch everyone in the room except his companions, and instead of the attraction it usually let out, this one was set to induce apprehension, even slight fear, in the people in the common room, and it worked, he could feel it. The increase in his power also meant an increase in the emotional feedback he received, and it played over and over like a big feedback loop. It resulted in a slight headache to simply be around them.

"Would you please step aside, I'd rather not be here any longer than I need to", he said in as friendly tone, but the seventh year scrambled out of his way, and the rest of the students parted before him and let him walk straight to the portrait. He was loath to use his power so freely at such a magnitude, but he really didn't want to deal with this right now, he had after all been pretty accommodating already.

He let out a breath of relief when they finally climbed out through the portrait. "You know, it's actually pretty relieving to be free of all the houses, not having to think about the interhouse rivalry. But it's getting late, and I feel kind of knackered", he said sheepishly.

He adopted a serious stance and turned to the two Beauxbaton students. "Could you two give a moment alone with Daphne? In return I will even escort you back to the Ravenclaw tower."

The two girls looked dubiously at Daphne, but eventually relented, but Harry could feel a spark of jealousy in both of them, though the strange contentment still oozed of Louise and a quiet confidence seemed to have settled on Fleur. Both girls nodded their assent.

He smiled at them before pulling Daphne a little further away, and handed her his shrunken trunk, and his Firebolt. "Please take these back to our quarters, and I'll see you soon enough, I'll just walk these two back to their tower, and I'll be back. Oh, if you have time unpack my stuff in the head bedroom would you?"

"Of course", she replied immediately. "I will go now then. See you later."

"I won't be long", he said with a smile and briefly caressed her hand, which went unseen by the two older girls. As he walked back to the two French girls, Daphne walked in the opposite direction, towards his quarters. She had that unique sway in her hips, an enticing way of walking that simply just aroused his sexuality, causing his blood to sing.

"Shall we get going ladies?", he said charmingly and held a hand out to each of them.

"Of course my fine gentleman", Louise giggled and grabbed his arm, followed moments later by Fleur who grabbed his other arm, and they spent a few silent minutes walking down the hallways, slowly making their way to the Ravenclaw tower.

"Harry, I hope you don't mind me asking. But is there something between you and Daphne?", Fleur asked cautiously.

"It's… complicated and hard to explain", he responded after a having collected his thoughts.

"We have time", Louise said.

"Believe me, you and everyone else will know soon enough", he smiled at both of them. "Besides my head is everywhere right now, and I doubt I would make much sense."

"I will settle with that for now, so long as you promise to tell me the entire story in the very near future", Fleur replied with a smile herself.

"I second that", Louise said and leaned her head on his shoulder, totally ignoring the glare Fleur sent at her.

"I think I can agree to that", he chuckled, as they arrived at the portrait that was the entrance to the Ravenclaw tower. "Ahh, we're here."

"How do you know the entrance to the Ravenclaw tower?", Fleur asked suspiciously.

He gave her a lopsided smile. "That's one of my secrets, one which could prove to be useful."

"I don't doubt that, but it makes me a little nervous as to what you will do with the information", she said, then smiled lecherously and leaned closer to his ear, and whispered so that only he could hear, despite Louise only being a head away. "… is what I should say. But I wouldn't mind you coming to visit me", she purred. "I hope you won't abuse the knowledge that the password is 'Almus Ops'."

He smirked at the insinuation, if it could even be called that.

"And I think you should know", she said in equally low tones, while Louise still contended herself with nuzzling his shoulder. "I don't intend to lose, I will be the one to run away with your heart, and I think I should tell you right now; I always come out on top."

A silly grin worked its way onto his face as he found that he liked this part of Fleur's attitude. He didn't exactly mind beautiful girls fighting over him; on the contrary it only served to further boost his considerable confidence.

He winked. "You should probably be on your way before my mind becomes too filled with bad thoughts to let either of you go."

"Oh, I don't know if it would be that bad", Louise mused.

He shook his head amusedly. "Silence minx, don't tempt the heart of a young man."

Louise pouted but let go of his arm and disappeared through the portrait leaving only him and Fleur out there. However no words were uttered, Fleur just looked at him quietly.

Suddenly she leaned forward and touched her lips to his, in a chaste kiss. Her soft lips tenderly caressing his in a small display of emotion, and his mind went blank as he reciprocated the gesture just as tenderly. It wasn't fierce or passionate, but short and sweet, but still served to convey just as much emotion. Her lips caressing his were like silk, and he gently cupped her cheek in his hand, before pulling back.

She smiled an unearthly soft smile and a second later she was through the portrait as well, leaving Harry standing alone in the hallway, feeling the lingering touch of her kiss on his lips.

His mind was elsewhere as he wandered back towards his new quarters. He met few people on his way to the third floor, and those he did carefully avoided him like he had some contagious disease.

When he entered his new quarters he immediately noticed that a fire was crackling in the hearth, and cozy warmth permeated the room. The only source of illumination in the room was the hearth, it the otherwise dark room was scarcely lighted, casting long shadows.

He took a small moment to take in the sight of his new home, the place where he would live in the remainder of his time at Hogwarts. He would spend evenings, afternoons and mornings here, in a relatively quiet place.

He heard footfalls and looked over to see Daphne standing in the doorway leading to the smaller hallway. Her eyes looked at him with intensity and devotion was shining brightly in her. He briefly wondered if the pledging ritual they had performed had somehow changed her, more than he had initially thought. But be it true or not, it hadn't changed her into something unrecognizable, she was very much still Daphne.

Her posture was submissive, but by no means was it weak. She radiated a strength that was both flexible and iron-hard.

"Welcome back Master", she greeted him quietly, a smile playing on her lips. He could also feel a silent joy permeating her very being. "I have done as you asked and the master bedroom is now ready for you."

"Good", he replied with a smile as well and settled down in the couch. Truly relaxing for the first time that day, staring into the flickering flames. "This day has been more taxing than I had thought it would be."

He stretched and laid down belly first on the couch, and let out a breath, while still staring into the hearth.

He sensed Daphne approach. "You seem very tense, allow me to help you", she said softly and sat astride his upper thighs and ran her hands along his spine. "May I?", she asked, pulling lightly on his shirt to indicate what she meant.

He grunted his assent, and lifted to allow her nimble fingers to peal his shirt off, and he slumped down into the couch again immediately after. Soon after he felt her hands gently run down his back, soothing his muscles, causing him to relax even more. He felt her hands settle at the bottom of his neck, and begin working on the tense muscles that were there. Though it hurt slightly in the beginning it soon became soothing as his muscles gradually relaxed.

"Could I ask a question?", Daphne enquired softly.

"I will hide nothing from you Daphne", he replied, and he wasn't lying. She would never betray his trust, and likewise he would never betray hers, that was their arrangement, what he had agreed to when accepting her proposal.

"That's good", she said with a laugh. "Because I have several questions."

He chuckled. "Then fire away."

She gently applied pressure on a small cluster of muscles under his left shoulder blade, and he groaned slightly. "Where were you last night?"

"Ahh, so the rumor mill doesn't work as quickly as I had thought. But to answer your question I was with Louise yesterday. I spent some time coming to grips with something important."

"I thought so", she mused. "What about this new power of yours? You are charming Master, but not charming enough to send Patil into the condition that she was today. It felt like she had a primal need to satisfy you, to be acknowledged by you."

"That's where you're wrong. At least at one count", he replied. "A little more to the left. Ahh, right there."

"Whoever says charm is just a physical manifestation, what happened to Parvati today was only my charm or allure I should probably say", he continued, and felt Daphne momentarily falter in her ministrations. "I can see you are starting you catch on. Tell me, what do you think I did?"

She was silent for a little while. "If I were to guess, I would say that you somehow affected her emotion, pity and remorse, so strongly that she felt the need to beg for your forgiveness, am I right?"

"Yes, but I sense you want to say something more."

"Master, if I didn't know any better I would say that you were some sort of mutant Veela, one that could affect each and every emotion, like how the entire Gryffindor common room was afraid of you. But that's impossible for two reasons, Veela can only affect attraction as far as I know, and there are only female Veela", she reasoned. "I don't know what to think."

"Well you were not far off the mark. But keep an open mind for what I'm about to tell you, and bear in mind that I don't know everything", he said.

"I will", she responded immediately and moved her ministrations to his lower back.

"Veela blood and their ancestry and heritage are funny things, you see you it takes almost a millennia to breed out the Veela gene if it has somehow been bred into the family. For females the gene is active, as evidenced by improved natural looks and an aura of attraction. But everyone already knows that", he explained quietly, enjoying her massage. "Most witches and wizards just believe that any male offspring of the Veela will just be a completely normal boy, without any hint of Veela ancestry. But those that actually took the time to study this would discover that the Veela gene was just dormant in the male genes, it was so far buried that nothing would be able to awaken it."

"But it did with you I assume", she said thoughtfully. "But why did it? What caused it to awaken?"

"Honestly I have no idea, though I reckon it has something to do with Fleur", he pondered. "She has recently had some weird happenings with her own Veela heritage, though I am not completely sure what. But regardless of what caused it I am still and probably will forever be the only male Veela."

"It makes sense, and then again it doesn't", she said and he could almost hear the cogs turning inside her head. "If the gene was irrevocably dormant it shouldn't have been possible… but then again this is magic we're talking about."

"Don't fret too much Daphne, it'll give you a headache, and wrinkles", he chuckled. "The only thing we can do about is to keep a journal of sorts. You know write down whatever changes that happens along the way, and I also have to test the scope of my powers, what I can and can't do."

"It sounds like we have our work cut out for us", she responded and pushed down rather heavily on a very tense muscle on his lower back.

"Indeed we do", he replied after a bit. "But I think testing these skills will prove to be rather fun."

DB -

She sighed.

She was sitting in her own little corner in the office while people all around her was bustling by absorbed in their work or conversations.

Her desk was small and cramped, and piles of paper and reports were stacked on table, though it was far from a prestigious job, it was what she wanted. Starting out as a journalist was by no means instant success. No, you had to work your way up from the ground, if you were lucky you would be able to write articles instantly, but never anything substantial. She had been lucky that she had applied for a job at The Prophet at a time when they were low on employees and had made a good first impression with the editor.

But lucky or not, working her way up from writing about the market for new inks to actually writing about the increase in the amount of garden gnomes in the British suburban areas. To an outsider there might not be that much a difference, but at the Prophet it was the reason she was bumped up from page forty-three to page thirty-nine, but that was a year ago and she had really still not gotten anywhere since then. For example today she had handed in her newest article which was about a new use for the Mimbletonia plant to help prevent restless sleep.

However she had during all these meaningless articles excelled in every single one of them, and done her very best as a reporter and she hoped it would soon pay off.

But still that didn't change that she was now looking over folders full of possible new articles she could write next, and none of them looked very appealing. But like it or not, it was still her job.

"Geez, couldn't Celia have given me something more fun to work with", she muttered, laying her head on her arms and let out a tired breath.

"I'm pretty sure you shouldn't let the editor hear that", a voice snickered.

She jumped up and spun around to come to face with the editors assistant, and sighed in relief. "Don't scare me like that Elle."

Elle laughed. "Or what is little Penelope going to do? Write up a little article about how naughty I am?"

"Don't make me do it", Penelope grumbled. "So what do I owe the honor of the esteemed Elle, the editor's right hand woman coming by?"

Elle adopted a hurt expression. "I can't even visit my little old friend?"

Penelope scoffed. "If you say so. So are you we still on for tomorrow? It's been weeks since I've been out."

"I should hope so, I just bought this new top yesterday and it looks gorgeous. Michael and I are so going to show everyone up", she said with a smirk that turned into a frown. "So is Percy up for it tonight or is he still as tied up in his work."

Penelope groaned. "Don't even mention it", she mumbled. "Sometimes I think he loves his job more than he loves me."

"Don't be so down, he will come around eventually when he stands to see what he is losing", she then shrugged. "And if not… well then you're better off without him."

Elle then smiled wickedly at her, and she felt a strange chill run down her back. "But that's not why I'm here."

Penelope pointed accusingly at her and accused her in an indignant tone. "I knew it. You never just come by, so what is it?"

Elle laughed. "The editor wanted to talk to you, and I don't think being late is a very good impression to make."

She stood up with wide eyes. "You… You… Bitch!"

"Guilty", Elle replied cheerily.

She cursed Elle as she hurried about tidying up her appearance, before storming away from her desk towards the editor's office.

"I swear you will pay for this Elle", she shouted back.

"Dream on dear sweet little Penny", she retorted.

She just ignored her and hurried, weaving through the staff until she arrived at the door of the editor. She took a moment to get a hold of herself, and reached out to grab the handle, but then froze.

Why would the editor want to talk to her now? Her articles had been as good as they could be when one took into consideration what she had to work with. Maybe…

"You can come in now Miss Clearwater."

Penelope jumped slightly, but took a deep breath and turned then handle to the editor's office. The room wasn't that luxurious, when it came down to it was actually were spartan. But the many newspaper clippings and diplomas, as well as the piles of paper on the desk spoke of authority. It had the air of command, and when you were in here, you stood at attention. She unconsciously straightened her back and took calm confident steps toward the desk.

Behind the desk, an elderly woman sat looking over several pieces of parchment. A quick look at Penelope revealed steely brown eyes, but those quickly turned back to the writing in front of her.

"You called for me ma'am", Penelope stated nervously.

"Sit down", the editor command, and she almost dropped down into the chair in front of the desk.

"You've been with us for how long Miss Clearwater?", she asked still looking at the parchment and making small notes on another.

Penelope fidgeted nervously but answered in a steady voice. "Close to two years."

"You write mostly about domestic affairs", she stated, it wasn't a question. But she still cringed a little.

"Yes ma'am", she responded. "That is correct."

"Don't be ashamed. I've read your articles; they're good for one so new to the job. But you are of course aware that you cannot jump to the sensation head titles, but I have faith you will get there eventually", she said, with her eyes still glued to her desk.

Penelope nearly glowed with pride. "Thank you, that means a lot."

"You have a pretty impressive record. Never missed a deadline and I never had to correct anything or send it back to you for rephrasing. It's very impressive for a rookie journalist. The last one I remember having such a track record was me."

"What about Bickerson? He's like the best we have on staff", she blurted out.

The editor laughed gruffly. "Who, John? That kid brings me no end of trouble. He might have a talent, but he lets it go to his head. But he is still a valuable member of this staff and yes, he is a very good journalist."

Penelope sat still in shock. She had always sort of looked up to John Bickerson, he was the star journalist, the one who did nothing wrong. It was sort of depressing to discover this about one of your role models.

"You're aware that Hogwarts is hosting the Tri-Wizard tournament right?", the editor asked suddenly, breaking her from her thoughts.

"Yes ma'am", she responded.

"Don't call me ma'am, makes me feel old, and I get enough of that at home. My name is Cecilia, or as I believe I've told you before, you can call me Celia. I prefer to be on first name basis with my journalists", she admonished. "That being said I need someone to go to Hogwarts to cover the tournament, would you be interested?"

Penelope was baffled. Of all things, this wasn't what she had thought would happen in here. Though honestly she'd had no idea of what actually would happen. She opened and closed her mouth a couple of times, but no sound came out.

"Merlin child, I would think you would be more enthusiastic about this", the elderly woman said, looking sternly at her.

She shook her head. "But wouldn't Bickerson be a better choice? He is clearly experienced enough to handle this."

"John has unfortunately had a little accident, and will be first be back to work in a couple of weeks."

"How about Skeeter?", she asked puzzled. This was simply too big a chance, odds were greater that someone was pulling her leg.

The elder woman huffed. "Skeeter may be good, but she has a tendency to embellish the stories, so in the light that I'm missing my head journalist, and you show extraordinary talent I would say you are a fine choice. Besides I'm not picking you just because you show talent. That would be a stupid move of me. I suspect since it hasn't been that long since you've graduated from Hogwarts the students will have an easier time dealing with you, and it will in turn also make the job easier for you."

"I don't know what to say", Penelope responded, completely dumbstruck.

"If I were you I would say yes", the editor replied with a small smile. "Consider this your breakthrough chance. If you do well enough, the logical course would be to let you handle the remaining tasks and anything regarding it as well. Normally you wouldn't be giving this chance before at least a couple of more years had gone by, but the situation works in your favor. So what do you say?"

"Yes, I would be honored to", she said formally, though she was beaming.

"Good, now get going", Cecilia said and waved her out. "And don't make me regret this."

"You won't I promise, thank you for this chance", she said as she swiftly exited the office.

As soon as she had closed the door she was jumped by an excited Elle. "So what did she want?"

Penelope responded in a sing-song voice. "I'm not telling."

Elle pouted. "Aww, come on. Please?"

"Nope", she said cheerily. "Payback's a bitch, huh?"

AN: Hope you enjoyed it