A/N: Wow. What a response to the first chapter. 70-odd reviews!! Holy crap I feel so appreciated. Here is the next chapter; I hope it answers some questions about Harry and specifically, his relationship with the Beauxbatons students.
The next morning, the Hogwarts students sleepily came down to the Great Hall, the events of the previous night forgotten in the haze of drowsiness and hunger that morning provides. They were mostly assembled and eating quietly when the doors opened. The French teenagers entered smoothly, the students quietly talking in French to each other. The last to arrive was Harry, with Fleur on his arm and Gabrielle swinging a clasped hand on the other side.
Harry stopped and looked around the hall which had yet to notice him for the most part. He sat Fleur and Gabrielle down in their seats and gave Fleur a quick chaste kiss before straightening. He turned and made his way to the Gryffindor table.
Harry peered up and down the table before spotting a relatively empty area near a slouching boy with mouse brown hair. He sat across from the boy and began to eat. Whispers spread up and down the table, and the boy looked up fearfully at Harry who smiled through a mouthful of croissant.
"Harry Potter." Harry placed his food down and extended a hand towards the Hogwarts student.
"Nev- Neville Longbottom." Neville shook Harry's hand quickly before withdrawing his own. Harry knitted his brow for a moment in thought before smiling.
"Alice and Frank's boy?" Neville's eyes widened as he nodded hurriedly. By now, the majority of Gryffindor table was listening in. Harry smiled again. "Your parents were friends of my parents. I'm sorry what happened to them. From what I've heard, great people, you should be proud of them." Neville's normal look of meek acceptance disappeared for a moment, replaced by determination.
"I am. Very proud. Just wish I could be a better son, you know?" Neville's normal look returned and Harry arched an eyebrow in a silent question. Neville opened his mouth to respond, forgetting that he was talking to a near-stranger. "I'm not that skilled magically…a lot of people say I'm a squib." Harry's eyes narrowed and he cleared his throat.
"I find it hard to believe that you could be a squib, with a family such as yours. Don't ever let anyone tell you that you aren't good enough or skilled enough. Magic is about will, and if my hunch is right about you, you have more than enough will to prove everyone wrong." Harry's voice remained steady and quiet, as if stating a proven fact to Neville. His voice held none of the pity and sympathy that most people had when they talked to him about magic. Neville looked down at his plate, toying with his eggs.
The moment was interrupted as a shadow crossed over Harry. He smiled without turning. "Hello love, Gabby, Arielle." A snort was heard as Fleur sat on Harry's right, leaning slightly in to Harry. Gabby climbed in to her sister's lap and a slim redhead with smoldering green eyes, darker than Harry's shade, sat on Harry's other side. "Can I introduce you to Neville Longbottom? Neville, this is Fleur and Gabrielle Delacour, and Arielle Rouger. Arielle is quite the herbology expert in our school." Neville's eyes glued on to Arielle, who blushed prettily and looked down.
"Stop Harry, I'm not that good." The redhead spoke in halting English and Harry waved her off before turning and talking quietly to Fleur. Neville smiled shyly.
"I like herbology. Professor Sprout, she's our herbology professor, says that if I work for it, I could be a Master one day." Arielle smiled at him and the two launched in to a discussion of plants and seeds, Neville's normal shyness forgotten. Harry smiled slyly.
The meal continued for the morning, Neville and Arielle engrossed in their discussion. Harry exchanged small kisses with Fleur every once in a while and talked cheerfully with Gabrielle, who watched him with complete adoration.
Finally, breakfast was finished and the students rose. The Hogwarts students went off to class while the Beauxbatons students followed Professor Dumbledore and Headmistress Maxime, as the English wizard led them on a tour of the school.
The tour was finished in the early evening, and the Beauxbatons students marched back to their tower where they prepared for the next day, as their classes would be starting. Harry turned with Fleur but stopped as Dumbledore cleared his throat.
"Mr. Potter, may I request your presence, along with the elder Ms. Delacour and your Headmistress, in my office?" Harry eyed the Headmaster before nodding. He kissed Gabby on her forehead before letting her run and catch up to Arielle and a petite brunette she was walking with.
The three French citizens followed the Headmaster down the winding halls before they arrived in front of a menacing looking gargoyle which jumped aside at the presence of the Headmaster. He led them up the winding stairs before entering a spacious office. Dumbledore sat behind his desk, signaling for Harry and Fleur to sit in two unoccupied seats. Madame Maxime sat behind them. Also in the room were four people. A stern-looking woman, with a tight grey bun on the back of her head, eyed Harry critically. A sneering man with black eyes and greasy black hair that hung limply around his face stood in the corner watching the whole scene. Harry remembered that this man had probed his mind the night before and Harry narrowed his eyes.
The final two men were sitting in two chairs, watching Harry with strange looks on their faces. The first was an older man, with lines crossing his face and brown hair with many streaks of gray. The second was taller and broader, with midnight black hair and a weary, almost haunted look. Harry's mind paused for a moment before he hazarded a guess as to who these men were.
Dumbledore smiled through the stern looks everyone was throwing around. "Mr. Potter, Ms. Delacour, may I introduce Professors McGonagall, Snape, Lupin and Black." Harry's guess was confirmed and he nodded briefly to all introduced. "We shall begin once our final guests have arrived." Harry sat back and watched the people in the room, holding on the Fleur's hand loosely.
A second longer, the door burst open and two students stepped in. The first was a tall redhead with gangly looks and soft blue eyes. The second was a slim girl with brown hair that looked like it, left untreated, would be a bushy mess. Harry speculated that amongst Hogwarts students, she was probably quite attractive. He smiled inwardly as he played with Fleur's fingers. He inwardly supposed he was a bit spoiled.
Dumbledore opened his mouth to begin but Harry cleared his throat. Snape glared at him but Dumbledore nodded for Harry to speak. "Professor Dumbledore, may I enquire why a Death Eater is employed in this school?" The room fell dead silent at the question and Snape trembled as he attempted to contain his rage.
Dumbledore eyed Harry. "Professor Snape made a mistake many years ago and has long since atoned for those actions. Sadly, the evidence of that mistake cannot be removed from his body or soul. May I enquire how you managed to know Snape's former…occupation?" Harry arched an eyebrow at Dumbledore's final word.
"I can see his aura, and his left arm is cloaked in blackness so evil that I feel ill being near him." The Englishmen gaped at Harry except for Snape who seethed with anger.
Dumbledore regarded Harry for a moment for clapping softly. "May I introduce the final members of our meeting, Ronald Weasley and Hermione Granger, our Head Boy and Girl this year?" Harry nodded briskly at the students who could only stare back at him.
Dumbledore continued. "Now, I was wondering if you need anything after your first night here." Harry remained silent, just watching the members of the room while holding on to Fleur's hand.
Madame Maxime answered, though the question was arguably directed at Harry. "We are fine Headmaster Dumbledore. The tower is a bit cold, and we are used to the warmth of Marseilles. But we will cope." Dumbledore smiled warmly at the response.
"Now to the main purpose of our meeting. I wish to see some evidence of Harry's actions, to validate your claims." Harry snorted and muttered something under his breath in French, drawing a giggle from Fleur and a fellow snort from her Headmaster. But Harry sighed and drew his wand. He placed it at his temple and withdrew a fine white thread. He deposited it in the Pensieve that Dumbledore provided. Dumbledore muttered something under his breath and a white projection popped over the desk.
The students were trembling as they huddled in the Beauxbatons Great Hall. Whispers of a giant snake ran through the crowd. The view was centered on a young boy with jet-black hair, who stood next to a blonde girl who held his arm in a fierce grip.
Harry's voice broke the silence. "I was 12 I believe." The watchers jumped at his voice.
A great banging was heard against the door and the students screamed. The teachers quickly cast a golden dome around the students, and announced that it would protect them from the creature's killer gaze. Harry held on to Fleur who was crying against him.
The doors burst open and a huge snake slid in, his eyes bottomless pits of yellow. He paused, apparently shocked that the humans weren't falling over from meeting it's gaze, as most of the wand-wielders usually did. As the students watched, the snake began attacking the teachers, who fired spells against its venom green hide. The spells ricocheted harmlessly off as the snake thrashed, knocking teachers left and right.
A scream was heard and Madame Maxime leapt at the beast, carrying huge battleaxes that would have crushed a smaller person. Just before the basilisk crushed her against the wall, she drove the axes in to the snake's eyes just as the shield fell.
The snake hissed in pain and Harry shivered as he heard the threats and oaths. He saw all the teachers unconscious or dead. He saw the snake sniff the air, and turn hungrily towards the students.
Harry stood shakily. He whispered in French. "No. I can't let the children die." Harry closed his eyes in prayer and jumped as two bundles dropped next to him. He shakily stooped and un-wrapped them. Two short swords gleamed in the firelight emanating from the torches. The snake paused as it smelled the magic that seemed to roll of the swords
Harry slipped away from Fleur who cried after him. "No, 'Arry!" He crept to the snake but was forced to leap aside as the beast darted forward fangs extended. This continued for a few minutes, Harry coming closer to the beast's fangs.
Finally, Harry leaned against the corner of the room, trapped by the beast. Harry was covered with small scrapes and bruises. The snake hovered above him, savoring the kill. The cries of the students went unheard as Harry focused on the destroyed yellow eyes and gleaming white fangs above him.
Harry's eyes moved to the students and he met Fleur's streaming blue orbs, her mouth frozen in a silent scream of Harry's name.
The snake struck; mouth open and fangs extended towards him. With a scream, Harry surprised the snake by diving forward. With a sickening crunch, Harry watched as both short swords sliced through the roof of the snake's mouth, drilling through the beast's brains and killing it instantly.
Harry's mind leapt for a moment before the pain hit. He looked down and saw both fangs, dripping with a sickly green venom, extending through both of his biceps, and out through his triceps. With a groan, he pulled the swords out, tearing both fangs out of the Basilisk's mouth. He stepped back, stumbling slightly. The snake collapsed to the ground
Harry moved a few feet away, before dropping to his knees. He dimly heard the swords clatter to the ground. His vision was clouding. Using the last of his draining strength, he pulled both fangs out slowly, sending pain lancing through his arms and torso. He saw a blonde figure race toward him while another ran to the huddled form that he knew was Madame Maxime
Through his clouding vision, Harry saw Fleur's face appear, tears streaming down her face. In muddled French, she screamed. "Harry, no! Hold on." He watched, mystified as the French girl grabbed one of the blades and sliced her palm, wincing as the blood dripped out. Harry frowned, trying to protest what she was doing. Why would she hurt herself? He killed the beast for her
With a gasp, he felt his strength leave him. He buckled and fell on to his back. Fleur kneeled next to him. She pulled his left arm up and pressed her bleeding palm to his bloody upper arm. He groaned in relief as the pain disappeared for a moment. She repeated the action with his other arm.
He smiled as she held him, his head on her lap. "Harry…this is going to hurt but you are going to live." He frowned; the pain was gone, wasn't it?
Just as the thought hit him, his upper arms exploded in an inferno of pain. He heard someone screaming and wondered who it was. The inferno raced up his arms and spread throughout his body. He felt the sweet release of unconsciousness coming and he smiled wearily.
"Don't worry Fleur de Lis. I saved the day right?" She nodded through her tears, holding his head. "I'm a hero right?" She smiled at her nickname
"Oui Harry. You are a hero. You are my hero." He smiled and closed his eyes, slipping in to darkness.
Everyone stepped back from the Pensieve. Harry sat in the chair wordlessly and Fleur dropped in his lap. She held his neck and leant in to his chest. He immediately wrapped his arms around her waist and held her close. No one spoke and Madame Maxime placed a hand on Harry's shoulder in support.
Dumbledore settled back in to his seat. "Well Mr. Potter, that certainly was an impressive display. May I ask how you survived the bites?" Harry wordlessly slid his sleeves up, revealing matching circles on his bicep and tricep where the fang had pierced his arm. The circles were a sickly green shade.
Madame Maxime patted his shoulder. "As you know Professor, Ms. Delacour here is a half veela." Breaths were drawn in from the professors and Ron and Hermione. "One of the lesser known traits of veela is their blood. Specifically, the near phoenix level ability to heal venomous bites. Normally, it is not enough to counteract directly injected basilisk venom but it seems that Fleur's love of Harry and her desire to keep him alive made her blood more powerful. According to our healers, the combination of veela blood and basilisk venom gave him some enhanced physical strength, particularly in his upper body." No one in the room caught the hidden smile Harry held, as his face was hidden by Fleur's hair.
"And those blades? Not just any swords could have defeated the basilisk so effortlessly." Harry stood, and reaching under his cloak, withdrew two swords from seemingly nowhere. He spun the blades quickly until the dangerous ends extended upwards, past his curled thumb. The short swords were elegant and simple in design. On the pommel on the hilt, an ornate J was etched in to the swirling green stone. Dumbledore studied them before looking at Harry with a question gaze.
Harry sighed. "These are Lost Blades of Joan of Arc." He spun them again before depositing them back in their sheaths hidden within his cloak. Everyone was surprised; the blades of the legendary heroine of France had long been thought lost.
The room was silent once again after the answer. Dumbledore watched Harry carefully; his steepled fingers perched in front of his face. Snape and McGonagall also watched the young man, with differing expressions. Snape sneered at the boy, rushing foolishly off in to danger. McGonagall eyed the boy, wondering how the school would be different if he attended Hogwarts. Sirius and Remus watched Harry mournfully.
The young man in question held his girlfriend, his head turned down and slightly buried in her silvery blonde hair. After a few moments of silence, Dumbledore sighed. "Well, I believe this should be all for tonight. Perhaps we may all meet here tomorrow night, for a little more evidence of Mr. Potter's history?" Harry glanced up at Madame Maxime, who nodded to Dumbledore. The Beauxbatons students stood and left the room.
"Mr. Weasley, Ms. Granger, I trust tonight will be kept in your strictest confidences." Both students nodded and exited the room.
Snape sat stiffly in the empty chair. "Albus, I can't believe that fool of a boy did that. A Gryffindor if I ever saw one." McGonagall glared at the Potions professor.
"Severus, I would be honored if that boy was one of my Gryffindors. A 12 year old boy, in a strange school, fought one of the deadliest creatures in history, and won. And survived it's venom to top it all!" McGonagall and Snape glared at each other. Remus sighed.
"Albus, I believe that Harry needs to know." The room fell silent as Albus eyed the DADA professor.
"I do not believe it wise to inform him of the prophecy at this time. We cannot let it get out to the public or worse Voldemort." Snape flinched at the name and Sirius spoke.
"Albus, he blocked Snape's mental attack without breaking a sweat. We need Harry and we aren't going to get him back by withholding information that will change his life." Albus leaned back in his chair and remained silent. He nodded briefly.
"I will think on it. Goodnight." The teachers bid him goodnight and left for their quarters, Snape and McGonagall eyeing each other angrily. Dumbledore remained in his chair for long after.
"What will we do with you Mr. Potter?"
Classes began the next day. At breakfast, the newspaper had an article on the reappearance of Harry Potter. Harry rolled his eyes and incendio took care of it. Sitting with Neville, he ignored the people blatantly looking from the paper to him.
The seventh year Beauxbatons had Charms first, along with the Ravenclaws and Hufflepuffs. The class was nervous as just before the bell rang, Harry led a crowd of perhaps 15 stunning young women in to the room. Harry sat next to Fleur. He conversed freely with the other girls and Fleur didn't mind when he would hug them. The Hogwarts students watched the behavior and rumors began.
The lesson went well, as after a brief introduction, Professor Flitwick carried as if it was a normal class. The French students were thankful of that and thoroughly enjoyed the diminutive professor's class.
However, their next class was Potions, down in the dungeons with the Gryffindors and the Slytherins. Harry again escorted the students in just before the bell rang. The final student slipped in just as the bell rang and the door slammed shut.
The Beauxbatons students, due to their late entrance, found themselves in the seats between the Gryffindor and Slytherin sections. Harry cast a wary eye between the silent groups of students.
Snape stepped in and gazed at the class. "Well, we are finally graced with the presence of our French counterparts and their hero." Harry groaned and Fleur gripped his hand tightly.
Snape sneered. "Mr. Potter, welcome to Hogwarts. As you have so graciously deigned to grace us with your presence, may I ask you a few questions?" Harry sighed but nodded reluctantly. "Tell me, what would I get if I added powdered root of asphodel to an infusion of wormwood?"
"A very potent sleeping potion known as the Draught of Living Death." Snape scowled but moved on.
"Luck is with you apparently. I need a bezoar. Where should I look?" Harry rolled his eyes.
"In the stomach of a goat. A bezoar will save you from almost every poison, the exceptions being certain poisons used by Voldemort." The class flinched heavily and Snape whitened. The French students rolled their eyes at the fear of a word.
"Arrogance is not a becoming virtue Mr. Potter. And stupidity will get you killed in the present climate. Now, what is the difference between monkshood and wolfsbane?"
Harry sighed once more. Clearly everything he heard about Severus Snape was true. "None sir. They are the same thing, and are also known as aconite. And calling a psychopath by his name rather than some ridiculous hyphenation you Englishmen use because you fear using his name is not stupidity."
Snape looked almost catatonic with rage. "Mr. Potter, you will serve detention for me tonight. Get out of my classroom." Harry narrowed his eyes. He gathered his books and stood.
"Professor, don't wait up for me tonight. I may only serve detentions with my Headmistress. I will gladly accompany her this evening; her company is vastly improved over yours. She has a tendency to judge people for themselves; rather than punishing the son for the sins of his father." Snape froze and his hand went instinctively to his wand, only to see Harry walking out, followed by every other Beauxbatons student. The class remained silent before Snape stomped in to his office, forgetting the presence of the Hogwarts students. No one moved until the class was over, and they exited without a word.
The news of Harry's confrontation with Snape spread throughout the school within an hour. Harry snorted at the whispers and eyes watching him. Later in the afternoon, Harry, Fleur, Arielle and a girl with short blond hair named Marie were on the lawn kicking a football around. Unlike their English counterparts, the French school's main sport was football, as the girls were mainly discouraged from riding brooms, as it tended to preemptively break the hymens of girls if they aren't careful
Harry and Gabrielle loved to play, and were juggling the ball back and forth while Fleur, Arielle and Marie were sitting on the grass giggling quietly.
"Uh…Harry?" Harry caught the ball on the top of his foot, and balanced it there for a moment. He flipped it up behind him and back-heeled it over his head and it landed in front of the girls. They shrieked and Fleur started cursing at Harry in French.
Harry chuckled before turning to the sound. He saw a shorter, more buxom redhead with a different shade than the Weasley boy from the night before. Next to her was Neville who smiled shyly at Harry. The final member of the group was a slim Indian girl. Neville stepped forward. "Harry, this is Padma Patil and Susan Bones. Susan is a Hufflepuff and Padma is a Ravenclaw, all our year." Harry nodded smiling to the girls who nodded back, the redhead blushing prettily.
Padma stepped forward slowly, her eyes downcast. "We just wanted to say…thanks for not taking any crap from Snape. He has been torturing the Gryffindors, Hufflepuffs and Ravenclaws for years." Harry grinned. Fleur, Gabby, Arielle and Marie had come up behind them.
"No problem, he's a bully. And there is one way to deal with a bully. No fear. I have dealt with far bigger fools than him." The conversation relaxed after that, Neville and Arielle immediately breaking off in a side conversation. After their initial discussion on herbology the day before, they had discovered they had much in common and became good friends.
They had settled on to the grass. Padma was talking quietly, giggling with Fleur, Arielle and Marie. Susan and Harry sat quietly, Gabby lying on the grass with her head on Harry's lap.
Susan took a deep breath. "So Harry, it must be great being the only guy in a school full of pretty girls." Harry laughed while he stroked Gabby's hair softly.
"Yeah it's nice. But Fleur is it for me. I love her." Susan sighed. She sneaked a glance at Harry. She had a crush on him growing up and his appearance hadn't lessened her feelings.
"If you don't mind me asking, everyone is wondering how you got to Beauxbatons. What happened after You-Know-Who attacked?" Harry sighed. He closed his eyes for a moment before meeting Susan's gaze.
"It's okay. Everyone in Beauxbatons knows. Basically, I was sent to my aunt and uncle after my parents died. I lived there until I was 6. They…they were pretty rough with me." Gabby rolled over and sat on Harry's lap, hugging him. Harry smiled at her.
"Thanks Gabby. So I ran away. I discovered I could do magic when I was 5 or 6, just before running away. I lived on the streets until I was 9 when I heard about Hogwarts and the wizarding world. I read up on Hogwarts and what happened. I was shocked to find out about my history and family." By now, Fleur had returned to Harry's side and was holding his hand. The other girls sat behind him, Marie rubbing his back. A small crowd of Hogwarts students had gathered, mostly the younger years.
"By that time, I was in France and I didn't want to go back to England. I had acquired a reputation by the muggles here. I think they called me Oliver Pickpocket." A gasp was heard and a muggle born stepped through the crowd.
"Yeah I remember that. They say you escaped from the Bobbies at least ten times." Harry laughed to himself, remembering the times on the streets.
"So I found my way to Beauxbatons just before my eleventh birthday and met with Madame Maxime. She allowed me to attend the school, and managed to keep it a secret." The crowd was silent as Harry leaned in to Fleur's touch a bit.
His face adopted a peaceful look, as he remembered his home school. "I grew up there. It's the most beautiful place in the world. The sunsets are beautiful, and the buildings are majestic. It is my home and I met the most important people in my life there. Fleur. Gabby. Arielle. Hell, all of the students are my friends."
A few whispers and chuckles ran through the Hogwarts listeners. Neville heard it and leaned forward. "Uh Harry…there have been some rumors going around. You clearly are involved with Fleur. Umm…what about the other students?" Another student, hidden by the crowd also yelled something abut Gabrielle.
Harry sighed at Neville and narrowed his eyes at the other person. "I love Fleur and she is the only girl for me." Fleur kissed his cheek lovingly.
She interrupted him. "Not that the other girls wouldn't mind me sharing a bit…" Arielle and Marie giggled their agreements. Harry rolled his eyes and Gabby smacked Fleur playfully.
"No, I am not anything but friends with the other students." Marie rolled her eyes and pushed Harry. He was not expecting it, and fell backwards on to the grass.
"Bah, ignore him. He is much more than a friend. All of the younger girls idolize him. He is like the perfect older brother. He knows everyone's name and their favorite everything. He makes it a point to meet every first year every year and memorize their names." A few awws echoed out from the crowd.
Marie sighed. "I think you could say that all of the older girls, especially the ones in our year, are a little in love with Harry." Harry blushed and Gabrielle giggled against his chest. "But he and Fleur are meant for each other. They were best friends from their first year on. And after Christmas break in our 5th year, they were in love. And all of us agree that if we are going to lose Harry, at least we lost him to a half veela and the most beautiful girl in the school." The French girls all nodded at that as Fleur blushed.
"What about Gabby?" Neville asked the question with an apologetic look on his face.
Harry sighed. "You Englishmen are disgusting." Neville chuckled. "She is very close to me. I stayed summers at Delacour Manor and we grew closer. I think she had a crush on me when we were younger. When I started going out with Fleur, Gabby was disappointed. She recovered though and we are very close. I think of her as my sister in everything but blood." Gabby smiled widely and leaned against Harry.
Marie smiled and nodded to Fleur. The French girl rose and pulled Harry up. Gabby sat down next to Arielle and leaned against the older girl. Harry and Fleur walked away, letting Marie tell the story. Marie saw some questioning looks from the Hogwarts students. "Harry won't admit it, but he really is just the perfect boyfriend. He is sweet, noble, great with children. As what happens in school can show, he is amazingly brave and would throw himself in front of an Avada Kedavra for a first year. He can be a knee-weakening romantic. Not to mention devastatingly handsome and filthy rich. "
A fourth year Beauxbatons student spoke up. "And he can get this look. His eyes blaze and it's just…" All the French girls sighed and nodded emphatically. The English students looked around.
Padma asked the question. "What? It's just what?" The girl blushed as she realized everyone was waiting for her response.
"Safety. Protection. Home." The French girls nodded again. "When you see that look, you just know that there is no way anything can happen to you. He won't let it." Marie smiled at the fourth year, who grinned before returning to her place.
Marie continued. "He doesn't seem to have any of the normal teenage guy stuff. I guess it was a byproduct of essentially growing up with girls for the majority of his life and all of his teenage years. He just knows what girls want from a friend and for Fleur, from a boyfriend."
Marie smiled at a memory. Arielle smiled as well. "He is a friend to every student. A lot of us have boyfriends outside of school and he is great to talk to about them. He knows when to talk, when to listen and when to just be there. Every girl in our year has cried on his shoulder at least once. Fleur is great about it because all the girls make demands on his time and are around him but she never gets jealous." Neville's face, which had been trained on Arielle, fell when she mentioned boyfriends.
Arielle continued. "I was having problems with a boy this summer. He wasn't a boyfriend, but was getting a bit forward. I told Harry and he got this look that sent shivers down my spine. He disappeared for a day and the boy moved across France the next day." Arielle glanced shyly up at Neville who blushed and looked away.
The crowd began to dissipate but Ron stepped through leading a group of seventh years and sat down next to Neville. He smiled at the brown-haired boy but Neville rose and moved away. Surprising him, Arielle also rose and followed the meek Gryffindor.
Harry and Fleur returned and sat down on the grass. Ron frowned at the retreating forms of Arielle and Neville. Ron turned back to Harry and smiled. "Ron Weasley." He gestured to his companions. "This is my roommate Dean Thomas, Dean's girlfriend Lavender Brown. The Indian girl is Parvati, Lavenders best friend and Padma's sister. I think you remember Hermione from last night and that's my sister, Ginny." The named persons nodded or smiled at Harry, who returned the gestures.
Ron turned and looked at Harry. "Harry, I don't mean to be rude, but how did you defeat Marquise?" Harry chuckled a little.
"Bit blunt, aren't you Ron?" The redhead in question grinned cheekily. Harry laughed and shrugged. "I am a bit more powerful that most wizards Ron." Fleur smacked Harry's arm and rolled her eyes. Gabby giggled.
Fleur spoke while she muffled Harry with her hand. "Harry is very powerful. The Headmistress was right; he could have graduated a year ago. The Potter's had a charm placed upon their line, allowing family members to acquire the full knowledge of the family upon their seventeenth birthday. Harry however accessed it during Christmas of our 5th year." Fleur's face darkened at that.
Padma stepped forward. "That's the second time you mentioned that. What happened?" No one missed Fleur's shiver and Harry pulled her to him. Everyone was shocked to see the normally composed and elegant girl release silent tears from her eyes. Gabby moved over and embraced her sister.
Harry sighed and looked at Fleur. The French girl nodded shakily and re-buried his face in Harry's shoulder. "During Christmas of our 5th year, Fleur was shopping with Arielle and Marie. I was at Delacour Manor with Gabby. Apparently, they were attacked by supporters of Marquise. Marie and Arielle were injured but treated easily. Fleur however was kidnapped."
Seeing the questioning looks, Harry continued. "The Delacours are a prominent family in France, with wealthy muggle businesses in wine production, and Jean-Paul Delacour, Fleur's grandfather, is an advisor to the French Minister of Magic. Jacques Delacour, Fleur's father owns a significant portion of the prominent French wizarding businesses. She was kidnapped as a political move and for an extremely large ransom." Harry sighed and held a shivering Fleur.
"When I found she was taken, I sort of lost control. Apparently, the shock and rage I felt unlocked the charm earlier than I was supposed to. Using the knowledge, and my own significant power, I apparated to the location where the swap was supposed to occur. I discovered that they intended to keep Fleur anyway." Harry fell silent and stared off in to the setting sun.
His voice was barely above a whisper. "I killed them. All fifteen wizards. I ripped them apart. I raped their minds with Legilimency and discovered where they were holding Fleur. I apparated there and did it again. I destroyed the fortress, and killed everyone I found. Marquise and his Inner Circle barely managed to escape." He took a breath but was interrupted.
Fleur's voice was small but strong. "There were five of them watching me. I was laying there; they had ripped my clothes off." Intakes of breath were heard around the group. Rape was unheard of in the Wizarding World; only the worst criminals committed the crime. It had been one of the most disturbing things about Voldemort's first reign of terror.
Fleur lay shivering on the stone floor. She curled up, one hand curled under her to protect her womanhood, the other arm curled around her chest. Her eyes streamed with tears, as she begged in French for the men to leave her alone. They all laughed and ogled her legs and body.
The first one was just stepping forward, sliding his lower robes off when the door exploded inward. The heavy metal door flew in and smashed in to one of the wizards, killing him instantly. The other four turned. Harry stood framed by a light behind him. His front was dark except for the burning green coals that were her eyes. He looked like an emissary of the Devil himself
Two of the wizards stepped forward but Harry just slashed his wand wordlessly and a red streak shot out, catching both wizards across the chest. They paused for a second, before blood spurted out of their chest and they crumpled to the ground. The third wizard shot a sickly green Killing Curse to Harry but he ducked under it and flicked his wand at the wizard. A blue curse shot out and caught the wizard in between his eyes. His head simply exploded, sending pieces of flesh and skull everywhere.
The final wizard, his robes half off, could only stand while Harry stepped forward. A familiar red curse hit the wizard. The Crucio made the man's knees buckle. His screams echoed around the room until Harry ended it and killed the man with the Killing Curse.
Harry lowered his wand and stepped forward. Fleur watched him kneel next to her. His voice was calm and peaceful, his eyes softening as he beheld Fleur. "Hello Fleur De Lis. Are you alright? Did they touch you?" She shook her head and he offered her his hand. She looked at it and met his eyes. She took his hand and collapsed in to his chest, unashamed of her nakedness. She cried in to his shoulder and he apparated them back to Delacour Manor.
The group was quiet. Harry's eyes were downcast; as he rubbed Fleur's back softly while she sniffled against him. "It was the first and last time I cast any Unforgivable. It was the first time I killed someone. Wasn't the last though." Harry held Fleur tightly, the French students listening watching them with tears in their eyes.
"At that moment, I vowed that no one would hurt Fleur again. Soon, that vow grew to include Gabby and everyone at Beauxbatons. I didn't allow Marquise to enter our school. And I won't let Voldemort touch them either. I won't let anyone hurt them. Not Snape. Not Dumbledore. Not Malfoy."
Harry's eyes snapped up to see a large amount of Hogwarts students watching them silently. He stood and pulled Fleur and Gabby up. The French contingent rose silently.
As they turned and walked away, Harry turned back to the Hogwarts students. "Spread it around. If anything happens to them, no one is off limits. No one." With that, Harry turned and entered the castle.
A/N: Here's your next chapter. Couple things. First, thanks again for all the reviews. I hope I answered some of your questions, particularly the nature of his relationship with the other students and Gabrielle. She is eight in this story! Secondly, one reviewer mentioned a few helpful things but also made mention of the fact that I used the word 'apoplectic' in my last chapter. S/he was concerned that many readers won't know the meaning. I learned the word from reading description of Snape and I think it's a great word. As a writer, I reserve the right to use any vocabulary I wish.
Thanks a lot! Keep reviewing! I should update next on the weekend as my Tues-Thursday schedule is Hell.