Author's Notes: First off I would like to say how sorry I am that this update has taken as long as it has. Life has taken a hold and thrown many twists at me, I recently moved into a brand new home, my work life is going crazy, and I am working on publishing my first mobile app for my brand new company. That being said this chapter was a hard one for me to write, it has been re-written or re-worded many times in an attempt to make it work. However I couldn't find the flow, finally I wrote something I am proud of. Thank you everyone for reading and for your reviews they have been motivating me to continue my work.
I am also currently looking for a beta, Beta reading and writing at the same time is very time consuming something I don't have.
Thank you for reading. I will try to be more rapid in my updates.
Light reflected off Gabrielle's glossy, dark blue eyes as they glimmered with excitement watching Harry walk out of Judge's box. Her face flushed from her short yet deliberate conversation, as she slowly turned away from the exit towards her mother and sister. Her mind rushing with the thoughts of getting to know Harry better, she barely missed the mischievous smiles coming from Fleur. Sensing Fleur's desire to bring up the inevitable conversation concerning her recent actions, she quickly tired to redirect focus.
"You did a amazing sis! Second place, I can't believe you successfully enchanted the Dragon to sleep! How do you want to celebrate?", Gabrielle quickly shouted out as she pummeled her sister into a hug. As Fleur's arms wrapped around her body, she noticed her mother wrap her arm around the two.
"I couldn't have said it better my self dear! You've made your family and our heritage proud my darling." Apolline stated in a motherly voice as she looked upon her two children. "I wish your father didn't have that emergency meeting at the Ministry."
"Mother, it's been years since the last emergency session. What has the Ministry in a panic?" Fleur responded inquisitively.
Apolline looked done at her daughter with serious air to her presences, "The Ministry is concerned with multiple disappearances with in our country." A small smile broke across her faces as she continued. "But now is not the time to concern our selves with that, instead now is a time to celebrate"
Before either of the sisters could respond, a resonating voice broke through the room, "Well said Madam Delacour, I couldn't said it much better myself." Madame Maxine stated with a slight clapping of her hands. "You have made Beauxbatons proud today Miss Delacour, now if I am not mistaken your classmates are awaiting your presences in the carriage so that they can start the festivities."
Turning towards Apolline, Madame Maxine continued, "Madame Delacour. you and Gabrielle are more then welcome to enjoy the festivities before you return to France and Beauxbatons."
"We would be delighted" Apolline returned with a gentle smile. With these words the four women turned towards the exit of the now empty arena. They walked through the snaking halls in silence as an air of excitement flickered through the atmosphere they progressed towards the exit.
The four stepped out of the arena onto the damp grass glittering with the moonlight above, in the distance lights flickered around the typically quiet Beauxbatons carriage. The trees surrounding the temporary housing sparkled like Christmas trees, while the shadow of dancing students danced underneath their man-made night sky. Fleur smiled as she increased her paced towards her fellow students. Her family could senses her bubbling excitement, holding back to give her all the attention.
Fleur had barely reached the carriage when her best friend Adeline called out, "Fleur! CONGRATULATION!", before she could speak a mass wrapped around her as Adeline tackled her into a hug. Soon her fellow students encapsulated her, her ears overwhelmed by the shouts and celebrations coming from every direction.
"You were wonderful!" A gruff voice, she recognized as Cecile echoed from behind her, while a shirk rang from the side, "I can't believe you put a dragon to sleep!"
As the evening progressed, the crowded slowly drifted away from the Fleur-centric hoopla into small mingling groups of dancing or socializing students. The angelic Gabrielle Delacour attempted to dance with her fellow students but found the eyes of the older boys disconcerting and the absence of her friends pushed Gabrielle away from the simmering festivities.
Underneath one of the glittering trees, Gabrielle sat in reflection staring off towards the distant towers of Hogwarts, watching them dance against the pearly moonlight. She thought about the events of the day. The thought of Fleur's face as she stepped into the Campions Tent when she saw her mother and sister sitting there, caused her to chuckle. The memory of the dragons shortly followed, stopping her soft laughter in it's tracks. Finally her thoughts drifted to the green-eyed boy who looked so alone yet so strong in the competition.
A soft smile touched her lips as she recalled her brief interactions with the legendary Harry Potter, the emerald eye boy who was more then the public made them out to be. She stared out happily, knowing that somewhere in those distant towers the green-eyed champion was possibly thinking about her.
~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!
Footsteps landed on the Seventh Floor of Hogwarts, as Harry Potter and Neville Longbottom stepped out of the shadows into the moonlight. Their footsteps echoed lightly through the hall as they attempted to sneak through the hall towards their target, the Portrait of the Fat Lady. Spotting their target ahead, Harry's face tightened, tensing from what might conspire walking though that doorway. Beside him, Neville shrank with the dread of having to wake the Fat Lady before gaining access.
Approaching the portrait, Harry whipped is wrist bringing forth his Phoenix feathered wand. With "lumos" on this lips, the melodic voice of the Fat Lady broke the silence of night, " I was wondering when you would get back Mr. Potter, you have been the talk of Hogwarts all evening young sir. Congratulations on winning the first task."
Not expecting this of all things from Fat Lady, Harry stuttered as he re-sleeved his wand, " Thank you, ma'am. I was wonder if you could tell me if the festivities are over?"
"Your welcome Mr. Potter, you are doing Hogwarts proud, and yes young sirs the festivities ended half an hour ago, it should be all clear.
"Thank you Fat Lady, balderdash" Harry quickly said, as the the portrait door began to open. Harry walked forward, crouching through entrance as Neville quickly followed behind. Stepping through the entrance into the Gryffindor common room, he duo was greeted by sight not unlike the previous end of year celebrations. The tables of the circular room were topped by colorful bottle of various heights and distortions, from this distance they could make out the emblems of Ogden's Old Firewhisky, Blishen's Firewhisky, Paulopabita's Fishy Green Ale, and a few other that neither of them recognized in the dimming light of the fireplace.
Towards their right they could see the form of two students entwined on the scarlet, squishy sofa, while the form of Seamus could be seen passed out on the boy's staircase. Harry glanced back towards Neville with a smirk on his face as he stepped further into the common room. Looking around he saw feet sticking out from underneath the chess table, and another pair cuddling tightly to each other underneath the destroyed bulletin board.
A light chuckle from Neville pulled Harry Potter from his observations, turning around Harry addressed him in his best Malfoy imitation, "What are you finding so funny Longbottom."
Neville chuckle broke into a full laughter upon hearing his drawling voice, "You need to work on you Malfoy impression Potter, but as for what's so funny look at the intimate couple on the sofa"
"Okay, what am I looking for… Wait no that can't be right, their hands are fused together!" Harry reacted quickly.
"This is hysterical, someone charmed their hands together. That's gonna make for an interesting morning in the common room." Neville replied training to maintain his laughter.
"Wake me up for that one," Harry said with a smirk, "As much fun as this is though, we should probably head up to bed."
"You're right, Harry"
The duo slowly crept deeper into the common room trying to make their way as quietly as possible towards the boys staircase. Reaching their objective, they slowly began to tip toe their way up, they quickly based Seamus passed out form and reverted back to a normal steps as they progressed to their dorms. Entering their dorm, Neville quickly nodded a goodnight to Harry before crawling into bed and drawled the curtains. Doing the same, Harry laid in his bed as the moon light provide the background to the thoughts in his head.
His eye's stuttered close as he recalled the days events, out preforming a dragon, reconnecting with Neville, and the silver-haired Gabrielle who wished him luck despite the fact being her sister's competitor. His breathing deepened and slowed as the silver hair beauty danced around his head until his gentle breathing matched that of his sleeping dorm-mates.
~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!
A typical Sunday morning in the Gryffindor Tower would have the gentle early afternoon sunlight waking the student body from their slumbers, where they would slowly rise from their bed and make their ways to the dining room. However this was not a normal Sunday morning for Hogwarts, the early morning sun barely pierced the windows of Gryffindor Tower when a scream echoed through the halls.
Harry Potter jumped awake as he swung open his curtain and leaped out of his bed, with his wand in hand he quickly looked around the dorm room. Across the room, Harry could see Neville in a similar state of shock and concerning, while Ron and Dean were slowly fumbling through their bedding in an attempt to escape. His face tensing with determination and concern, Harry nodded at Neville and began heading towards the dorm hallway. Opening the door, they were greed by a mass of male students trying to get down the hallway to see what the commotion was all about. As he turned towards the common room, the voice echoed through the tower.
"What the HELL did you do to me Lee Jordan," the voice shrieked,"Fix this right now or you will be singing in falsetto until graduation, this is not funny."
Harry pushed his way down the stairs as he heard the fearful voice of Lee Jordan stuttering, "I don't know what happened Alicia, it wasn't like this when I passed out last night."
Neville laughed upon hearing this and tapped Harry on the shoulder, "Well we know who that was on the sofa now." Harry chuckled as he continued to push his way through the crowd and down the stairs, passing by the Seamus's previous resting place he finally made his way into the common room when the portrait door swung open. Stepping through the doorway, an irate Professor McGonagall stormed into the room with her wand at the ready. "What it God's name is happening, I want an explanation now!"
Alicia Spinnet spun about towards McGonagall whipping Lee with her, lifting their fused hand in the air. "Some how are hands were fused together Professor, and Jordan claims he didn't do it, which I highly doubt!"
"Is this true Mr. Jordan." Professor McGonagall responded with a quick stern voice, with a hint of amusement in her eyes.
"Yes Professor, we both woke up on the sofa like this." Lee responded, it was at the moment that the Gryffindor student body realized that the evidence of the previous night was still thrown about the common room. As if control by one unified entity, the posture of the Gryffindor student body sunk with fear as their shoulders dropped and their eyes flickered back and forth avoiding eye contact. The only two immune from this sudden change silently watched as the situation continued.
"Well I guess I will have to resolve this then," with a quick flick of her wand the hands of Jordan Lee and Alicia Spinnet began to glow a tannish tint as the unified hand began to transfigure into separate entities. In a matter of seconds Jordan and Alicia had their individual hands again, free to use in what ever means they want. Jordan look around with a pleased look, while Alicia jumped around dancing as if she was about to take Professor McGonagall by the hand and spin her around.
"Thank you so much Professor!", Alicia shouted as she turned around and ran up stairs towards her dorm room.
"Now that that has been handle, I shall take my leave. Please have the decency to clean up afters your festivities next time. Also Mr. Potter, I would like to have a word with you after breakfast." With that Professor McGonagall turned and walked out of the common room.
Neville still laughing about the entire situation turned towards and Harry, "Well that was an entertaining start to the morning, wouldn't you say?"
Harry chuckled out a response "Yes indeed Neville, but I could go with out a repeat for the rest of the year. Well we are already up want to go to breakfast."
"Sounds like a plan," Neville responded as the duo made their way to the exit.
!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!`
The early morning sun lit up the Great Hall with an soft glow as Harry and Neville entered. The four tables stretched across the hall with small platers of food scattered closely to the small bodies of students awake at this hour. Despite the common room fiasco, the Gryffindor tables stood barren while the Slytherin table was occupied by a pair of girls bunch together as if seeking protection from each other. Towards the other side of the Great Hall a small group of Beauxbaton students could be seen in deep discussion with some seventh year Ravenclaws.
Sitting down at the Gryffindor table, a platter of light breakfast foods appeared before them and the similar hoot pierced Harry's hearing. Looking up, Harry could see Hedwig diving down towards the tables. Extending her wings, Hedwig slowed her flight and landed before Harry. Opening her claws, she dropped off a copy of the morning paper before pecking a piece of bacon from the plate before fly back out of the Great Hall.
At first glance Harry noticed a familiar image spanning across the front page, unrolling the paper further so that they could see the animated image of Harry breaking through the billowing black smoke as the dragon collided with the ground after him, while the bold letter below declared POTTER FOR THE WIN. Harry broke out into a throaty laugh, throwing the newspaper towards Neville,"I guess I am a hero again."
"Merlin's Beard Harry!" Neville balked back as he read through the rest of the Daily Prophet article, "One second your on the front page being hailed as one of the greatest liars of the century, the next your Merlin incarnate. You would think they would settle with a side and just stick with it"
"Tell me about it, Neville." Harry responded pushing the Daily Prophet towards the edge as he whipped out his holly-wood wand. With a light twist of his wrist, Harry softly spoke "Incendio." A spark of fire flew from his wand igniting the Daily Prophets smoldering it into ash before the small flame vanish into the magic that created the spark.
Neville, hearing those words leave Harry's lip, whipped out his wand with Aguamenti on his lips when he saw the flame die back down into nothing. With confusion in his voice, Neville turned towards Harry as he began to put away his wand, "How did you do that Harry? Every Incendio I have ever seen creates a small blaze not a smoldering, light flame like that?"
Harry smiled, "Its all about intent Neville, incendio can be as weak or as powerful as the caster desires based on their intent. Once a caster learns this, they can use it for their age. if you want I can teach you."
"That would be great Harry" Neville responded excitedly, but before he continued a flash of wild brunette hair ran excitedly towards them and sat across from Harry and Neville. Before Harry realized who it was had rushed towards them, a familiar yet unwanted voice took him for a surprise.
"I can't believe you won the first task Harry! I mean dragons what was Dumbledore thinking allowing dragons for the first task, haven't enough people already died in the history of this tournament! But either way, I can't believe you stole an egg from a dragon," the voice of Hermione Grange droned on into her tirade.
Before she could continue further into her spiel, Harry responded with a biting tone as he address her, "Why are you talking to me!"
Her mouth agape, Hermione Granger stared at the boy in a state of shock, "What do you mean Harry, I am congratulating you for performance yesterday. You sure the dragon the didn't hit you with it's tail."
"Why should I talk to someone who has refused to acknowledge my existence since my name was drawn from the Goblet? Why should I talk to someone who spends most of their time with a red-headed prat who proudly wears a 'Potter Stinks' badge every where he goes," Harry quipped back bitterly as he slammed down his goblet, pushing back his bench, and quickly got to his feet. In the matter of seconds Harry was out of the door, barely hearing the screeching voice he left behind.
"HARRY JAMES POTTER! WHERE DO YOU THINK YOU ARE GOING, I AM TALKING TO YOU", Hermione fumed as she watched him walk out of the door towards the grand stair case, while across from her Neville sat with his head in his hands as he praise the gods that it was early morning and not dinner time. All the while a small beetle flew fluttered around landing closely to where the young boy was sitting.
Footsteps echoed through the hallway has Harry quickly made his way towards the Grand Staircase, at the foot he stopped and glanced upwards as he heard the stairs shifting. Seeing that he had a few seconds before there was a direct path to Professors McGonagall's office, Harry breathed in deeply and exhaled as he tried to clear his mind. The past month had made it clear to him that he had to maintain a closer grasp of his emotions, not fall into outbreaks like he add in the common room when his name game out of the Goblet of Fire. He had vowed that he wouldn't allow himself to be ruled by emotional outbreaks anymore. Expelling a lung full of air, Harry quickly made his way down the stairs towards the courtyard office of Professor McGonagall.
!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~
Despite being one of the largest magical schools in the world, Harry Potter quickly found himself outside of Professor McGonagalls office. Curious to what the Professor wanted to speak to him about, Harry slowly raised his hand and lightly knocked on her door. Expecting a few moments of silence before hearing a response, he was shocked to hear a soft voice immediately after his first knock. "Come in."
Before him, the office door opened slowly giving him a glance inside the office before he entered. Professor McGonagall's office was quaint compared to some professors, and unlike Professor Snape's cold unfeeling office, the office glowed with a comforting warmth as the sunlight beamed through the windows. The walls were plastered with imagines of what Harry assumed was Gryffindors of years past wrapped around a display showcasing both the Quidditch Cup and the House Cup.
Professor McGonagall looked up from her desk, and with a small smile and a glimmer of excitement in her eye, welcomed him. "Ah, Mr. Potter, please sit down. Would you like a cup of tea while we discuss certain matters."
"Thank you Professor, I would love a cup of tea." He responded politely with a nod. Reaching for the closest chair, he turned it about and sat down in front of McGonagall, "What is it that you wanted to discuss Professor."
McGonagall whipped out her wands and with a few slightly flicks of her wands, two cups gently flew from the cupboard while the kettle glided out of the fireplace and poured fresh tea into tea cups. Handing a cup to Harry, she began. "First off, I would like to say that your performance in the first task was ingenious, its very clear you took my earlier advice to heart"
"Yes Professor, every moment I have free I try to spend on preparing for the tournament" Harry replied confidentially.
"Very good Mr. Potter. Just don't forget to have some fun this year. Now there were two things I wish to discuss with you. First, Professor Flitwick and I have come up with an arrangement for you. It is clear that you are no longer being challenged by current curriculum, with this being such Professor Flitwick has agreed to teach you dueling, while I will begin teaching you fifth year and above transfiguration."
Pausing for a moment to consider what was said, Harry questioned "Professor, I thought teachers were not allow to assist students with the Triwizard tournament, wouldn't this be considering helping me?"
"Ah, but we are not helping you Mr. Potter," Professor McGonagall started of with a glint in her eyes, not much different from Dumbledores's twinkle. "You are receiving advanced lessons under myself and Professor Flitwick. Its an advance curriculum and nothing more."
Harry suppressed a laugh as he listened to what McGonagall was saying, "Thank you Professor, I am honored to attend these advanced classes."
"I am excited to hear that Mr. Potter. Now about the second item of business, as you have no doubt heard the Yule Ball is coming up. Now it is a tradition for the three Triwizard contestants, in this case four, to start the Yule Ball with a champions dance which you will be expected to partake in. Now I expect you to have a date for this ball, Mr. Potter."
Harry looked down at his feet in fearfulness, and softly replied "I understand Professor, I will do my best to find a date"
McGonagall began to softly chuckle as she watched his reaction, "Don't tell me you perfectly fine handling a dragon, but your terrified at the concept of asking a woman out. You always seem to find a way to surprise me Mr. Potter. A quick word of advice, just be yourself you will find the perfect date. "
"Thank you Professor, I will keep that in mind. Are we finished here?" Harry finished as he set down his finished tea cup.
"Yes, Mr. Potter we are finished for now. Both Professor Flitwick and I will be owling you later this week to with dates for you classes, your free to go."
"Thank you," Harry said quietly as he stood up to walk out the door and began the long walk to the Black Lake.
!~!~!~!~~!~!~
The sun was setting as Harry Potter finished his walking around the grounds of Hogwarts, he had spent the entire day reflecting on the events of the previous day. Despite what he did to ignore, the face of the Silver-hair sister of Fleur Delacour, his challenger in the Triwizard Tournament, kept appearing in his thoughts. She intrigued him, how could someone he didn't know, treat him like a normal person when even his friends didn't? Remembering Gabrielle's parting words, Harry made his way towards the owlery for his final task of the day.
Walking up owlery steps, Harry reached into his bag grabbing for a quill and some paper. Reaching the top, he found a quiet spot and began composing his letter to Gabrielle. After many attempts, broke quill tips, and a few hundred crumbled sheets of papers Harry finally finished his letter to the Silver-Hair Veela.
Harry rolled of the parchment and tied to letter to Hedwig's leg before giving him directions. "Hedwig, can you take this to Gabrielle Delacour at Beauxbatons." With a gentle hoot, Hedwig, letter in hand, dived out of the Hogwarts Owlery and plummeted towards the dark green grass. Before colliding with Gaia she opened her and skimmed to grounds as she took towards the sky. Banking southward she started towards her destination. Over the next few hours she soared across the sky passing the dimming towns of southern Scotland with their billowing chimneys.
Finally Hedwig reached a green topped countryside, lowering her flight she headed towards the central most hill, at which stood a series a monolithic stones arranged in what appeared to be a ritualist fashion at the top. Sensing which direction her master's letter needed to travel, Hedwig banked right and dived in-between the two southern most stones, disappearing from the island.